I will be working in Antigua in the near future and will have some time to spend in Guatemala before I start. I would love to take this time to see the ruins at Tikal. Does anybody have advice on the best way to travel between Antigua and Tikal?
Thanks!
Quickest to fly if you can afford it - Avianca and TAG fly that route (GC to Flores and back).
Depending on how much time you have, there are a couple of options.
1: Fly, as hopefulist suggests. It's an easy 45-minute flight on a comfortable turbo-prop, and both companies have morning and evening departures. You could fly one evening, spend the night in Flores or at the ruins, and then do the entire next day at Tikal before taking the evening flight back.
2: Overnight bus. It's an 8-hour trip from GC to Flores, and you can arrange the trip with any number of tour operators in Flores. From Flores, it's another two hours or so to Tikal.
3: Daytime bus, breaking the trip in Rio Dulce. If you have a chunk of time, it might be worth spending a day or two around the Rio Dulce gorge before continuing up to Flores, and there's plenty to do in the Peten besides visit Tikal. You could also break the trip at Finca Ixobel, either on your way to Flores or while returning.
In all three cases, you'll need to make your main transport connection in Guatemala City.
Keep in mind that many tours in Antigua can arrange all this, just be sure to use a reputable outfit and don't shop price but quality. Also, many tours just shuttle customers to GC for the overnight bus, and arrange transfer on a another shuttle from Flores/Peten to Tikal.
If you have time, you can break up the trip going there via Livingston/Rio Dulce a few nights, and on the way back, head to Coban/Lanquin/Semuc on way to GC. That would be a 9-10 day trip...