Hi all-
We are a family of 4 looking to include the rather expensive hop over to Tikal on July 14 as part of our 12 day traveling around natural sites in Guatemala (after 10 days studying Spanish in Antigua). I received quotes from Martsam Travel which seem reputable and professional. We are looking into taking a one way 6:30 TAG flight out of Guatemala (we will be shuttled in from Antigua)- $105 each one way, and the possibility of two doubles at the jaguar in the park ($56 per double). And then at $55 per person we will have transportation, guides, lunch, admission...
We want to maximize the time at the site in the jungle as plans are for the next day on July 15th at around 10:00 or 11:00 shuttle or privat minivan ourselves over to Lanquin (for Semuc Champey, Nebaj short treks and Atitlan are up ahead before flying out on 26 July).
Tika gets great reviews but I tell you, for 24 hours we are talkling about an expense that could run close to $1000....as a former single backpacker around Asia years ago that seems like an awesome a lot of money....on the other hand, one person is not 4 and Tikal is not your everyday site....hmmm, I wonder....
So, you Tikal fans- what do you say????
Another question:
If we get into Tikal during the morning, check into hotel and head for the sites, is it a good idea to wait till late afternoon and AGAIN do the tour in the early morning of the 15th? What I have gathered from reading the many entries on the forum, the time of the day you go is VERY CRITICAL to what you see and what you don't....so what are your tips on tips in this respect??
Thanks in advance- this forum is a great service and those who can and do give are really a cool bunch of folks.... Eagerly awaiting your input- all the best!
Ronnie
We spent several days in Tikal awhile back. (2003) It is one of the few places I would return to a second time, which we are doing in a few months. I think Tikal is 'magic'...
IMO, the early morning hike into the park was the best and is not to be missed. Tons of wildlife.
Personally I would get the after 3:00 PM ticket, see the park that evening (even arranging for the after hours permit, then go back in the AM as early as possible to be on the path in twilight.
Tikal will be one of, if not the, highlight of your trip.
Have fun!
Yeah, You would be better off taking your time and getting to the park around noon, checking inn, having lunch and visiting the ruins after three in order to see the sun set. Your ticket will be good the next day. (I know you save a whole $5US) but the point is to either be there before sunrise or just before sunset. In between it gets really hot, lots of tourists show up and most animals go to sleep. The reason it is costing so much is that you are coming from Guat City and flying. Lots of people do it as part of a backpacking trip out of Belize or Flores.
Hi Gringo Grande- I liked your advice and i think I am going to go for it...I don't know if you can relate to this experience but as a parent to two teenaged kids (and husband to one wife)- every idea needs to get 3 agreements...so thanks for getting this one rolling!
Ronnie
The guided tour will likely be from about 9am to 1pm, then back to the hotel for lunch, then on your own after that. The time of day is not what I'd call very critical. There are two concerns about time of day. Heat and wildlife. Birds and animals the world over get very active just before dark and just after daylight. Ideally, you want to be back out in the park for both. I recommend the Great Pyramid at the Lost World for evening. And either that or Temple IV for daybreak. You may get a sunset, or a sunrise, or both. But maybe not. No matter. The mist rising over the jungle in the early morning is a bit like the dawning of the universe. There are a few places around the ruins to sit in the shade. You might find a water vendor. Take water and flashlights evening and morning (talking about going in the morning in the dark, but check to see what time they will let you in these days, they seem to change it every once in awhile).
The $55 seems a little steep. Transport from the Flores airport to Tikal should be no more than $10 a person, guide $5-10, entrance I think is about $5, lunch maybe $7. Maybe it includes other transportation, such as Antigua to Guate. Those tours are usually sold as a complete package including 4 transports (2 each way), whether you use them or not.
You'll have to decide if the cost is worth it. I'd say if you can afford it then go for it. But read up first so all of you will know what you are looking at. Much better chance of getting your money's worth that way. Maybe make the reading up a family project.
Buen viaje!
Thanks!
So if what you are saying is that tour is in the morning, the animals are at dawn and dusk (and we like that), we may need to be there 3 times, no?? I think the heat thing in the morning is also a minus...Yes, I think that the $55 sounds a bit high as it does not include transportation from Antigua. Does include: flores- tika- flores, park entrance, guide, lunch.
Appreciate your input!
We visited Tikal in July 4 years ago with kids who were 17, 18, and 20 at the time. It was one of the highlights of our trip (in our case that year, an adventurous 3-4 weeks in Belize). It will be hot, hot, hot, though - might consider shelling out the extra for a hotel with a pool. Our first choice (for that reason) was the Tikal Inn (currently $75/double includes dinner and breakfast) but they were fumigating when we were there (!) so we stayed at the Jaguar which was very nice. We just stayed 1 night, enjoying the park in the afternoon but feeling blown away by an unguided early morning experience in the Mundo Perdido (lost world) area - toucans and parrots feeding on fruit in the trees at eye level, howlers ROARING in the trees, butterflies hatching, coatis running around - amazing!
This summer I'm heading back with a friend who's never been out of the US. We'll be studying Spanish a week in Nebaj during the annual festival and a week in San Pedro, visiting Antigua and Chichi, busing to Rio Dulce with a day trip down the river to Livingston, and finishing with a night at Tikal and one in Flores before flying home. Most of our trip will be very low budget but we're splurging for the Tikal Inn and Casona de la Isla in Flores and a really good guide. Plan is to head to Tikal in the afternoon and explore a bit on our own, then meet our guide there for an early morning birding/wildlife and ruins tour at Tikal before heading to Yaxhá and eventually Flores. The Tikal part will be less than 2 days of a 3+ week trip and will cost 1/3 of our total trip expense.
Have you considered studying somewhere else or breaking up your study time between 2 places? We're not choosing to study in Antigua partly because we're seeking a more intensive immersion environment and partly because Antigua isn't where we want to spend the bulk of our time. Antigua is lovely but that's just a thought.
Have a great trip, whatever you decide and I hope you'll tell us all about it when you get home.
That does sound expensive.
$55 per person is a lot for the tour. To do it yourself from Flores, shuttle transportation is 50 Quetzales per person(about $7 US) and entrance to the park is also 50Q per person. Shuttles start at 5am and run every hour back and forth. You can book it at any hotel/hostel in Flores. If you enter the park in the afternoon, then you get to go in the next morning for free.
If you are staying at the Jaguar inside the park, then why would you need transportation on the day of the tour? You can just walk across the park...unless I'm confused!
$55 per person on the tour includes: Private transportation from Flores to Tikal round trip (from the airport) Entrance fee Lunch English tour guide.
I think these tours give you a fixed package with their services whether you want them or not. As we are a family of 4 all these differences add up...
I think it sounds like it will be cheaper- while not really losing out on anything- if I stay in a lower cost but decent place in Flores, take the shuttle in the afternoon to Tikal and then AGAIN, shuttle in the morning to see Tikal in the morning. I have a feeling that the Jaguar in the park will come out more expensive....but is there no advantage to staying in the park over the 5 AM shuttle from Flores?
By the way, if I want to make a 10 AM shuttle from Flores to Coban, will the 5 AM shuttle to Tikal give me enough time to see and make it back for the 10 AM shuttle to Coban?
By the way, any problem with malaria in Flores or Tikal??
Many thanks-
Dunetz
Hi Dunetz,
That sounds like the best plan.
You can make the shuttle at 10 am, but will have to run around the park quickly -- and it's a BIG park. Plan on walking 3-6 miles total. The shuttle departs every hour from Tikal - so you'd have to take the 8am return shuttle in order to make the 10 am bus to Coban. That would only give you 2 hours at the park -- which is definitely not enough time. Especially not if you're spending $400 on plane tickets to get there! (Value/Enjoyment vs. cost)
The 5am shuttle leaving Flores to Tikal is the best (that's what we took). It gets you to the park just as the gates open at 6am, and early enough to still spot some of the nocturnal critters and hear all the monkeys and parrakeets. You'll feel like you have the park to yourself.
Some agencies will offer an early morning trip that leaves at 3am to go watch the sunrise. At 3 times the price. We did not do it, but heard from other travellers who did. They said it was a waste because there is such a dense fog over the jungle in the morning that you dont' actually see the sunrise. The fog burns off around 7-8am.
Also...on another note... when you are done with Lanquin -- there is a direct private shuttle that goes from El Retiro Lodge in Lanquin to Antigua for about $20 per person. It is new and safe and has a DVD player for kids.
Land transportation between Antigua and Lanquin is 7-8 hours. Lanquin to Flores is about the same.
Cheers,
Kay
Kay and Franks Trip to Central America
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