Do Police Escort Tour Buses ?

[thescot123]

Below are some pictures of the police escort during my Nov 2009 trip to Santo Tomas on the NCL Spirit. This was two weeks after a tourist was killed while touring the Belgium Cemetery. Some gang members in the back tried to steal his camera which he refused to give up. He was killed but his wife survived. This couple had used a private taxi to take this tour. The police truck followed our tour bus while we did the city tour. We stopped at the same cemetery.

 

Despite these problems which can happen in the USA, this country is amazing. I was saddened when the NCL Spirit from N.O decided to nstop going there. Instead we now go to Roatan which is also pretty but a lot safer.

 

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[Hawaiidan]

I have had friends who touted how safe it was. Well they wound up real dead with their throats cut.

Its a dangerous place in the best of times.

 

You, even at the lowest income are considered wealthy beyond reason, a mark, a target.

 

People do dumb things . Some survive, some dont. its total luck. If you roll the dice long enough your going to loose.

 

I will err on the side of caution.. I dont get off the ship in any Mexican, Guatamala or related port. Just look today at the robbery of a tour bus in Puerto Varta....

 

Count me safe.

[OCruisers]

I have had friends who touted how safe it was. Well they wound up real dead with their throats cut.Its a dangerous place in the best of times.

 

:eek: How awful! Please do give us the details on what happened!

[oregonian cruiser]

We just returned from Puerto Quetzel and we took a ship sponsored excursion to Lake Atitlan which is a 2 1/2 hour drive each way. Our caravan of three tour buses was escorted by two pick up trucks carrying heavily armed security. They were carrying machine guns. We were told by our tour guide that the route we were taking was dangerous and prone to hold ups by extortionists who kidnap, rape, rob and kill.

 

There really was no way of missing the line-up of black pick-up trucks in the parking lot awaiting the dozens of vans and buses to be loaded. As the tour vehicles exited the parking lot the security trucks would pull out in front and fall in behind.

 

Is the 2 1/2 hr drive each way to Lake Atitlan plus ferry ride worth it? Not cost but beautiful scenery? Considering Lake Atitlan vs Antigua for 1 day in Puerto Quetzal from cruise next month. In port from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

[Putterdude]

I have seen lots of beautiful lakes in my time but I have never visited a city quite like Antigua before and I would go again in a heart beat. It's is a step back in time and it's fascinating.

[Jasperdo]

I have seen lots of beautiful lakes in my time but I have never visited a city quite like Antigua before and I would go again in a heart beat. It's is a step back in time and it's fascinating.

We just booked a last minute Panama Canal cruise on Princess that stops in Puerto Quetzal. I've reserved the Antigua on your own tour, that gives us 5 hours of free time there. It looks like a fabulous town to wander around in.

 

What did you see when you were there? I'm very interested in seeing some of the church ruins, and just wandering around the plaza area and side streets. We'll need to have lunch while we're there. Do you have any recommendations?

[lovesublime]

Is the 2 1/2 hr drive each way to Lake Atitlan plus ferry ride worth it? Not cost but beautiful scenery? Considering Lake Atitlan vs Antigua for 1 day in Puerto Quetzal from cruise next month. In port from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM

 

 

 

 

It makes for a long day, but we loved it. The drive to the lake takes you up into the Mayan Highlands. It's nice and cool up there and we saw a lot of how people actually live there. We saw lots of coffee plantations on the way up. We also saw the Mayan women walking home at lunch time with stacks of wood on their heads. We were told they use the wood to build fires to make lunch each day. The landscapes are quite beautiful. Lake Atitlan is beautiful as well. We really enjoyed our day and saw and learned so much about the Mayan people and the general culture of Guatemala as well. Would definitely do it again.