Puerto Quetzal Shore Excursion: Antigua, Jade Museum & Factory
Overview
You’ll pass under the 17th-century Santa Catalina Arch on this full-day sightseeing tour, which includes lunch and round-trip transport from the cruise terminal.
Inclusions
- Local guide
- Port pickup and drop-off
- Worry-free shore excursion guarantee
What to expect
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: W6Q6+XH3, CA-9, Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
You will be met at the cruise pier where you will be picked up and transferred to Antigua Guatemala. Here you will meet your guide.
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala is outstanding and the best-preserved colonial city in Latin America. Tourists visit Antigua Guatemala every year from around the world to enjoy its natural beauty and historic monuments. The Spanish Colonial style permeates every part of the town: its houses, churches, squares, parks and ruins, also its traditions and folklore as well. Antigua is a city of charm and color where you can see and buy an overwhelming variety of attractive, handmade products that honor the traditions of generations of artisans.
We start with a 3-hour walking tour with a visit to La Merced Church - one of the most important churches in Antigua. We will also explore one of the distinguishable landmarks in Antigua Guatemala, Santa Catalina Arch. Built in the 17th century, originally it was connected to the convent of Santa Catalina, allowing the cloistered nuns to pass from one building to the other without going out on the street.
Next on the itinerary we will walk through Central Park to appreciate the The Cathedral of San Jose - Roman Catholic church in Antigua Guatemala. The original church was built around 1541, but suffered several earthquakes throughout its history, and the first church building was demolished in 1669, The cathedral was rebuilt and consecrated in 1680. By 1743 the cathedral was one of the largest in Central America. We will continue to a Jade Factory where you can appreciate the sacred stone of the Mayan civilization.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
After a mild walk we will have time to eat lunch (optional, not included).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: W6Q6+XH3, CA-9, Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
we will return to Puerto Quetzal to board your cruise.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Additional information
- Minimum 2 passengers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infants must sit on laps
- Most travelers can participate
- All departure times are based on the GUATEMALA LOCAL time. Ships sometimes do not adjust their clocks to the local time in port, so it is very important to make sure you meet your tour at the correct local time.
- Please search for the Gray Line representative , we will be outside with our Gray Line Logo.
- To find pictures of our experiences, search us on Instagram as @graylinetoursgt
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
Cancellation
We were booked today on a tour of Colonial Antigua and Santa Teresita Hot Springs. Due to a mixup, we were moved to a tour that was just Colonial Antigua, without the hot springs. (Cultural & Colonial Antigua Walking Tour). Apparently not enough people signed up for our tour, but we were told a...
We were booked today on a tour of Colonial Antigua and Santa Teresita Hot Springs. Due to a mixup, we were moved to a tour that was just Colonial Antigua, without the hot springs. (Cultural & Colonial Antigua Walking Tour). Apparently not enough people signed up for our tour, but we were told at the port that it was because our ship was in port for 2 hours less than planned. This was completely false, as the time in port did not change from the day we booked the cruise in June, 2018, let alone from when we booked this tour just last month. OK, so we go off on this tour. What a joke! While a few things were pointed out along the way, the main focus of this tour was 3 stops at particular shopping locations (jade factory, main square where vendors practically attack you to get you to buy, and a shop that was actually many small shops all connected) Each of these stops was for a good ½ hour to be sure we bought as much as possible. We then walked up the block to lunch, where, after spending an hour, we learned that there was still 30 minutes to go, so we left and walked around on our own until the bus returned to pick us up. So here are the problems: 1) We paid $102 each for a combo tour, and were replaced on an $86 tour. 2) Calling what we did a "cultural" walking tour is hyperbole at the very least, and false advertising. "During the 2-hour, easy walking tour, you'll pay visits to sights like La Merced Church, Santa Catalina Arch, Central Park (Parquet Central)with its European style plaza, the Cathedral and the Jade Factory - Museum. Be provided with free time for buying handmade souvenirs to take home memories of this special day" was the promise. But we did not visit the church, or the cathedral. We did see the arch, and the government building was pointed out to us from the square, with minimal information given. 3) Our lunch was supposed to be: "a delicious lunch is included that will consist of homemade tortillas and other traditional Guatemalan food. Watch first-hand how the tortillas are made and learn about the importance of the traditions and history that is rooted in the country's food." Lunch was ok--salad or soup and a choice of entrees--but there were no tortillas and we sure as heck didn't watch anything being made, or learn about traditions and history of food. 4) The old bus we traveled on seemed not to have any shocks or suspension speak of, and this, combined with the atrocious condition of the roads, led to a jaw-rattling 90 minute journey in each direction. Had we had ANY idea what was in store for us, we would have cancelled this tour and gone with one of the ship's tours. The conditions reported by people who did that (at a much lower price, surprisingly) was far superior.
Antigua was A very amazing city but you need a tour guide as it's a1.5 hours from cruise port. Our guide was Willy he did a great job. Explained about the country and showed us a lot of things, Antigua is a very historic city that seems lost in time a lot of things are untouched. There is a...
Antigua was A very amazing city but you need a tour guide as it's a1.5 hours from cruise port. Our guide was Willy he did a great job. Explained about the country and showed us a lot of things, Antigua is a very historic city that seems lost in time a lot of things are untouched. There is a lot of poverty here so be prepared to say no thank you as they will not leave you alone. We would use vivator again on a cruise excursion they were great
Awesome tour through the old city, lots of cobblestone streets, a church hundreds of years old, the jade factory was great and of course we bought jewelry, love my jade cross. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable on the places we visited, rich in history.
Awesome tour through the old city, lots of cobblestone streets, a church hundreds of years old, the jade factory was great and of course we bought jewelry, love my jade cross. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable on the places we visited, rich in history.
Excellent tour. Jose was an excellent guide, was waiting for us when we came to the pier. Hot springs was fantastic, but not enough time there. Lunch was delicious.
Excellent tour. Jose was an excellent guide, was waiting for us when we came to the pier. Hot springs was fantastic, but not enough time there. Lunch was delicious.
Our tour guide Jose was waiting on the pier with a sign showing the names of people on the tour very easy to find him. We had a comfortable, informative ride to Antigua, then a nice walking tour with brief stops for photos. On to the spa for an excellent lunch and time in the thermal pools. ...
Our tour guide Jose was waiting on the pier with a sign showing the names of people on the tour very easy to find him. We had a comfortable, informative ride to Antigua, then a nice walking tour with brief stops for photos. On to the spa for an excellent lunch and time in the thermal pools. Overall, great value and interesting guide. I would recommend.
De excursie is prachtig, je ziet heel veel. Echter de installatie in de bus was slecht waardoor de gids slecht verstaanbaar was. Ook was zijn engels niet best, dat was jammer. Verder de oude stad was prachtig, de mensen prachtig kleurrijk. Wat eigen tijd om even op eigen manier rond te kijken zou...
De excursie is prachtig, je ziet heel veel. Echter de installatie in de bus was slecht waardoor de gids slecht verstaanbaar was. Ook was zijn engels niet best, dat was jammer. Verder de oude stad was prachtig, de mensen prachtig kleurrijk. Wat eigen tijd om even op eigen manier rond te kijken zou een mooie aanvulling zijn.