Ultimate Guide to Tikal National Park
The most astounding Mayan ancient city I have ever visited is Tikal National Park. The province of Peten in northern Guatemala is home to this UNESCO site. The park is 57,600 hectares of stunning forest and archaeological ruins. Due to its remote location, some advance planning is necessary. here is all you need to know about booking your trip to Tikal National Park.
Table of Contents
Flights
Most people travel to Tikal National Park by airplane from Guatemala City (GUA) to Flores (FRS). There are two airlines that operate this segment: TAG Airlines and Avianca. This nonstop flight takes approximately 45 mins to 1 hour depending on the aircraft type. I purchased a round-trip ticket about 3 weeks in advance for $135 on TAG Airlines. A last minute ticket can cost about $250 round trip if there are seats available.
The flight to Flores was pretty straightforward—no surprises, just a smooth and uneventful trip. The return flight, however, turned out to be a bit more interesting.
I was originally scheduled to depart Flores at 10:50 AM, but when I checked in, my boarding pass showed an updated departure time of 11:00 AM. Oddly enough, my friend—who had booked their ticket within the same hour as I did—had a departure time listed as 11:15 AM. It wasn’t clear if the airline was overbooked or just shuffling things around, but that was the first sign that this wouldn’t be a typical travel day.
Everyone lined up to board the usual ATR 72 aircraft, but then, in a surprise twist, I was one of twelve passengers randomly selected for an alternate flight. Instead of the standard twin-prop, we were reassigned to a much smaller, single turbo prop Cessna. It felt more like being drafted into a tiny air expedition than catching a commercial flight.
Because the Cessna is so sensitive to weight and balance, the gate agent actually had each of us step onto a scale—yes, like a luggage scale—to weigh both ourselves and our bags. That was a first for me; I’ve never had my body weight factored into a flight plan before.
My friend’s plane took off about 10 minutes ahead of ours, but because our aircraft flew lower and slower, we landed roughly 30 minutes after the ATR had arrived in Guatemala City. Despite the delay, the flight offered incredible views, so I really didn’t mind the extra time in the air.
When we landed, we had to walk across the tarmac to reach the main terminal. Typically, customs is reserved for international arrivals, but since ours was a domestic flight, we were able to bypass the longer international line. All we had to do was show our domestic boarding pass to the agent, and we were allowed to move straight to the front.
All in all, what started as a routine flight turned into an unexpected—and pretty memorable—travel experience.
Transportation
To/From Airport
Flores does not have reliable public transportation or any rideshare services. Many accommodations in Flores provide free transportation to and from the airport with advance notice. One can also book private transportation in advance. Without prior notice, the only option is to hail a taxi.
Getting Around Flores
There is a lake in the middle of Flores. To travel around the surrounding towns, one can take the lancha (boats). The price varies on location and time of year. We travelled during off season and a tour around the lake cost us Q200. Our colleagues paid Q100 for a tour but they did not dock. Our driver specified that he generally charges Q300 to Q400 but business has been slow.
Getting to Tikal
It is about 65 km or 1.5 hours drive to get from Flores to Tikal. Here are some of the ways to get to Tikal:
Shuttle
There are several shuttle companies that travel from Flores to Tikal for $20 round trip. This is the most economical way to visit, however, there is a time restriction of 7ish hours from leaving Flores to departing Tikal. The price does not include tickets to the park or a guide if needed. During my research, I came across Adrenalina Tours that offers this sort of transportation. Please note that the shuttle will not wait for any missing passengers.
Private Transportation
Private transportation is convenient because the driver will wait for you. The price of this transportation can vary. I have seen prices from $100-$150 USD. Tikal VIP Tours offers private transit for $110. Private Transportation does not include entry fee or a guide.
Tours
Group tours are great for people who like to meet other travelers and move around stress-free. Prices for group tours can range from $50 to $200 depending on the size of the tour. Private tours are about $250. I booked a small group sunrise tour with Gem Trips. Marlon, the owner was phenomenal. The tour was $160 which included transportation, breakfast, lunch, and a guide but did not include entrance fees.
Entry Fees
Most travelers may have to purchase their own entrance ticket to enter Tikal. In addition to the park’s entrance, those who opt for the sunrise or sunset tours must purchase an additional entrance ticket to be permitted on the premises during park’s closure. Tickets can be purchased here. Sunrise and sunset tickets are both Q100 and entrance fees are Q150. Please note that those who wish to do the sunrise tour must purchase all tickets in advance as the bank to purchase tickets will be closed. You will need your passport to purchase tickets and a 2.30% surcharge will be added to any international bank cards used.
Tickets can also be purchased at the park (the bank) during business hours. Visitors must bring their passports and only cash is acceptable at the bank.
Guide
Tikal is large and I highly recommend getting a guide. Guides can explain the history of the location, take you to must see destinations, and spot wildlife for you. During regular hours, guides can be found outside the entrance. For sunrise and sunset tours, a guide should be a requirement. The park is dark and can be dangerous to wander around alone.
Weather
Peten is known to be warmer than the rest of Guatemala. When I visited Tikal, it was 110 degrees. Make sure to check the weather before you depart. Visiting during sunrise or sunset may be the best option during these high-temperature months.
Where to Stay
We stayed at Hotel Isla de Flores. It cost us a total of $172.58 between the two of us. We were located on the third floor which could be noisy due to the rooftop bar on the 4th floor. The rooms were comfortable with air conditioning to cool us off from the heat. The hotel was a short walk to the waterfront.
The hotel provided free transportation to and from the airport with advance notice.
→ Avenida La Reforma, Flores 17001, Guatemala
Itinerary
Day 1: May 25, 2024
Morning: Airport
I took a late morning flight to Flores. My hotel picked me up at the airport. The airport was only 3km, or 10 minutes away. I waited a few minutes before I was able to check into my hotel.
Lunch: Bakery
After checking in, I made my way to the downstairs bakery for lunch. I ordered a chicken salad sandwich. It was surprisingly delicious.
Afternoon: Explore Flores
I spent the afternoon exploring Flores. Due to the extreme heat, it was difficult to take a stroll. We decided to take a tour around the lake. There are several Lancha boats for hire. These boat drivers are mostly independently owned and have their own pricing. The driver can show you around the lake without docking or you can request to be dropped you off at a specific island. I travelled off-season and my driver asked for Q200 for an hour for the three of us. At this point, we haggled down to Q150, but he did a fantastic job that we honored the Q200 and gave him a little extra.
Our driver took us to several sights including San Miguel viewpoint, Chechenal Beach, and Santa Barbara Museum of Mayan Archaeology. We were able to dock once and he pointed out some of the main attractions. We passed by other sites and asked if we wanted to dock, but we were fine just relaxing on the boat. After our tour, our guide gave us his number in case we needed to get around the lake.
Dinner: Mango’s Bar
→ Avenida Reforma, Flores Peten Guatemala, Flores 17001 Guatemala
Our boat driver was raving on the bar inside our hotel called, Mango’s Bar. He said it was a fun bar and that we should check it out. We made it in time for happy hour. Select drinks were buy two for the price of one. I ordered the Jamaica Margarita. Service is extremely slow. We ordered food and that took close to two hours. We were falling asleep at the table at this point. Despite that, the vibe was great before hunger took over. They had a live band that was versatile. They performed Latin hits as well as top 100 songs. Next time, I would skip the food and only come here for a night cap.
Day 2: May 26, 2024
We attempted to go to bed early. My friend and I decided to do the sunrise Tikal tour which meant a pick up time of 2:55am. The tour typically picks up at 2:35, but because the tour only had one other party, our guide, Marlon said we could sleep in a little longer.
Gem Trips
Gem Trips picked us right on time. There was another party who had waited maybe 30 minutes and was never notified that it was running late. This is a perk of paying a bit more with a reputable company.
Morning: Drive to Tikal National Park for the Sunrise
The drive from downtown Flores to Tikal took about an hour. The drive was bumpy and dark. Upon arriving at Tikal, there were two guards that approached our vehicle to register our car. We drove a little bit further until we reached the Jaguar Hotel. Here, we met the rest of our party. In the lobby, there was another tour group. There was a gentleman in the group that went into panic mode when he found out that he needed to pre-purchase the sunrise tour ticket. He went as far as trying to walk in the park all by himself in the dark. Our guide had to stop him and told him to join our group until we catch up with his party. At the hotel, we had some coffee and started to venture out in the dark. We went to the bank to get our wrist bands. We had one band for the entrance to the park and another band to enter the park during sunrise.
The hike through the park started in complete darkness. Our guide had a flashlight, and the other group we were with relied on their phone lights. I had brought a headlamp, but the bugs were relentless—swarming around my face—so I ended up wrapping it around my wrist instead.
As we continued walking, the first hints of light began to break through the trees. At one point, we ran into a man who told us he had just seen a puma. We had just missed it—such a bummer!
When we reached the sunrise viewpoint, a large group had already gathered. There were even bleachers set up for people to sit and take in the view. While we waited, we spotted a few toucans through binoculars, which was a nice bonus. Unfortunately, the sunrise was slow to show itself—it was tucked behind thick clouds. Eventually, most of the crowd gave up and left, but our group stuck around for breakfast.
Our guide, Marlon, had brought a homemade breakfast prepared by his wife. We had fresh pupusas, boiled eggs, bananas, and apples. It was such a thoughtful and delicious spread. And just as we were sitting there enjoying it, the sun finally made its appearance. It was absolutely beautiful—soft light breaking through the clouds, illuminating the jungle.
After breakfast, we started exploring Tikal more freely. It was magical to be there as the park slowly came to life. We could hear the calls of animals echoing through the trees, like they were all waking up with us. We saw both howler and spider monkeys, woodpeckers, and plenty of toucans. The whole experience felt incredibly special—like we had caught a glimpse of the park before the rest of the world was fully awake.
Afternoon: Tikal National Park
By afternoon, Tikal was getting hot. In the shade, it was breezy but stepping in the sunshine was scortching. Tikal was massive and there was so much to see. Our guide studied archeology so he provided great insight into our view. By 1pm, we headed back to Jaguar Inn for lunch.
Lunch: Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal
→ 69GQ+G82 Tikal National Park, Tikal, Guatemala
Gem Tour also included lunch at the Hotel Jaguar Inn. The menu has a few fixed items. This includes tortilla soup, entre with sides, fruits, water, and juice. For my entree, I ordered the Mayan chicken dish which almost tasted like mole. Everything was delicious and pleasant. After lunch, we headed back to our hotel and rested until dinner.
Evening: Explore Flores
Right before dinner, we decided to explore Flores. We checked out the church around the corner and walked along the water. It was still hot out, that we decided to grab dinner early.
Dinner: Nativo Restaurante
→ Calle la unión casa 43 isla de, Guatemala
For dinner, we went to Nativo Restaurant which had incredible views of the water. First, we ordered a few rounds of margarita. We have been disappoint in the margaritas in Guatemala, but Nativo did it right! We ordered a few rounds before we ordered dinner. For dinner, I ordered the BBQ chicken and mash potatoes which came with a side salad. Everything tasted delicious. We are happy to end our trip to Tikal on a high note.
