Container drayage at Puerto Quetzal.

The port

Puerto Quetzal is Guatemala’s main Pacific port. It is located in the municipality of San José, Escuintla, and is run by the Empresa Portuaria Quetzal.

Containerized cargo is handled mainly at the APM Terminals Quetzal container terminal. It is the country’s gateway to Pacific shipping routes.

Import from Puerto Quetzal

1. Release. The shipping line and customs release the container. This step is handled by you and your customs broker.
2. Terminal appointment. We book the pickup appointment at the terminal.
3. Port pickup. We pick up the container at Puerto Quetzal.
4. Delivery. We haul it to your warehouse, plant or delivery point for unloading.
5. Empty return. We return the empty container to the yard designated by the shipping line.

Export through Puerto Quetzal

1. Booking. The shipping line confirms the booking. This step is handled by you or your freight forwarder.
2. Empty pickup. We pick up the empty container at the shipping line’s yard.
3. Loading. We bring it to your plant or warehouse for loading.
4. Terminal appointment. We book the gate-in appointment at the terminal.
5. Terminal delivery. We deliver the loaded container to Puerto Quetzal ahead of the vessel cutoff.

Routes and destinations

The route inland is the CA-9, which runs through Escuintla and Palín to Guatemala City. From Escuintla, the CA-2 connects with the southern coast and the west of the country.

Some of the destinations on this route: Escuintla, Guatemala City, Chimaltenango, Retalhuleu, Quetzaltenango. We deliver nationwide.

What to prepare for a quote

• Type of operation: import or export.
• Delivery or pickup address (city, warehouse or plant).
• Equipment (20 or 40 ft) and number of containers.
• Gross weight per container, if you already know it.
• Expected date and the free days granted by the shipping line.
• Special conditions: overweight cargo or in-bond transport.

More detail in the guide What is drayage?.