Parque Nacional Tikal Travel Forum

I'm taking a trip to Tikal May 1-3 and I have several questions.

1. what would the weather be like?
2. is it safe to explore a place by oneself (not being a part of a tourist group)?
3. any advice on MUST to do things there?

Many thanks in advance.

The safest way to Visit is thru Belize.You can fly to Belize City and then take a small plane to Flores -See if Mayaisland air or tropicair still make the run (or get someone to drive the 3 hour trip) and then you won't have to go thru Guatemala city .The park entrance fee gets you a guide I believe so follow hime around.I've heard stories from people who have hired a guide to take the into the park at night to watch the moon rise from the top of the temples-something I'd want to do if I went again.
I just did it as a day trip from the Belize Border -I heard the lodge in Flores was nice enough but rustic.I could see spending 2-3 days there just wandering around.....just don't wander off too far alone-there have been stories of opportunistic muggings.

Have fun-C

thanks, we will be flying to Flores from Cancun. hiring the guide to spend a night in the park sounds like a great idea. another question, is it difficult to get wound with no Spanish?

They speak a strange dialect in that part of central america that has alot of Maya and Creole (more so in Belize-even though the official language is english in Belize) in it.Even if you knew spanish it's tough in the countryside. They do have English speaking guides in the park-Make sure you ask for one.The guides have to have 18 college credits to get the job in the park-They all seemed very smart and communicate well-C

this is very helpful. as for hiring a guide for spending a night in the park, can you do it in the park or on the city through an agency?

I think your hotel will be best for booking that.do it there so you can see who you're getting.

Hey- CDN Jane is asking a question this morning in the MISC forum about Ukrainian Telephones-Maybe you can help her out-C

thanks a lot. as for CDN Jane's request, I have already offered my assistance :) I am waiting for some details to run a search.

how many in your party? 2?

you can go see the ruins at sunrise, which is recommendable. but you have to be staying at tikal just outside the park entrance, and tip the guards, or if you are staying in flores you have to have a sunrise tour. make sure to stay until the mist lifts and exposes the other temples. you will unlikely see the actual sun rise but seeing the temples revealed is worth the stay.
it is not allowed to spend the night in the ruins.

climb all the temples, especially 4 and 5.

if you are very interested in ruins and stuff, you can go to other ones, like yaxha or uaxactun.

where will you be staying? see my pages for more info

thanks a lot for suggestions and tips. we will most likely stay in El Remate, the place to be determined. so it is illegal to stay there at night? what about hiring a guide for a night tour? is this illegal?

a guide with a lot of connections may be able to do a night tour, but yes, it is illegal. but you'll have to email me because there may be some way that i won't advertise publicly.
El Remate is your best bet in my opinion. it's far closer. are you really going from Cancun to Flores? your other posts confuse me since you have asked about Copan to Antigua. i figured you'd be coming from guatemala to go to flores. please explain.

I appologize for confusion. we are taking an intricate and extremely complicated trip logistic wise. so I am trying to figure out the best way to do it. we are flying from Kyiv to NY, then to Cancun (for couple days); then Cancun-Flores (Santa Elena, El Remate, Tikal); then taking a bus to El Florido and to Copan (couple days there); then Copan-Antigua-Panajachel (couple days there); than per your suggestion, getting back to Cancun from Antigua through Guatemala-Flores-Cancun; and if we survive by then, couple days for Tulum, Chichen Itza, Uxmal; and back to NY, then Kyiv.. we have a total of 22 days..
I am traveling with a friend who tried to encompass ALL sights in three weeks, and I am trying to be reasonable :) so I am doing some research..

i am sending you an email

Hi
My husband and I went last March . It was fabulous . We stayed in El Remate . There is a wonderful inexpensive lodge to stay there and they really take care of you . They arranged for our guide to Tikal . It is very close to the park . WE flew into Flores from Guatemala city and took a taxi to El Remate. Its about a half hour away.( cab was about $8.00 , I think) Its no problem at all . We felt very safe the whole time . There are lots of hotels near the airport in Guatemala city ,if you want to overnight in the city. Tikal is a trip of a lifetime . Check out my site if you would like . I have lots of detailed information and pictures.

Be careful when climbing some pyramids as they don't have a guard railing to stop you from falling