Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla
The Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla is one of Guatemala’s main Caribbean coast gateways and an important port for cargo moving between Central America, the Caribbean, North America, Europe, and global trade lanes. Located in the department of Izabal near Puerto Barrios, the port serves importers, exporters, manufacturers, retailers, agricultural shippers, food distributors, industrial cargo owners, customs brokers, freight forwarders, logistics providers, and businesses moving cargo through Guatemala’s Atlantic coast.
Santo Tomás de Castilla is especially important for containerized freight, refrigerated cargo, agricultural exports, food products, bananas, coffee, sugar, beverages, consumer goods, retail inventory, machinery, vehicles, construction materials, chemicals where permitted, bulk cargo, project cargo, and general commercial freight. The port is operated by Empresa Portuaria Nacional Santo Tomás de Castilla, which describes the facility as a maritime trade port providing loading, unloading, discharge, and cargo transfer services.
The port’s UN/LOCODE is GTSTC. Shippers should confirm the exact terminal, carrier service, cargo type, customs requirements, documentation, inland delivery plan, container availability, reefer requirements, and terminal cut-off times before booking.
Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla Overview
| Port Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Port name | Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla |
| Country | Guatemala |
| Department / municipality | Izabal / Puerto Barrios area |
| Region | Caribbean Guatemala / Atlantic coast / Central America |
| UN/LOCODE | GTSTC |
| Port type | Seaport / container gateway / multipurpose cargo port / Caribbean logistics gateway |
| Main operator | Empresa Portuaria Nacional Santo Tomás de Castilla |
| Main cargo focus | Containers, refrigerated cargo, agricultural exports, food products, consumer goods, machinery, vehicles, bulk cargo, chemicals where permitted, industrial freight |
| Main terminal types | Container facilities, multipurpose berths, reefer areas, cargo yards, customs zones, warehouses, trucking and logistics areas |
| Cargo types | Containers, pallets, cartons, refrigerated cargo, food products, agricultural goods, vehicles, machinery, chemicals where permitted, project cargo, bulk cargo, general freight |
| Suitable for | Importers, exporters, agricultural shippers, manufacturers, retailers, food distributors, customs brokers, freight forwarders, Guatemala and Central America supply chains |
Why Ship Through the Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla?
Santo Tomás de Castilla is strategically located on Guatemala’s Caribbean coast, close to Puerto Barrios and connected to inland markets through road corridors toward Guatemala City, the eastern highlands, Honduras, El Salvador, and other Central American markets. Its Atlantic-facing position makes it useful for cargo moving between Guatemala and North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and transshipment hubs in Panama and the wider Caribbean.
For importers, Santo Tomás de Castilla provides access to Guatemala’s Caribbean gateway for consumer goods, food products, machinery, vehicles, retail cargo, industrial inputs, construction materials, and temperature-sensitive shipments. For exporters, the port supports Guatemalan agricultural products, food products, beverages, coffee, bananas, sugar, manufactured goods, textiles, apparel, and general commercial cargo moving to international markets.
Santo Tomás de Castilla is especially relevant for businesses that need access to:
- Guatemala’s Caribbean coast and Atlantic trade routes
- Central American import and export logistics
- Puerto Barrios, Izabal, Guatemala City, eastern Guatemala, Honduras, and regional inland markets
- Container, reefer, multipurpose, bulk, and general cargo handling
- Agricultural, food, beverage, retail, industrial, construction, and manufacturing cargo flows
- Customs, warehousing, trucking, consolidation, and inland delivery services
- Trade routes connecting Guatemala with North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and global shipping networks
Container Shipping Through Santo Tomás de Castilla
The Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla supports containerized import and export cargo, refrigerated cargo, general cargo, bulk cargo, and project cargo. Container services through Santo Tomás de Castilla can support FCL shipments, LCL shipments, retail inventory, agricultural cargo, food products, consumer goods, machinery, industrial goods, vehicles, and temperature-sensitive freight where service is available.
Businesses use Santo Tomás de Castilla for:
- Import containers into Izabal, Guatemala City, eastern Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and nearby Central American markets
- Export containers from Guatemalan agricultural producers, food companies, manufacturers, textile suppliers, distributors, and industrial shippers
- Full container load shipments
- Less than container load shipments
- Refrigerated cargo and temperature-sensitive freight
- Bananas, coffee, sugar, food products, beverages, and agricultural goods
- Consumer goods, retail inventory, household goods, and eCommerce stock
- Machinery, spare parts, tools, and industrial equipment
- Vehicles, automotive parts, tires, and accessories
- Construction materials and building products
- Chemicals, plastics, resins, and industrial materials where permitted
- Project cargo and oversized equipment
- Cargo moving to or from Santo Tomás de Castilla, Puerto Barrios, Guatemala City, Zacapa, Chiquimula, Cobán, Quetzaltenango, Honduras, El Salvador, and wider Central America
- Shipments connected to Miami, Port Everglades, Houston, New Orleans, New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Charleston, Cartagena, Colón, Manzanillo, Kingston, Caucedo, Rio Haina, Veracruz, Altamira, Callao, Guayaquil, Santos, Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg, Valencia, Algeciras, and other global gateways
For larger shipments, FCL shipping is usually suitable when cargo can fill a 20ft or 40ft container. For smaller shipments, LCL shipping allows businesses to move partial container loads without paying for a full container.
Santo Tomás de Castilla Freight Rates
Freight Shipping Cost from & to Santo Tomás de Castilla for a 20-foot Container
Port Capacity and Terminal Infrastructure
The Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla is a multipurpose Caribbean coast port with infrastructure for container handling, refrigerated cargo, general cargo, bulk cargo, project cargo, warehousing, customs procedures, and inland trucking. Empresa Portuaria Nacional Santo Tomás de Castilla operates the national port terminal, and carrier schedules identify Empresa Portuaria Nacional Terminal as the terminal used for Santo Tomás de Castilla container calls.
The port’s infrastructure supports:
- Container handling
- FCL and LCL cargo
- Import and export container flows
- Refrigerated and frozen cargo handling
- Food products and temperature-sensitive shipments
- Agricultural exports and packaged goods
- Consumer goods and retail cargo
- Machinery, spare parts, and industrial equipment
- Vehicles and automotive parts
- Construction materials and project cargo
- Chemicals, plastics, and resins where permitted
- Bulk cargo and general cargo
- Yard, gate, and terminal operations
- Customs and inspection procedures
- Warehousing and distribution
- Trucking connections across Guatemala and nearby Central American markets
- Regional Caribbean and Atlantic shipping services
This infrastructure makes Santo Tomás de Castilla suitable for shippers that need a Guatemalan Caribbean gateway, agricultural export access, refrigerated cargo handling, inland distribution, container shipping, multipurpose cargo services, and regional Central American logistics.
Main Cargo Handled Through Santo Tomás de Castilla
The Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla handles a broad mix of containerized cargo, refrigerated cargo, agricultural exports, food products, beverages, consumer goods, retail inventory, machinery, vehicles, industrial inputs, construction materials, chemicals where permitted, bulk cargo, project cargo, and general commercial freight.
| Cargo Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Containerized imports | Consumer goods, food products, beverages, machinery, retail inventory, industrial inputs, general cargo |
| Containerized exports | Bananas, coffee, sugar, food products, beverages, textiles, manufactured goods, agricultural cargo |
| Refrigerated cargo | Bananas, frozen food, chilled cargo, perishables, temperature-sensitive products where service is available |
| Agricultural cargo | Bananas, coffee, sugar, cardamom, produce, processed agricultural goods, packaged exports |
| Food and beverage cargo | Packaged foods, drinks, ingredients, canned goods, frozen products, fresh products where permitted |
| Retail and consumer goods | Store inventory, household goods, electronics, clothing, seasonal products |
| Machinery cargo | Equipment, spare parts, tools, industrial machinery, construction equipment |
| Automotive cargo | Vehicles, parts, tires, accessories, aftermarket products |
| Chemical and plastic cargo | Packaged chemicals, resins, plastics, industrial materials where permitted |
| Construction and project cargo | Building materials, oversized equipment, project components, infrastructure cargo |
| Bulk cargo | Dry bulk goods, raw materials, agricultural inputs, industrial materials where terminal service is available |
| General cargo | Pallets, cartons, mixed commercial freight, samples, packaged goods |
Santo Tomás de Castilla is especially relevant for shippers that need access to Guatemala’s Caribbean coast, Central American inland corridors, agricultural export flows, refrigerated cargo services, and regional distribution networks.
Shipping to Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala
Importers ship cargo to Santo Tomás de Castilla from North America, Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, and other global trade regions. Imported cargo may support retail distribution, food supply chains, manufacturing, construction, wholesale markets, industrial production, agricultural processing, and inland delivery across Guatemala and nearby Central American markets.
Common imports to Santo Tomás de Castilla include:
- Food products and beverages
- Frozen and chilled cargo where service is available
- Consumer goods and retail inventory
- Electronics and household goods
- Machinery and spare parts
- Industrial equipment and production inputs
- Construction materials
- Vehicles and automotive parts
- Chemicals, plastics, and resins where permitted
- Packaging materials
- Agricultural inputs
- Medical and healthcare products where permitted
- General commercial freight
- Project cargo and oversized equipment
When shipping to Santo Tomás de Castilla, importers should compare total landed cost rather than only the ocean freight rate. Total landed cost may include origin charges, ocean freight, destination charges, Guatemalan customs duties, VAT or other taxes where applicable, terminal handling, customs broker fees, documentation fees, inspection fees, storage, demurrage, detention, trucking, inland delivery, warehouse handling, and cargo insurance.
Use the iContainers ocean freight calculator to estimate shipping costs and compare available freight options.
Shipping From Santo Tomás de Castilla, Guatemala
Exporters use Santo Tomás de Castilla for cargo moving from Guatemala to North America, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and other international markets. The port can support containerized exports, refrigerated exports, agricultural goods, food and beverage products, manufactured goods, textiles, industrial goods, bulk cargo, and general commercial freight.
Common export cargo from Santo Tomás de Castilla and Guatemala includes:
- Bananas and refrigerated agricultural cargo
- Coffee, sugar, cardamom, and agricultural products
- Food products and beverages
- Frozen and chilled cargo where service is available
- Textiles, apparel, and manufactured goods
- Consumer goods and retail products
- Industrial products and components
- Chemicals, plastics, and resins where permitted
- Machinery and spare parts
- Bulk cargo where terminal services are available
- General containerized freight
For exporters, the best shipping option depends on cargo volume, commodity type, destination, Incoterm, carrier service, terminal cut-off, container availability, export documentation, inland pickup location, inspection requirements, commodity restrictions, and required transit time.
FCL is usually more efficient for larger commercial volumes, while LCL can work well for smaller shipments, samples, cartons, pallets, and partial container loads moving through consolidation networks.
FCL vs LCL Shipping Through Santo Tomás de Castilla
| Shipping Option | Best For | Main Advantage | Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| FCL shipping | Full 20ft or 40ft container loads | Dedicated container and fewer cargo touchpoints | Best when shipment volume justifies a full container |
| LCL shipping | Smaller shipments, cartons, pallets, samples, partial loads | Pay only for the space used | May involve consolidation or deconsolidation through Santo Tomás de Castilla, Puerto Barrios, Miami, Panama, or another regional hub |
| Reefer container | Bananas, frozen food, chilled cargo, perishables, temperature-sensitive goods | Maintains controlled temperature during transit | Requires reefer equipment, plug availability, temperature settings, and documentation |
| Agricultural cargo | Bananas, coffee, sugar, cardamom, produce, food products | Strong fit for Guatemalan export flows | Requires product classification, permits where applicable, and inspection planning |
| Retail and consumer goods | Store inventory, household goods, electronics, apparel | Useful for Guatemala-bound commercial cargo | Requires packing control, accurate invoices, labeling, and delivery scheduling |
| Machinery and industrial cargo | Equipment, spare parts, tools, construction machinery | Supports industrial and infrastructure supply chains | Requires weight checks, packing, permits where applicable, and lifting plans |
| Automotive cargo | Vehicles, parts, tires, accessories, aftermarket products | Supports vehicle and parts imports | Requires vehicle documentation, customs classification, and delivery planning |
| Chemical and plastic cargo | Packaged chemicals, resins, plastics, industrial materials | Supports manufacturing and industrial supply chains | Requires classification, permits, safety documentation, and terminal compatibility |
| Project cargo | Oversized equipment, heavy machinery, infrastructure components | Useful for cargo that does not fit standard containers | Requires dimensions, weight details, lifting plans, route checks, and special handling |
| General cargo shipping | Consumer goods, machinery, retail goods, packaged cargo | Flexible for standard commercial freight | Requires accurate packing, labeling, documentation, and cargo details |
For shippers comparing route options, iContainers’ transit time calculator can help estimate shipping times before booking.
Customs Clearance at Santo Tomás de Castilla and Guatemala
Cargo imported or exported through Santo Tomás de Castilla must comply with Guatemalan customs and border requirements. Importers, exporters, freight forwarders, customs brokers, manufacturers, retailers, food distributors, agricultural shippers, and logistics providers should prepare accurate shipment data before cargo arrival, customs declaration, inspection, release, inland delivery, or vessel departure.
Required data may include product descriptions, HS codes, customs value, country of origin, shipper details, consignee details, importer information, exporter information, tax details, permits where applicable, sanitary licenses where applicable, product registrations where applicable, and supporting documentation.
Commercial shipments through Guatemala may require documents such as a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or sea waybill, customs declaration, import declaration, export declaration when applicable, certificate of origin when required, import permit or export permit when applicable, insurance certificate, and product-specific certificates or inspection documents.
The International Trade Administration notes that importers of certain food-related products in Guatemala may need legal registration, sanitary licenses, product registration, and Spanish-language labeling requirements. Regulated goods such as food products, agricultural goods, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, electronics, batteries, hazardous cargo, plants, animals, vehicles, textiles, dual-use goods, and restricted items may require additional permits, inspection, testing, certification, safety documentation, sanitary or phytosanitary clearance, product compliance records, or agency authorization under Guatemalan rules.
For more general guidance, read iContainers’ guide to customs clearance.
Documents Needed for Shipping Through Santo Tomás de Castilla
Most commercial ocean freight shipments to or from Santo Tomás de Castilla require:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading or sea waybill
- Customs declaration
- Import declaration, when importing into Guatemala
- Export declaration, when exporting from Guatemala
- HS code or product classification
- Importer details, when importing into Guatemala
- Exporter details, when exporting from Guatemala
- Consignee and shipper details
- Tax identification details, when applicable
- Certificate of origin, when required
- CAFTA-DR origin certification, when claiming preferential tariff treatment where applicable
- Import permit or export permit, when applicable
- Product inspection documents, when applicable
- Sanitary license, product registration, or food safety documentation, when applicable
- Spanish-language labeling documentation, when applicable
- Delivery order or cargo release documents
- Insurance certificate, when applicable
- Product conformity documents, when applicable
- Sanitary or phytosanitary certificates, when applicable
- Health certificate, when applicable
- Veterinary certificate, when applicable
- Chemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, medical device, electronics, battery, textile, vehicle, or agricultural documentation, when applicable
- Dangerous goods declaration, when applicable
- Safety data sheet, for chemicals or hazardous cargo
- Battery documentation, when applicable
- Customs broker authorization, when using a customs broker
- Inland transport documents, when cargo moves by truck, warehouse transfer, bonded logistics transfer, or final delivery
Documentation should be complete and consistent before cargo arrival, customs release, inland transfer, export gate-in, or vessel departure. Incorrect HS codes, incomplete product descriptions, missing permits, inaccurate invoices, inconsistent consignee details, late customs filings, missing inspection documents, unclear cargo values, missing sanitary records, or missing agency approvals can delay customs clearance and increase costs.
Common Shipping Routes for Santo Tomás de Castilla
Santo Tomás de Castilla connects Guatemala’s Caribbean coast with North American, Latin American, Caribbean, European, Asian, and global trade lanes through container services, feeder services, regional transshipment hubs, trucking, warehousing, customs services, and inland logistics networks.
| Trade Lane | Common Cargo |
|---|---|
| North America to Santo Tomás de Castilla | Food products, retail cargo, machinery, vehicles, industrial inputs, consumer goods |
| Santo Tomás de Castilla to North America | Bananas, coffee, sugar, food products, textiles, manufactured goods |
| Europe to Santo Tomás de Castilla | Machinery, food products, beverages, industrial goods, consumer goods |
| Santo Tomás de Castilla to Europe | Coffee, bananas, sugar, food products, agricultural goods, manufactured goods |
| Latin America to Santo Tomás de Castilla | Food products, raw materials, industrial goods, consumer goods, regional cargo |
| Santo Tomás de Castilla to Latin America | Manufactured goods, food products, agricultural goods, general freight |
| Caribbean to Santo Tomás de Castilla | Regional cargo, consumer goods, food products, transshipment cargo |
| Santo Tomás de Castilla to Caribbean | Food products, agricultural cargo, retail cargo, industrial goods, feeder cargo |
| Asia to Santo Tomás de Castilla | Consumer goods, machinery, electronics, retail cargo, industrial inputs |
| Santo Tomás de Castilla to Asia | Food products, agricultural goods, manufactured goods, general cargo |
Routing may involve direct ocean services, feeder services, trucking, inland pickup, or transshipment through Santo Tomás de Castilla, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Cortés, Cartagena, Colón, Manzanillo, Kingston, Caucedo, Rio Haina, Miami, Port Everglades, Houston, New Orleans, New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Charleston, Veracruz, Altamira, Callao, Guayaquil, Santos, Rotterdam, Antwerp-Bruges, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Valencia, Algeciras, Singapore, Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Shenzhen, and other hubs depending on carrier schedule, cargo type, terminal availability, and destination.
When Should You Use Santo Tomás de Castilla Instead of Another Guatemalan or Central American Port?
Santo Tomás de Castilla can be suitable when:
- The cargo origin or destination is in eastern Guatemala, Izabal, Guatemala City, or the Caribbean side of Central America
- The shipment needs access to Guatemala’s Atlantic trade routes
- The cargo benefits from Caribbean, North American, or European service options
- The shipment involves containers, reefer cargo, agricultural exports, food products, consumer goods, machinery, vehicles, industrial inputs, construction materials, bulk cargo, or project cargo
- Inland delivery is more efficient through Santo Tomás de Castilla than through Puerto Quetzal, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Cortés, Acajutla, or another regional gateway
- Carrier schedule, terminal availability, trucking cost, customs process, cargo type, equipment availability, and landed cost are better through Santo Tomás de Castilla
Another Guatemalan or Central American port may be more suitable when cargo is closer to a different gateway or when a specific carrier service, inland route, terminal, or commodity flow provides a better total cost. Puerto Quetzal may be more suitable for Pacific trade lanes, Asia-Pacific cargo, or shipments tied to Guatemala’s Pacific coast. Puerto Barrios may be relevant for some Caribbean agricultural and container flows. Puerto Cortés in Honduras may be useful for certain regional Central American routes depending on inland origin, carrier service, and total landed cost.
The right port choice should be based on total landed cost, cargo origin, inland distance, terminal availability, current operational status, sailing schedule, commodity type, customs requirements, reefer needs, service frequency, trucking capacity, warehouse availability, and required delivery date.
How to Get an Ocean Freight Quote for Santo Tomás de Castilla
To get a freight quote to or from Santo Tomás de Castilla, prepare the following details:
- Origin and destination
- Port-to-port, door-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-door requirement
- Cargo weight and dimensions
- Number of pallets, cartons, boxes, containers, or shipment units
- FCL, LCL, reefer, general cargo, hazardous cargo, machinery cargo, chemical cargo, industrial cargo, food cargo, agricultural cargo, retail cargo, vehicle cargo, project cargo, bulk cargo, or temperature-controlled cargo preference
- Commodity description and HS code, if available
- Cargo ready date
- Incoterm
- Supplier, warehouse, factory, farm, production site, distribution center, or inland pickup address, if exporting
- Final delivery address, if importing or arranging door delivery
- Customs clearance requirements
- Import permit, export permit, product permit, export license, sanitary license, product registration, or agency requirement, if applicable
- Product inspection, safety, sanitary, phytosanitary, customs, food, chemical, battery, vehicle, or other agency requirements, if applicable
- Special handling requirements, such as reefer cargo, hazardous cargo, chemicals, lithium batteries, food cargo, agricultural cargo, oversized cargo, customs inspection, product testing, high-value cargo, or warehouse delivery
- Preferred carrier, terminal, trucking provider, customs broker, warehouse, bonded logistics facility, consolidation provider, or transshipment hub, if already specified
With iContainers, businesses can compare ocean freight options online, review available rates, and manage international shipments through a digital booking process.
FAQ About the Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla
The Port of Santo Tomás de Castilla is located on Guatemala’s Caribbean coast in the department of Izabal, near Puerto Barrios.
The UN/LOCODE for Santo Tomás de Castilla is GTSTC.
Santo Tomás de Castilla handles containerized cargo, refrigerated cargo, agricultural exports, food products, bananas, coffee, sugar, consumer goods, machinery, vehicles, construction materials, chemicals where permitted, bulk cargo, project cargo, and general commercial freight.
Yes. Santo Tomás de Castilla is useful for Guatemalan agricultural and food exports, including refrigerated cargo and products moving through Atlantic and Caribbean trade lanes.
Santo Tomás de Castilla can serve Izabal, Puerto Barrios, Guatemala City, eastern Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and other Central American markets depending on trucking, warehousing, customs, and final delivery arrangements.