Belize/Guatemala October 11-17

With 6 days, it'll be tight. If i were you, depending on your arrival time, i'd head straight to Guatemala. And depending on you budget, Flores might might for the best base. In the very early morning (4:30 am) get a shuttle to Tikal Stay there until 12:00. The head back to Belize. You might only make it as far as San Ignacio. Which is fine for a night. Then head to Belize City and immediately transfer to a ferry headed to Caye Caulker. You have a couple nights there before having to fly out.

I agree with # 1 -- head west first. Spend a day or two in San Ignacio, ideally with a trip to Actun Tunichil Muknal, though because it's a full-day trip you may not have the time. Then go to Tikal. I'd probably overnight at the park. Unless you are a big ruins fan, a full afternoon and then a morning at Tikal is probably enough. Then head back to Belize's Northern Cayes for a couple of days of seafood, sun and snorkeling. Placencia in October is dead, dead, dead. Some hotels and restaurants closed, few tourists. I'd skip Placencia and spend any beach time on Caulker or Ambergris. They will be slow but not totally dead.

Be aware that October is prime tropical storm/hurricane season in Belize, though the risks are statistically fairly low.

--Lan Sluder
www.belizefirst.com

I appreciate all of the comments! I realize that a week is not nearly enough time, but we need to use these vouchers so we intend to make the most of the limited time what we have :)

After some research, it appears that it is pretty reasonably priced to hire a taxi ($3-4) from San Ignacio to the border in the AM the day after arriving, walk across and then hire a van to Tikal ($50) which will then be in the afternoon. There will be three of us, so the $50 split is not so bad, and if it means time saved, I'm all for it (especially with such a tight window). Do these costs/information seem accurate/relevant?

Dave

The taxi from San Ignacio to the border will be a little more than that, and a Guatemalan taxi from the border to Tikal park might be a little more than US$50, but not much, depending on your bargaining. But what you describe is the fastest way and the prices are in the ball park. Remember there's a US$18.50 per person exit fee from Belize and 20 quetzales entrance charge to Guatemala (the latter may not be 100% official, but it's what most people are charged).

There is no entry charge into Guatemala and you don't have to pay it. I was asked, but just walked away.

You're a tough bunny.

Hi Dave,

last october we started our 3-weeks CA trip in Belize and Tikal, and mainly spent 6days on these two wonderful places, so maybe you can get some useful info from my post:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1841749&messageID=16416925#16416925

My recommendation for your six days:

Day1:
take a taxi from the airport to the bus terminal in BC, catch a bus to benque, and stop around San Ignacio (Trek Stop is a great jungle lodge, a few miles after SI). If you have the time on the afternoon (needs 2hours), take the free ferry at Succotz, and make a small trip on the afternoon to the ruins of Xunantunich.

Day2:
Make the ATM cave tour (see details in my post)

Day3:
Start at 6am, catch a taxi to the border, walk through (we also paid), and get an other van to El Remate (I do not recommend to go to Flores, as El Remate is much closer to Tikal, and not much to see in Flores). We took a local minibus till ElCruce (a cross before El Remate), and a taxi to EL Remate. Organise a bus on the next day to Tikal, and spend the afternoon on the shore of the lake (you can get to El Remate at noon from SI).

Day4:
Get to Tikal with the first bus, you can be there around 6-7am. For us 4-5 hours was enough, but wonderful. So you can get back to El Remate at 1pm. Try to organise something in advance, and maybe it is possible to arrive back on the same day to BelizeCity (more realistic to San Ignacio) - but I did not make this trip on the way back.

Day5:
Get to BelizeCity, and go to CayeCaulcer with the water taxi. Spend a relaxing afternoon there, and take some coctails at LazyLizzard :-))

Day6:
Make a full day snorkelling trip (we enjoyed it with Raggamuffin).

It seems to be a bit tough, but as you have limited time, and wants to see Tikal, jungle and beach as well, you have to be tough :-)

So have a great trip, and in case of any qs drop me a note.
Cheers
Gergo

Thanks everyone for your detailed responses! We actually land pretty early in BC (9:30 AM) and are thinking about taking the bus all the way to Flores after we land (might as well get the bulk of the traveling out of the way on the same day). We'll then break up the ride on the way back to the coast by stopping for a night/day in San Ignacio.

Anyone have other cool/cheap recommendations to stay in Flores, San Ignacio and Caye Caulker? I'll be with my girlfriend and her best friend and we're not looking for fancy...just good people/location.

Cheers,

Dave

Between the Guatemala border and San Ignacio: The Trek Stop. Lots of photos and recommendations below - if you enjoy Belize and Tikal even 1/2 as much as we have, you're in for a treat!