There are a multitude of Mayan ruins that one can see while in the Yucatán Peninsula but why not see the grandest of them all? Tikal National Park contains more than 3,000 buildings spread out over 575 square kilometers. Anywhere from 10,000 to 90,000 Mayans once lived in this jungle civilization.
Located in the North of Guatemala, Flores is a popular overnight stay while visiting Tikal. Flores is a tiny island and it can be walked in approximately ten minutes. Flores has cute restaurants around its perimeter that offer happy hour sunset drink specials. The center of the island near the white cathedral has restaurants where locals less expensively buy their food. A causeway links Flores to Santa Elena which can easily be walked in order to enjoy the markets and mall.
San Miguel Village and Swimming
On the opposite side of Flores is San Miguel Village which is accessible by a 5 Quetzal ferry ride. Although Flores is charming with its brightly painted buildings and church cathedral city scape, it is not preferable to swim here as the perimeter of the island has a concrete ledge leading into the water. Also the ferries frequently drive by disturbing the calm water.
San Miguel is where I preferred to travel for my beach days. After catching the ferry to San Miguel, there is a 15 minute walk through the jungle which leads to Chechenal beach which has clear, blue water. The beach entrance fee is 5 Q. Despite the beauty of this beach I found it to be quite loud and chaotic. The first time I went, drunk local men were listening to music and howling. I typically love authentic local experiences but being around drunk and rowdy men while I’m in a bikini is a threatening situation. The next time I visited this beach it was much earlier in the day. Drunk men hadn’t arrived, however, 30 children were splashing and screaming in the water. Is this beach ever calm and relaxing? Possibly, but I have yet to experience it that way.
Another swimming option on San Miguel is Jorge’s Rope Swing. A family owns a small restaurant and there is a rope swing for jumping into the water and many hammocks to chill in.
Tikal
Most lodging in Flores should be able to help book a trip to Tikal. If not, there are many tourist agencies on the island that can help. It costs 70 Quetzals for transport to and from Flores. For 90 Quetzals you get transport plus a guide. I originally planned to undergo the adventure on my own but for only 20 Quetzals more, why not get a better understanding of this historical site? I’m very happy about this decision because Tikal is massive and without a guide I would have been aimlessly wandering around.
Our guide, Louise, was born and raised on Tikal. Until recently, families helping excavate the ruins actually lived on the property. Louis is also a wildlife expert and used the tour as a chance to point out toucans, howler and spider monkeys, coati, tarantulas and other rare birds. He shared his binoculars with us and was an expert at making animal calls to stir up nearby creatures. For a mere 20 Q I got information on Tikal, help from being lost and a safari! The other guides that we passed were not as enthusiastic and into the wildlife as Louis. Our tour truly was a rare and magical experience. Below is Louis’s WhatsApp if you want to message him and book your tour of Tikal through him. Every 10 days he also offers 3 day jungle hikes in which he puts his wilderness skills to the test, occasionally spotting jaguars!
Louis Oliveros
+502 4863 2464
Tikal’s entrance is 150 Q if you show up after 6am. My shuttle left Flores at 4:30 AM and we got there just as the park opened. We were able to choose if we wanted to take the 11 AM, 12:30 PM or 3 PM shuttle back. Sunrise and sunset tours of Tikal are popular, however, the entrance fee for that is 250 Q. Sunrise seems like a waste of money because the mornings are usually cloudy. If you really fancy a picture of Tikal with a pink sky, sunset might be your best bet.
Ciao Cacao Hostel
I stayed at Ciao Cacao hostel and absolutely loved it. It is unusual from most hostels because the dorm room is loft style. The ceiling is at an angle so instead of having bunk beds, single beds line the walls. Each bed has its own cabinet, fan and an outlet. This unusual design made it feel like I had more privacy and space than the typical dorm style. There was also a kitchen to use as well as a garden and hammock chill area. The staff was fluent in English, easing my anxiety as I arrived to Guatemala with rusty Spanish abilities. This was definitely one of my favorite hostel experiences.
Getting There
Many buses from Belize, Mexico or other parts of Guatemala will take you to Flores. The bus drops you off in Santa Elena and for 5 Q a Tuk-Tuk will take you across the causeway.
Getting from San Ignacio to Flores
For $5 BZD a shared taxi will take you to the Guatemala border.
Grab your bag and walk into the Belize immigration. There is a $40 BZD tourist tax to leave Belize. Once you pay that you can leave Belize and head towards Guatemala.
A C4 stamp gives you 90 days to split between Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Once you enter Guatemala, cross the bridge and ignore the private taxis offering you a ride. After the bridge, take the first street on the left to the colectivo parking lot. For 30 Q you can take a colectivo to San Elena.
From San Elena it cost 5 Q to take a Tuk-Tuk to Flores.
Chronicles of a Wandering Soul 