FYI Santo Tomas is in the rio dulce area. Normally there should plenty of tours to visit some of the most beautiful mayan archeological sites (Quirigua and Tikal). Rio dulce is also the perfect place for eco-tourism with all the rain forest along the river. Recommend you visit the following web sites:

www.eveanderson.com/guatemala/rio-dulce

www.sailing-diving-guatemala.com

www.mayaparadise.com

www.billkamin.com/larutamaya.com

good luck

Robin

Do not dismay I live in Rio Dulce and it is a wonderful spot. The boat will probably have a bus bring you here and you will do a boat tour to the castillo and then to one of the hotel/resturants in the area. The rio dulce is very safe and very friendly. Although i find Cruise ships to be a little rushed for my taste it is a good way to see new area. check out www.tortugal.com or www.mayaparidise.com for more info about this wonderful place. I was dismayed when i could not even find the Rio in the favorite places here. Come relax and enjoy i'm sure you will.

Robin, please let me know how Santo Tomas was, what excursions, etc. were offered.

I'm booking for Nov. 2006.

Thanks.

flybald@bellsouth.net

We will be visiting Santo Tomas de Castilla in April and we are also having trouble finding out much about it. What did you do there? Any advice would be great.

Shelly

Harveys, I've found out more info mostly from www.clarktours.com.gt (good company, I've used them before, run by Americans)and from the Guatemala Tourism Board, who I met with this week at a show. Contact me directly if I can offer more info.

flybald@bellsouth.net

What you mean I'm having diffullty getting information about rio dulce. I've given you people a bunch of websites to check out So I don't know what you're talking about.

I wrote that post after reading your post with the websites, but before visiting those sites. I was also interested in hearing from others who may have been there. Thanks for the info.

Shelly

Are there golf courses close to the port?

Thanks.

Just got back yesterday from our cruise that stopped in Santo Tomas in Guatemala. (Norwegian Sun) We booked an excursion through the cruise ship and were very pleased. It turned out that it was run by Grayline Tours. We were taken by a speedboat (bumpy ride) to the small, quiet town of Livingston. It was a wonderful day to soak up some safe local culture. Had a few beers and snacks and did some shopping. Also walked around the town and talked with the friendly locals.

I know that doesn't sound very exciting, but it was a great and fairly inexpensive way to find out about Guatemalain people in the small amount of time that we had visiting this country. The tour guide was very helpful with all of our questions, too.

The tour ended at the cruise ship pier where a large building is set up for cruisers to spend their time and money. Prices for the hand-made goods were very reasonable. We bought wonderful coffee (ground or whole bean) for $5 a pound. (This booth is located at the very back of the building.) They provided us with free local entertainment which was very good.

My husband had a few too many beers and I bought a few too many souvenirs.....and life was very good on our one day journey in Guatemala.

Please let me know more.. I am leaving sunday..amy

avonblon@hotmail.com