FLORES AND TIKAL, GUATEMALA

Most people travel to Flores as their final destination out of Guatemala or into Guatemala. For me, it was the latter. Flores more or less acted as a transit stop to Antigua otherwise the lengthy bus ride would be grueling from Belize City to Antigua (12 hours without traffic or bathroom stops).

I had already pre-booked a 10AM shuttle from Belize City to Flores and the journey lasted about 4 hours.

Important Immigration Info: Keep in mind, it costs $20 USD or $40 BZD to exit Belize. Prepare cash. Once you enter Guatemala there is no fee. Go to the counter and grab a customs form to fill out. Make sure you get your passport stamped as you enter Guatemala.

Once you arrive in Flores, there is an island called Flores Island that sits in the middle of Lake Petén Itzá. I highly recommend finding an accommodation on the island. Why? The entire island is walkable and the sunsets are PHENOMENAL.

You can access this view by walking towards the lake on the left side of the island. Or there are many accommodations that you can book along the left side of the lake to enjoy this view from the comfort of your balcony.

As far as Tikal, I booked a 3AM tour with my shuttle service. NOTE: it is important to book tickets to Tikal prior to 6pm the day before you would like to visit. Tour guides must purchase tickets at the bank which closes…You guessed it! At 6pm. I am unsure whether you can buy tickets in person but I know there is currently no option to buy it online.

Now I’m not a morning person, so waking up before the crack of dawn did not interest me, but…IT WAS SO WORTH IT. Oh, and make sure you have a guide otherwise you will see the structures without understanding the amazing history behind this ancient Mayan site.

We hiked up the tallest monument just in time to see the sunrise. The morning was a bit foggy so we could only catch a glimpse of the sun here and there. But that was not the most spectacular experience…as the sun rises the animal rise too. Everyone is dead quiet at the top of the monument (which is a pretty good feat for tourists). Howler monkeys awake and start communicating across the jungle. And their voices echo. Birds are singing loudly, so many different songs. We even saw packs of anteaters.

Tikal and Flores were very much worth it. But don’t take it from me, go see it for yourself!

Recommendations for Tikal and Flores:

• Catch the sunset on Flores Island

• Have dinner at the “Food Tents” in Flores

• Take a boat to the rope swings

• Swim in the lake with locals

• Visit Tikal for the sunrise or sunset

Have any questions? Leave a comment below! Check out my other posts for the rest of my trip to Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama!