# Santo Tomas De Castilla (GTIZ4)

**UN/LOCODE:** GTIZ4  
**Country:** Guatemala  
**Water Body:** Caribbean Sea; North Atlantic Ocean  
**Harbor Size:** Small  
**Harbor Type:** Coastal (Natural)  
**GPS:** 15.7000, -88.6167

State operator EMPORNAC runs Santo Tomás de Castilla (GTIZ4), Guatemala's leading Caribbean port on the Bay of Amatique and the entry point for roughly 60% of the country's containerised trade and 65% of its liquid bulk. About 1,100 vessels call each year, with a maximum length of 229 m and drafts to around 9.5 m. The port handles dry bulk such as grain and fertiliser, containers, RoRo units, palletised bananas and bagged coffee, plus tallow and oil products moved through dedicated pipelines. Under the "Plan Conecta" programme the quay is being extended roughly 10 metres seaward on 46-metre piles, which would allow dredging to about 15 metres later on; a new reefer container yard and an expansion of the "Los Monos" yard covering some 5,100 square metres and holding about 516 TEU are due for completion in October 2026. EMPORNAC puts the cost of upgrading all four berths for post-Panamax vessels at around USD 300 million, with Asian investors among the parties in discussion. Hinterland cargo travels by road to Guatemala City and the central highlands, rail plays almost no role, and customs is cleared on site by Guatemala's SAT authority. Until the works land, the 9.5 m draft limit keeps the largest container vessels away, so deep-draught services often favour the Pacific side. Privately run Puerto Barrios (Del Monte) and Pacific-coast Puerto Quetzal are the main alternatives.

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*Freight Academy — Seaport Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/santo-tomas-de-castilla-port-gtiz4](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/santo-tomas-de-castilla-port-gtiz4)*

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