Everything you need to know about Tikal, Guatemala
In the heart of the jungle, surrounded by lush vegetation, lies one of the major sites of Mayan civilization, inhabited from the 6th century BC to the 10th century AD (UNESCO,2023).
Tikal National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site within a large forest region often referred to as the Maya Forest, which extends into neighbouring Mexico and Belize. The park is extraordinary for both its biodiversity and archaeological importance.
We visited just at the beginning of the high season (November 2022) and felt that we had the park for ourselves. We went on a sunset tour from Flores to Tikal and it was an unforgettable moment on top of the highest climbable monument. With the forest canopy beneath our feet and buzzing dragonflies reflecting the fading golden sun and the sounds of the jungle animals happy for the end of the day.
Check our Instagram for a video of this sunset. For me, it is engraved in my memory, and I won’t forget it anytime soon!
I had the chance to meet Lara, a lady from Guatemala but living in Mexico that had completed a 5-day overland trip to return home to perform a ritual in front of the temples in the plaza mayor in Tikal. Happy to be heard and share her story, she told me the struggles of her trip and the happiness of being there at a place that is so special for her. If this travel story interests you, please feel free to read the full story in our Journal.
Table of Contents
1. Archaeologic and Cultural Heritage
2. The National Park – Biodiversity hotpot!
3. Where is the Park located?
4. Tikal entry fees and opening hours
5. How to visit?
OPTION 1 – From Flores or Santa Elena, Petén
Public Bus from Flores to Tikal
Tourist shuttle without tour
Sunrise, Sunset and Day Tours
OPTION 2 – From Guatemala or From Belize
6. Staying the Night in Tikal
7. Top TIPS to enjoy Tika and Offline Map
1.Archaeologic and Cultural Heritage
Tikal, which translates the Place of Voices, was a major Pre-Columbian political, economic and military centre and one of the most important archaeological complexes left by the Maya civilization. It is an outstanding example of the art and human genius of the Maya.
This Ancient city was the capital of an incredibly powerful Mayan kingdom after Teotihuacan and Calakmul in Mexico, Copan in Honduras or Caracol in Belize. The central part of Tikal alone is believed to contain 3,000 buildings and covers about 16 square kilometres.
While no one knows for sure what caused the city’s demise, over a span of 100 years the city went from flourishing to abandoned. Its rapid population growth and a large amount of farming, caused many experts to conclude that it was likely caused by a long period of drought along with epidemic outbreaks.
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-americas/tikal
2. The National Park – Biodiversity Hotsopt
Unlike Chichen Itza, Tulum or Palenque in Mexico, Tikal is a city deep in the jungle.
The national park comprises 57,600 hectares of diverse ecosystems (wetlands, savannah, tropical broadleaf and palm forests) and habitats which harbour a wide range of fauna and flora. Five cats, including Jaguar and Puma, several species of monkeys and anteaters and more than 300 species of birds are among the notable wildlife.
The forests comprise more than 200 tree species and over 2000 higher plants have been recorded across the diverse habitats (UNESCO).
ARCAS– Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Association – is an association located in an isolated side of Lake Peten a short 20 min boat drive from Flores. They do really good work at rescuing and rehabilitating animals that are victims of poachers. They give back the rehabilitated wild animals to the Natinal park.
3. Where is the park located?
The closest town to Tikal is Santa Elena and its famous vibrant island, Flores. If you have the time, we definitely recommend spending a few days on the island and exploring everything the area has to offer as well as visiting Tikal.
From there to Tikal is a 60 km drive around the east of Lake Peten Itza, then north to Tikal National Park, being around a 90 minute journey.
You can also visit Tikal overland from San Ignacio in Belize.
In comparison to many other famous Mayan ruins around Central America, Tikal is not very busy. You can wander around the grounds and find yourself completely alone without another person in sight!
4. Tikal entry fees and opening hours
Tikal National Park is open from 6 am until 5 pm every day of the year.
The museums are open from 8 am to 6 pm and closed at national holidays.
The entry to Tikal is 150Q during the day, being an extra 100Q to watch either the sunrise or the sunset within a guided tour, totalling the entry cost of Q250 (34USD). The entry of children under 12 to the park is free of cost.
When buying a ticket at the entry of the park, you must pay cash in the local currency (Guatemalan Quetzal).
The dry season in this region runs from November until April, with April being the hottest month of the year. Note that the Park is in the middle of a neotropical forest so plan accordingly. Best time to visit would be the start of the dry season, that is when we did it and it was lovely!
Do not forget to bring high duty mosquito replant spray or cream, particularly important in sunset tours. This is essential so that you fully appreciate the beauty of the park undisturbed!
5. So, how do we Visit?
–
From Flores – The Budget option
Public Bus from Flores to Tikal
You can take the public bus from Flores to Tikal which takes around two to three hours to arrive at the ruins.
The bus can be caught at the bus station in Santa Elena – short walk or tuk tuk drive away from Flores – and the tickets can either be bought in the station’s office or later at entering the bus. The bus departs almost every hour and it is the cheapest way to visit Tikal, costing around 5USD.
It is the adventurous fun way to get to Tikal, and you get to know a lot of local people on the way. It takes longer to get to its final destination that the tourist shuttle as the minibus/bus stops to pick up people and supplies. Check in advance the time table for your return.
Tourist shuttle (without guided tour)
The shuttle bus from Flores to Tikal is the second cheapest way to visit the Park, costing the cheapest generally around 15USD one-way or 20 USD round trip. If you are in Flores, check the options given by your hostel/hotel as they may be the most reliable ones.
We stayed in a hostel (Los Amigos) which at the time (November 2022) provided a partnership with a local company and gave Tikal shuttles from 4.30 am, 6:00am, 8:00am to 10.30 am (1.5 h duration of the trip) for Q100 (13 USD). It generally departs from the I Love Petén sign at the entrance of Flores, where you will meet your driver and the other passengers. The buses returned 12.30 pm, 14:00 pm and 15:00 pm, the latest.
These shuttle buses give you the opportunity to be in Tikal and explore it on your own all day long but exclude sunset and sunrise times – when the park is closed for un-guided tourists.
A small reminder that the entry to the park is not included in the ticket of the shuttle and will cost Q150 (cash only).
For shuttles:
Sunrise, Sunset and Day Tours
Sunrise and sunset tours give you possibility of being in the premises before opening or after their closure times and avoid crowds. The good part is that you get an exclusive tour and even if you go on the higher season as we did, your group will most likely be almost by themselves. The not so good part is that, if you are like us and like to explore on your own, the tour gives you less chances to just wonder. Despite that, I had the opportunity to talk to a family of local people that came to do a ceremony in the main plaza in front of the temple of the Sun and learn about how old beliefs and current religion intertwin. Please, read the full story in this Travel Journal Post.
For a Sunrise and Sunset tour at the park the guide is mandatory and the entry ticket to the park is generally not included in the cost of your tour.
A small reminder that the entry to the park is not included in the ticket of the shuttle and will cost Q150 – normal day tours plus asitional Q100 for sunset and sunrise tours (cash only).
For tours:
- To find tours, I generally start by seeing what the hostel I am at has around and then compare the prices with the tours available in Get Your Guide and Viator.
- Tikal SUNRISE, Archeological focus and Wildlife Spotting Tour (North and West)
- Los Amigos Tours
- We also enjoyed de service of a local travel agent we found in Flores. His whatsapp is Cras Travel Flores (+50246372411).
–
From Guatemala City or From Belize
If you are based in Guatemala city or in Belize and just want to do a quick detour to see Tikal, we advise the following tour services:
6 . Staying the night in Tikal
There are 3 hotels around the park being th cheapest rooms at the Jungle Lodge ($40 for a double).
Tikal Park also offers a campground costing 50Q ($7 USD) per person. You need to bring your own gear (hammock, tent) but this would be a very interesting experience. Unfortunatly, I did not had the time and opportunity to stay the night at the Park but, to be fully honest, I would do it if I could!
7 . Top tips to enjoy Tikal and an Offline Map
Top Tips:- Pleanty of water
- Take a meal with you. Los Amigos in Flores offer “lunchboxes” with vegetarian options.
- Moskito repelent High duty and biodegradable wipes
- Sunscreen
- Confortable footware and wide long clothes (helps protection against bugs)
Carol xxxx
HERE ARE OUR LATEST POSTS!
