The quetzal is more than just a Guatemalan bird. It’s a national symbol and a source of pride. The colorful male quetzal, with his red chest, green neck, head and wings, and an exceptionally long tail, is so revered in the country that Guatemala’s currency and the port of Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala’s largest Pacific Ocean port bears its name.

Puerto Quetzal is important for both cargo traffic and as a stop-off point for cruise liners, but there is little of interest to the cruise passenger in the immediate vicinity of the Port. There is a market selling lots of crafts and souvenir items for those who choose not to take any tours inland. There are also several bars, hammocks to relax in, a restaurant, and performances from Marimba bands. The nearest town, San Jose, is about a mile away and it doesn’t offer much more of interest.

The most popular shore excursion from Puerto Quetzal is sightseeing in Antigua, about 90 minutes away by bus. Antigua, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, gives you the opportunity to connect Guatemala’s colonial history. The historic city is home to several historical landmarks that have been preserved from the 17th and 18th centuries, including the Palace of the Captains-General and the Universidad de San Carlos. Shore excursions to Antigua often include a stop at the city’s jade factory and museum.

For a more adventurous tour of the Guatemalan countryside, travel from Puerto Quetzal to Lake Atitlan. The 2 1/2-hour journey ends in San Lucas Toliman, a small village near the lake, where you can shop for colorful handmade textiles. Many of the tours to Lake Atitlan include a cruise across the lake, giving you the opportunity to view the volcanoes that surround Lake Atitlan, formed from the caldera of a volcano that last erupted approximately 85,000 years ago.