Join us for four nights and three full days as we explore Tikal National Park, Lake Petén and Flores with an optional excursion to El Mirador.

In the heart of the jungle in northern Guatemala, surrounded by abundant vegetation, lies one of the major sites of Mayan civilization, inhabited from the 6th century B.C. to the 10th century A.D. Its ceremonial center contains magnificent temples, palaces and public squares. Remains of dwellings are scattered throughout the surrounding jungle. Tikal served as a major political, economic, and military center until its decline around 900 AD. It is one of the most excavated Mayan sites, offering extensive insights about its history. It’s large size allows for an immersive exploration experience.

Starting in Guatemala City, we will fly to Flores, a charming town located on an island near the southern shore of Lake Petén. It serves as a gateway to the ruins of Tikal, and is known for its colorful streets, rich history, and for being one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the Americas. From there, we will travel by van to Tikal National Park where we will stay two nights at the Jungle Lodge. These cabins are inside the park, immersing us in the jungle’s beauty and wildness. We’ll spend one full day in Tikal on guided tours of the ruins. Then we’ll head back to Flores for one night before returning to Guatemala City.

Limited to 10 travelers

*The Guatemala Tikal tour is an extension of the Guatemala Antigua & Atitlán tour (27-06-16-GT-AAA), but requires a separate booking and deposit. It can also be booked without the Antigua & Atitlán tour, but for the Tikal trip to make, at least 5 people must register AND the Antigua & Atitlán tour must make with at least 6 people.

While the tour offers many unique scheduled experiences, its casual structure also provides daily opportunities for travelers to adjust the plans to match their interests and desired speed and intensity.

IDENTIFICATION ~ A passport that is valid for 6 months beyond the tour start date and has at least 4 blank pages for entry/exit stamps is required.

ALTITUDE ~ Guatemala City: 4,921 ft ~ Flores: 449 ft ~ Tikal: 1,007 ft

WEATHER ~ We will be visiting the lowland jungle on the Caribbean side of Guatemala. The weather in the jungle can be described as warm and muggy. Flores will be breezier and less muggy. Temperatures will range from daily highs around 93°f to lows around 75°f. Because it is the jungle, there are good chances of rain.

TRANSPORTATION ~ Our flights between Guatemala City and Flores will be on small commercial commuter planes. We will travel between Flores and Tikal in a van. We will travel by boat around Lake Petén. In town and in Tikal we will walk. There is an option to add a helicopter ride.

PHYSICAL EXERTION ~ Moderately High Exertion (4 of 5) – To fully enjoy the tour of Tikal, travelers should be able to climb small sets of ancient stone steps without handrails and walk for 20–25 minutes on undulating dirt and gravel paths through the jungle. To appreciate the views on the Pyramid platforms, travelers should be able to ascend and descend wooden stairs to a height of 125 feet.

SERVICES ~ The Jungle Lodge operates inside a protected national park with strict energy regulations, so the electricity is turned off for a period of time at night and occasionally during the day. The rooms do not have air conditioning; instead, they have ceiling fans that operate on solar power and are operable when electricity is turned off.

MEDICAL FACILITIES ~ While in Tikal and El Mirador, emergency services are nonexistent and basic services are rudimentary.

Friday 6/25 – Travel/Arrival day – travelers must arrive in Guatemala by 1:00p in time for our afternoon flight to Flores and our drive to the Tikal National Park.

Saturday 6/26 – Full day exploring this amazing archaeological site. Those interested can wake up early to observe the jungle come to life as you hike to a pyramid observation platform (if it's not too foggy, you'll also see the sunrise). In the afternoon we'll have a guided tour of the site and in the evening be able to watch the sunset from another pyramid before settling in to spend a second night in the Jungle Lodge cabins.

Sunday 6/27 – We leave Tikal this morning for Flores where we spend one night. Our schedule includes a tour of the brightly colored buildings and narrow streets of Flores as well as a boat tour of Lake Petén. As an alternative option, those wanting to see a more remote and newly discovered archaeological site can add a full-day tour to El Mirador via helicopter (for an additional fee).

Monday 6/28 – After spending the morning in Flores, we fly back to Guatemala City for our celebration dinner.

Tuesday 6/29 – This is your travel/departure day – there are no official tour events scheduled for this day