- Round-trip transportation from your Puerto Quetzal cruise ship terminal!
- Air-conditioned and comfortable shore excursion vehicle!
- English-speaking and knowledgeable Quetzal cruise excursion guides!
- Entrance fee to Santa Teresita hot springs!
- Therapeutic thermal circuit!
- Complimentary lunch (vegetarian options available)!
This Quetzal Guatemala cruise shore excursion will give you the opportunity to discover the magical and quaint streets of Antigua City full of incredible history and architectural beauty plus a designated ... Read More
This Quetzal Guatemala cruise shore excursion will give you the opportunity to discover the magical and quaint streets of Antigua City, full of incredible history and architectural beauty plus a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Your Puerto Quetzal day shore excursion begins when your friendly cruise excursion staff meets you just outside your Quetzal cruise ship terminal. Then it is off for a comfortable ride to Antigua City. The air-conditioned vehicle will take you on a 90 minutes sightseeing journey through the green lush mountains and countryside of Guatemala. Upon arrival at Antigua City, your English-speaking excursion guide will introduce you to the city sightseeing plan for the day. The city walking sightseeing excursion part will take approximately two hours, including many stops for shopping, picture taking, etc.
The first stop is "La Merced Church", first established as a monastery. This imposing baroque-style landmark offers has three large interesting sections, a majestic dome and a facade flanked by two bell towers and an effigy of San Pedro Nolasco. The effigy of the locally called "Our Lady of Mercedes" is situated in the center niche. Its bright-yellow paint gives this building and other landmarks of Antigua City the perfect contrast with streets made of stone and green mountains on the horizon.
Just a few steps away you will find the Santa Catalina Arch. It was built in the 17th century to connect the Santa Catalina convent to the school and allows nuns to pass from one building to the other without going out on the street. A clock on top was added in the 1830s. This is a great photo opportunity as facing one side of the clock you will see La Merced church and to the other side the nearby Water Volcano, both amazing postcard shots.
You will then visit the focal point of Antigua City, the "Central Park". Located in the heart of the city, the park is surrounded by the Palace of the Captain Generals, City Hall, the church of San Jose Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, and the Portal of Commerce. It's a popular hangout place for locals and visitors alike to come to the park and watch the world go by. Take a seat on one of its many benches around the famous Mermaids' Fountain. The "Fountain of the Sirens" was built in 1739 by Diego de Porres, and it is one of the symbols of this historic city.
Next, your Antigua Sightseeing and Hot Springs Cruise Excursion guide will show you the San Jose Cathedral. An architectural and historical distinctiveness of the Colonial City. It keeps inside images of great historical and religious value for the Catholic church like the Lord Buried St. Joseph and Our Lady of Socorro.
The walking excursion finishes at the General Captain's Palace. Built in the sixteenth century to be the official residence of the Viceroy, the seat of government of all Central America. It occupies an entire city block and according to historical records, it was the largest construction at the time. You can appreciate the 25 arches on the double-floor facade.
After enjoying the cultural city excursion, it is time to visit the Santa Teresita Hot Springs and be pampered at the Kawilal Spa Center. The ride takes 60 minutes and gives you the opportunity to rest after the walk.
The Kawilal Spa offers a therapeutic thermal circuit. This therapy involves immersing the body for short periods of time in thermal pools of different temperatures, ranging from warm to cool. The cycle starts at a 105° F, followed by a 75.2° F, then 98.6° F and finally an 81.8° F.
The benefits of the temperature changes are: improve circulation, muscle relaxation, elimination of stress, reduce pain in the sciatic nerve, muscle pain, tendinitis, arthritis, insomnia, and states of recovery after an accident or operation.
A delicious hot lunch is complimentary on this excursion and choices vary including those with food allergies and vegetarian options! You can also purchase fresh fruit smoothies and other beverages from the restaurant. After lunch, you can enjoy more of the thermal pools or purchase one of the optional services of the Kawilal Spa such as Massage Therapy, body treatments, manicure and pedicure, hot stone massage, and relaxing Shiatsu.
The return trip to Puerto Quetzal is only about 30 minutes and the transportation will drop you off in front of your Puerto Quetzal Guatemala cruise terminal.
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