Guatemala Expects 96,000 Cruise Passengers in 2026–27 Season
Queen Elizabeth opened Guatemala’s cruise season on October 5 with 1,863 passengers, while most calls at Puerto Quetzal last about 10 hours.
Guatemala expects 45 cruise calls carrying nearly 96,000 passengers during its 2026–27 season, with visitor spending projected at about $8 million, according to the Guatemalan Tourism Institute, Inguat. The season opened October 5 with Queen Elizabeth bringing 1,863 passengers to the Pacific coast and will continue through May 2027.
The planned call count would match Inguat’s reported totals for each of the two preceding seasons. Separate port-level seasonal figures give different national totals, recording 50 calls in 2025–26 and 51 in 2024–25.
The port-level breakdown for last season lists 39 calls and 53,796 passengers at Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala’s principal Pacific cruise port, in Escuintla near San José. Santo Tomás de Castilla, on the Caribbean coast, accounted for another 11 calls. The preceding season’s national passenger total was approximately 122,500.
“Although they are only in the country for one day, tourists can experience Guatemala’s cultural wealth and may return at some point,” said Claudia Coronado, head of operations and commercialization at Inguat.
Excursions within a limited port stay
Most cruise ships visiting Guatemala call at Puerto Quetzal, where a typical stay lasts approximately 10 hours and arrivals commonly occur around 7 a.m. Passengers have limited time to visit inland attractions before returning to their ships.
Antigua Guatemala, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is among the destinations that interest cruise passengers, according to Inguat. Visits to coffee and chocolate production facilities are also popular. The institute identifies the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany as the largest source markets.
Ana Luisa Mejia, deputy general manager of Empresa Portuaria Quetzal, which manages ship arrivals at the Pacific port, described cruise tourism as a “fundamental driver” of Guatemala’s economy. She said individual calls generate significant economic benefits for the country.
Guatemala’s push toward four million visitors
Guatemala is working to raise international visitor numbers and tourism revenue. The country welcomed 3.3 million international visitors in 2025, up 11% from the 3.03 million recorded in 2024.
Inguat expects 3.6 million international arrivals in 2026. The country’s longer-term target is four million foreign visitors in 2027.
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