General Information

Duration:

3 Days

Location Start:

Flores

Location Finish:

Flores

Phone:

01273 322046

Payment Types:

• Cash
• Credit Card
• Cheque
• Travellers cheque
• Paypal
• Wire Transfer

We Speak:

English

Last updated: 02/19/2009

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival FloresYou can reach Flores overland from Antigua, Rio Dulce, Palenque in Mexico or Belize. You can also fly there from Cancun or Guatemala City if you want to save time.As the base from which to visit Tikal, Flores is a popular tourist haunt, even though it's little more than a small village in the middle of Lake Peten, linked to Santa Elena on the mainland by a bridge. Arriving in Santa Elena, walk across the bridge to your hotel directly on the lake where you'll be staying for the next couple of nights. There's not much going on in Flores and the travellers are surprisingly sedate but that's probably because everyone's up at the crack of dawn to leave for Tikal, or Antigua, Belize or Palenque. The sunset across the lake is probably the highlight of your stay in Flores.

Day 2

Flores and TikalWhen we said everyone's up at the crack of dawn we weren't joking. You'll receive your wake-up call at 3.45am (!), too early for breakfast, so make do with coffee. Bring water and food because there are no shops or restaurants at Tikal.We've arranged the earliest possible transfer to Tikal so you'll be able to explore Tikal before the stifling jungle heat knocks you out. You can pay the US$7 admission fee at the gates marking the entrance to the national park. From there it's a 20min walk to the complex entrance. The scale model at the entrance gives you a good impression of the sheer size of the complex. Prepare yourself for a day of walking in the jungle.As the morning mist shrouding the ruins slowly lifts you enter the park. You'll probably spot a coati which, thoroughly spoiled by tourists, has come out to see if you've got a little snack to offer. Heading on further into the park you follow several wide well-maintained paths with smaller paths branching off deeper in the jungle. The main paths lead to the ruins, but we did turn off onto a little jungle path a couple of times and saw a lot of wildlife including families of spider monkeys and toucans.Built around 300 BC, Tikal was the centre of the Mayan civilization. It was discovered in 1848 by a team of Guatemalan explorers and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Beneath the temples and buildings lie the Pyramid of the Great Jaguar and the Palace of Ah Cacao. If you climb the second highest temple (no. 5.57 m high and pretty tricky up the steep wooden steps at the side of the temple) you can look out over the tree tops to the surrounding ruins.
You could walk round Tikal all day and still not have seen everything, but that's what makes Tikal so exciting. The complex is hidden so deep in the jungle and is so spread out that you often feel like you're the only one there, far away from the outside world. And just when you think you've lost your way and are doomed to roam the endless jungle forever you stumble upon an immense pyramid and, finally, people.You'll be covering a lot of ground today to get from one temple to the next. At around 2pm after 6 hours walking, climbing and wandering and the temperature still rising, you'll be pretty wiped out. We've booked a shuttle back to Flores which leaves at the barrier gates at 2.30pm so you'll be back in Flores at 5pm, just in times for dinks at sunset.If you want to stay closer to the Tikal ruins you'll be limited to a complete jungle lodge package which includes transfer from Flores, accommodation close to the entrance, all meals and a day excursion with guide. Price and availability on request.

Day 3

Departure FloresThis morning marks the end of the Tikal tour. Are you wondering what Belize is like? Well, what makes Belize different from its neighbouring countries is the mix of Latin American influences with a laid-back Caribbean way of life. Belizeans have afro hair, they speak Creole instead of Spanish, they play reggae instead of salsa and they dance the 'punta'. Beliken Beer is the national pride of Belize, together the barrier reef just off the coast. A nice way to continue your trip is by spending a few lazy days in a hammock on the island Caye Caulker, just off the coast of Belize. Or you can explore the area around San Ignacio, close to the Guatemalan/Belizean border. Get up early one last time for the shuttle transfer to Belize City and from there catch one of the many boats to the island.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Transportation and accommodation

Exclusions -

Admission Tikal (approx. US$ 7) and all meals