Quiriguá Mayan site from Santo Tomas Port: UNESCO ruins tour

Guatemala's biggest Mayan stone monuments in one morning from the port

A five-hour tour from Santo Tomas Port to Quiriguá, a UNESCO World Heritage site holding the largest collection of Mayan stelae and zoomorphs from the Classic period. The route covers roughly 90 minutes each way by private vehicle or minivan, with a guided tour of the site itself lasting about 90 minutes. Entrance fee, transport and an English-language guide are included. The operator dispatches smaller vehicles to avoid the delays that plague larger tour buses on the regional roads.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Quirigua Mayan site from port

• Depart from Santo Tomas Port
• Travel 1.5 hours to Quirigua
• Tour Quirigua Mayan monuments
• Return to Santo Tomas Port

The experience

The drive from Santo Tomas Port to Quiriguá takes about 90 minutes through banana plantations that now surround the archaeological zone. Once you arrive at the UNESCO-designated site, a guide leads you through the ruins for roughly 90 minutes, focusing on the stelae and zoomorphs, carved stone monuments, that make Quiriguá distinct. The site holds the largest collection of these monuments from the Mayan Classic period, along with hieroglyphic inscriptions and evidence of the Mayan calendar carved into stone.

Private vehicles or minivans replace the standard tour bus, which means faster travel on congested roads and a smaller group moving through the site. The return journey to Santo Tomas Port takes the same 90 minutes, putting you back at the port roughly five hours after departure. An English-speaking guide is included. Spanish-language guides are also available.

What’s included

• Entrance fee to Quiriguá.
• round-trip land transportation from Santo Tomas Port in a private vehicle or minivan.
• English-language guide (Spanish-language guides available).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Guate Tours by Nelson.

Is this one for you?The full journey (drive, tour and return) spans five hours, so book this if you have a morning or afternoon free from your port schedule and don't mind spending most of it in transit to see the largest Mayan monument collection in one place.

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How long is the actual tour at Quiriguá once I arrive?

The guided tour of the site itself lasts roughly 90 minutes, covering the stelae, zoomorphs and hieroglyphic carvings that make up the largest Mayan monument collection from the Classic period.

What is Quiriguá and why is it significant?

Quiriguá is a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site in Guatemala holding the largest collection of Mayan stelae and zoomorphs, carved stone monuments, from the Classic period, along with hieroglyphic inscriptions and Mayan calendar carvings that help archaeologists understand the culture.

Why does this tour use smaller vehicles instead of big buses?

Private vehicles and minivans move faster on the regional roads than large tour buses, which face significant traffic delays. The smaller transport is what keeps the total trip to five hours instead of much longer.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes entrance to Quiriguá, land transportation from Santo Tomas Port and back, and an English-speaking guide. Meals are not included.