Visiting Tikal, Guatemala
My husband and I finally took a trip to Tikal to see the Mayan ruins on our 8th trip to the beautiful country of Guatemala.
I will share how we traveled, where we stayed, and how we visited the Tikal National Park in this post on Visiting Tikal, Guatemala.
You can also read about our Adventures in Antigua, Guatemala.
Visiting Tikal, Guatemala
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Visiting Tikal, Guatemala: How to Get There
Most people visit Tikal as a day trip by flying from Guatemala City to Flores early in the morning, touring the park, and then returning that same evening. It makes for a very very long day especially if you are staying in Antigua. The flights to Flores are offered at around 6 am, so you will need to leave Antigua around 3 am to make sure you make the flight.
There are 2 airlines offering flights. We chose Avianca because they fly larger planes and offer a more comfortable experience. The other option is TAG Airlines, which is a more budget experience.
Both airlines have 2 flights a day from Guatemala City to Flores – one early in the morning and one in the late afternoon. They fly to Flores and then return to Guatemala City immediately after for the return flights.
Visiting Flores, Guatemala: Where to Stay
We chose to stay in Flores for 2 nights rather than do the day trip. We stayed at the Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel. It was a jungle paradise. We rented one of their “suites.” They are called suites, but are actually 18 little cabins. Ours was one of the four Waterfront Master Suites. It was so lovely.
We were there in July, which is the off-season. There was only one other cabin being used, so we felt like we had the resort to ourselves. If you happen to be a celebrity or someone seeking privacy, this is the place for you!
Visiting Tikal, Guatemala: Touring Tikal National Park
We booked a private tour of Tikal National Park through the hotel. A guide picked us up at the hotel and took us to the park. A guide is worth the price. There is so much to see and to learn about while you are there.
Tikal National Park contains the ruins of a sophisticated Mayan civilization dating back to 900 BC. The park is as beautiful as it is astounding. Here are some things to know:
- Yes, it is hot and humid! You are in the jungle. We were there in July, so the heat and humidity were at their peak.
- We had worried about mosquitos and took malaria prophylaxis in the days leading up to our trip.
- We dressed in short sleeved shirts and long pants and wiped our exposed skin with DEET wipes. Neither of us was bitten at all! We get more bites in our backyard in Tulsa in the evenings than we got in Tikal. Most of the tourists were in shorts. I would probably wear shorts if I went again. It was hot!! We also discontinued the malaria meds because we did not get bit.
- We did not use sunscreen, but we probably should have. I did not think about getting sun in the middle of the jungle. You get the sun when you climb the temples. We both were a little burned on our arms.
- A hat is a good thing to have. I LOVE my Outdoor Research Sun Hat!
- You can climb some of the temples, but not all of them. They have built staircases for the climbs. These are not easy climbs, but are doable. I would describe myself as in adequate shape and I completed them. My husband is a really good shape and they were not an issue at all for him. My calves ached for a few days after doing the climbs. The views are spectacular!!
Going to Tikal was a bucket list item for us and I am so delighted we finally made the trip. I hope this Visiting Tikal, Guatemala post is helpful to you as you plan your trip.
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