FLORES, GUATEMALA
Flores is an interesting tourist destination in northern Guatemala that is half town and half “island”. I use quotes because it is connected to the mainland by a bridge. I recommend spending most of your time here! Flores is the main travel hub for visiting Tikal which might provoke you to ask, “What makes Tikal so special?”. On my tour, I learned that it was the epicenter of the Mayan World and served as capital of arguably the most powerful Mayan kingdom ever. It was at the peak of its power from 200-900 A.D and some structures here date back to the 4th century B.C. Absolutely incredible!
Attractions:
Explore Tikal: There are many options but I recommend the sunrise tour which costs 120Q ($15 USD) inclusive of your transport and tour guide; the entrance fee is an additional 150Q ($19 USD). Door-to-door, the excursion is 8 hours (4:30am-12:30pm). Since the ancient Mayan ruins are in the rainforest 90 minutes from town, you will spend 5 hours in Tikal itself (6am-11am). Over the course of your visit, you’ll have plenty of time both with your guide and on your own to explore. In addition to some of the most celebrated Mayan ruins to ever exist (Lost World Pyramid and Temple of the Grand Jaguar), Tikal is home to a host of wildlife including ocellated turkeys, howler monkeys, red-lored parrots, and tarantulas!
Jorge’s Rope Swing: Who doesn’t love a good rope swing (and diving board)? To get here, walk to the lake and you will find plenty of boatmen waiting for your business. The boat ride is 20 minutes and costs 25Q ($3 USD). Upon arriving, you will be asked to pay the family that lives here a 10Q ($1 USD) entrance fee. They also sell beer, water, soda, and food.
El Mirador: This 5-6 day adventure takes you through the Guatemalan jungle to visit La Danta, one of the tallest pyramids in the world! You will spend two days hiking from Carmelita to El Mirador (~30 miles total). The third day is spent exploring the ruins. You will then hike two days back. If you’d like, you can spend another day exploring Nakbe and La Florida (other ruins in the area). This tour costs $250 USD and includes transport to and from Carmelita (two hours by bus each way), water, three meals per day, camping gear, and a guide.
Mopan Waterfalls: Los Amigos offers an 8 hour door-to-door tour to these waterfalls. More information can be found here.
Other attractions include: Yaxha, Actún Can, El Mirador del Rey Canek, and El Zotz.
Accommodation:
Los Amigos: This hostel is an oasis for backpackers. The vibe is super positive, they have plenty of tours you can book in house, and it’s complete with a restaurant, bar, spa, yoga, hammocks, and more! Definitely the place to be in Flores! It is 25 minutes walking from Terminal Central de Buses.
Transportation:
Flores’ main bus station is Terminal Central de Buses and where all of the below chicken buses depart from. If you choose to travel via shuttle bus, those will pick you up from your hostel.
San Ignacio, Belize is 2.5 hours by bus and taxi (indirect; via Melchor de Mencos and Benque) from Flores and costs $8 USD. The first bus from Flores to the Guatemalan border town, Melchor de Mencos, is 2 hours and costs 30Q ($4 USD). After walking across the border into Belize, taxi drivers will tell you there is no other option but to take a taxi from here to San Ignacio for $20 USD. While this is certainly an option, it is not the only option. You can either walk 40 minutes to the bus station in Benque or take a taxi (5 minutes; $3 USD). Buses from Benque to San Ignacio are 15 minutes and cost $1 USD; buses run every thirty minutes.
You can also take a 3 hour shuttle bus from Flores to San Ignacio at 7:00am for $30 USD via Gekko Trails Explorer.
There are not any fees associated with departing Guatemala or entering Belize.
Caye Caulker, Belize is 6.5-7.5 hours by bus, taxi, and ferry (indirect; via Melchor de Mencos, Benque, and Belize City) from Flores and costs $33 USD. The first bus from Flores to the Guatemalan border town, Melchor de Mencos, is 2 hours and costs 30Q ($4 USD). After walking across the border into Belize, take a taxi to Benque. This ride is 5 minutes and costs $3 USD. The second bus from Benque to Belize City is 3.5 hours and costs $5 USD; buses run this route every thirty minutes. Once you arrive at Belize City’s bus station, take a taxi to the dock (known as San Pedro Belize Express). The ride is 5 minutes and costs $3 USD. The ferry from Belize City to Caye Caulker is 45 minutes and costs $18 USD. Ferries leave daily at 8:00am, 9:00am, 10:30am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 4:30pm, and 5:30pm.
You can also take a 6-hour shuttle bus from Flores to Belize City at 6:30am for $25 USD via Gekko Trails Explorer. From Belize City, take a taxi to the dock and then take the ferry to Caye Caulker.
Lanquín is 8 hours by shuttle bus from Flores and costs $22 USD via Gekko Trails Explorer. This shuttle picks up at El Planchón at 8:00am and arrives in Lanquín at approximately 4:00pm.
Lanquín is also reachable via chicken bus if you’d like to save money (but not time). This route takes 10-11 hours (indirect; via Cobán) and costs 120Q ($15 USD). The first bus from Flores to Cobán is 7-8 hours and costs 80Q. The second bus from Cobán to Lanquín is 3 hours and costs 40Q.
Antigua is 12 hours by shuttle bus from Flores and costs $35 USD via Gekko Trails Explorer. This shuttle picks up at your hostel at 8:00am and arrives in Antigua at approximately 8:00pm.
Antigua is also reachable via chicken bus if you’d like to save money. This route takes 11-12 hours (indirect; via Guatemala City) and costs 140Q ($18 USD). The first bus from Flores to Guatemala City is 9-10 hours and costs 130Q. The second bus from Guatemala City to Antigua is 1.5 hours and costs 10Q; buses leave every 15 minutes between 5:00am-9:00pm. The most popular way to travel this route is via night bus which I strongly advise against. In fact, I suggest steering clear of Guatemala City altogether if you can avoid it.
Panajachel (Lake Atitlán’s travel hub) is 13-15 hours by bus (indirect; via Antigua) from Flores and costs $23-$48 USD. The trip is best done over two days. Follow the above instructions to Antigua and then look my Antigua travel guide to finish the journey to Panajachel.
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico is 15-18 hours from Flores (indirect; via El Ceibo, Tenosique, and Palenque) and costs $27 USD. To be clear, I do not recommend this route but if you move forward with it, I suggest doing it over 2 days. Day 1 being Flores to Palenque, Mexico and day 2 being Palenque to San Cristobal de las Casas. The first bus from Flores to El Ceibo (the Guatemalan border town) is 4-5 hours and costs 50Q. The bus from El Ceibo to Tenosique, Mexico is 1 hour and costs 40 Mexican Pesos ($2 USD). The bus from Tenosique to Palenque is 2 hours and costs 70 MXN. The final bus from Palenque to SCDC is 8-10 hours and costs 300 MXN.
You can also complete this journey on two direct shuttle buses (17 hours; $95 USD). The first bus from Flores to Palenque, Mexico is 8 hours and costs $50 USD. It leaves daily at 8:00am. The second bus from Palenque to San Cristobal de las Casas is 9 hours and costs $45 USD. It leaves daily at 12:00pm.
Although you may be asked for 10Q when crossing the border at El Ceibo, there is no departure fee for Guatemala. There is, however, a $25 USD (500 Mexican Pesos) entrance fee for Mexico if your stay is more than one week.
Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS) is 2km (1 mile) from the city center and accessible via taxi or tuk-tuk.
Tuk-tuk: On the main road outside the airport you will find tuk-tuks lined up. The 20-minute ride costs 5Q ($0.60 USD).
Taxi: The 10-minute ride costs 20Q ($2.50 USD).
Thank you Michiel Ton for the boat photo!