Optional Weekend Excursion
to the Maya Pyramids in TIKAL
While in Guatemala you can choose to see one of the major world's wonders: the Maya temples and pyramids in the sub-tropical jungle of TIKAL. This excursion is a unique life experience.
The National Park of TIKAL is part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, which is a 1.6 million Hectares (nearly 4 million Acres) of natural sub-tropical forest, where the majority of the Maya cities (and now archeological sites) date from the pre-Columbian era. The UNESCO considers TIKAL as a Cultural and Natural Heritage of the World. To date more than 3,000 structures have been discovered, including temples, palaces, altars, stelae and ball game courts.
By visiting the ruins of the largest Maya city, you'll understand why Guatemala is rightly considered as being the cradle of the Maya Civilization. The Maya settled here 700 B.C. and mysteriously disappeared a thousand years later. By exploring its mysteries, you'll increase your knowledge and appreciation of the Maya and their culture.
Your immersion in the jungle will also enable you to discover an infinite variety of flora and fauna. The National Park of TIKAL is the natural habitat for over 300 species of birds, and other mammals, like howler monkeys, deer, foxes, and coatis. The symphony of jungle sounds, together with the rich fragrance of the tropical species, makes it an unforgettable life experience. It is truly a paradise for birdwatching and nature lovers.
Interested in learning more about the latest findings on the RISE and Fall of the MAYA Empire? See "THE MAYA, Glory and Ruin" in the August 2007 issue of National Geographic.
Choose between the "Standard Weekend Excursion" = 2 days & 1 night -
or the "Extended Weekend Excursion" = 3 days & 2 nights -
Because of the site's remoteness, we propose a round trip travel by AIR ( a one-way ride in “Pullmann” bus takes approximately 9hrs. driving)
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“Standard” Weekend Excursion
2 days & 1 night - TIKAL
DETAILED SCHEDULE:
Saturday
04:00 am: pick up at your hotel in Antigua, and transfer to Guatemala City's Airport.
06:30 am: Flight from Guatemala City Airport to Flores/Santa Elena Airport (50 min. flight).
07:30 am: transfer by shuttle bus to your hotel, the Jungle Lodge, located inside the National Park of TIKAL. The ride deep inside the sub-tropical jungle takes about one hour.
09:00 am: Visit of the archeological site of TIKAL with a bi-lingual guide. This visit will take approximately 4 hours
01:15 pm: lunch at The Jungle Lodge. Afternoon: visit of the museum inside the TIKAL National Park.
* Accommodation in Hotel Jungle Lodge.
Sunday
*Breakfast at your hotel, the Jungle Lodge.
*You are then free to make another visit to the Archeological site of TIKAL, admire the ancient Maya ruins and dedicate your time to bird-watching or photography…Or you can stay in the hotel's garden and relax at the pool, enjoying your immersion in the jungle.
02:00 pm: transfer by private shuttle bus to the Flores/Santa Elena Airport.
05:00 pm: Return flight to Guatemala City
06:00 pm: Arrival at Guatemala City's Airport & transfer to San Carlos Hotel in Guatemala City
Monday
After breakfast and at scheduled hour, transfer from the San Carlos Hotel to Guatemala City's Airport “La Aurora,” where you'll board your return flight home.
PRICE of Standard “Early bird” weekend trip to TIKAL: $335 pp. - based on double room occupancy;
$359 pp. - for single room.
Price INCLUDES:
- All Fees and Taxes (V.a.t. and hotel taxes)
- Airport transfers in shuttle-bus back and forth from your hotels
- Flight from Guatemala City to the Airport of Flores/Santa Elena, in Peten
- Accommodation in hotel “The Jungle Lodge” inside the TIKAL National Park
- Lunch at your hotel The Jungle Lodge, on Saturday
- Entrance to the TIKAL National Park and tour of the Archeological Site, with a bi-lingual guide, on Saturday morning
- Entrance to to the museum inside the TIKAL National Park (on Saturday afternoon)
- Breakfast on Sunday at your hotel
Price Excludes:
- Optional visit to the Archeological site on Sunday morning
- Supper on Saturday and Sunday evening
- All beverages and personal expenses, as well as your tips and gratuities
- Airport taxes in Guatemala City and in Flores/Santa Elena (20,-Q or $3,- each flight, payable in cash)
"Extended" Weekend Excursion
3 days & 2 nights - Flores and TIKAL
Instead of getting up at the crack of dawn on Saturday, you'll leave Friday at your ease and spend a pleasant evening in FLORES (Flowers), a small island on Lake Peten (one hour away from TIKAL).
FLORES is a small picturesque town where everything is at walking distance. You'll be staying at “Isla de Flores” a comfortable hotel, where most rooms have terraces with views on Lake Peten.
Saturday morning you'll be transferred to your hotel “The Jungle Lodge” inside TIKAL's National Park, just in time to start your guided visit to the Archeological Site.
DETAILED SCHEDULE:
Friday
03:00 pm: Pick up at your hotel in Antigua and transfer by shuttle to Guatemala City's Airport (GUA) to board flight to FLORES at 6:30 pm (50 min flight).
07:30 pm: Transfer by mini-shuttle bus to your hotel, Isla de Flores on FLORES Island.
Saturday
07:30 am: After breakfast, Pick up at your hotel and transfer to hotel Jungle Lodge inside TIKAL's National Park. The ride deep inside the sub-tropical jungle takes about one hour.
09:00 am: Visit of the archeological site of TIKAL with a bi-lingual guide. This visit will take approximately 4 hours
Lunch: At The Jungle Lodge.
Afternoon: Free or visit the museum inside TIKAL's National Park.
Sunday
Breakfast: at your hotel, The Jungle Lodge.
Morning: You are free to make another visit to the Archeological site of TIKAL, admire the ancient Maya ruins and dedicate your time to bird-watching or photography…Or you can stay in the hotel's garden and relax at the pool, enjoying your immersion in the jungle.
02:00 pm: Transfer by Jungle Lodge's shuttle bus to the Flores/Santa Elena Airport (FRS) to board flight at 5pm for Guatemala City's Airport (GUA)
06:00 pm: Transfer from GUA to San Carlos Hotel in Guatemala City
Monday
After breakfast and at scheduled hour, transfer from Hotel San Carlos to Guatemala City's Airport “La Aurora” for your return flight home.
PRICE = $379 pp. - based on double room occupancy; $409 pp. - for single room.
Price INCLUDES:
- Lodging Friday night at Hotel Isla de Flores in Flores, with breakfast
- Lodging Saturday night at the Jungle Lodge in TIKAL, with breakfast
- Transfer from Flores/Santa Elena Airport to your hotel in FLORES
- Transfer from your hotel in Flores to the Jungle Lodge inside TIKAL National Park
- All fees and taxes on the above mentioned services
- Your return flight to Guatemala City
Price Excludes:
- Supper on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening
- All beverages and personal expenses, as well as your tips and gratuities
- Airport taxes in Guatemala City and in Flores/Santa Elena (20Q or $3, each flight, payable in cash)
RESERVATIONS
Minimum 4 weeks PRIOR to your arrival in Guatemala City. TIKAL is a highly sought after destination and in order to insure your seat on the plane and in your hotels – especially on weekends – we suggest to book A.S.A.P.
Hotel Isla de Flores is a comfortable and attractive hotel. Its rooms are equipped with air conditioning, ceiling fans and cable TV. In the evening you'll enjoy strolling in FLORES, where you can have a candlelight dinner in one of the many restaurants bordering the Lake.
Your hotel, the Jungle Lodge offers the best accommodation within the TIKAL National Park. It consists of spacious and independent bungalows with private bathrooms (hot & cold water). Each bungalow is equipped with ceiling fans and mosquito-nets. You'll enjoy swimming in the pool set admidst the exuberant nature.
P.S.: During the month of September only the extended weekend program will be available and guests will be lodged on both nights at Hotel Isla de Flores.
PRICES can be subject to change without further notice: As a policy we like to maintain stable prices; however our tariffs depend on the national aviation industry, where changes due to increase in oil prices are sometimes unpredictable.
PRACTICAL TIPS
Climate: the climate is hot, and in the jungle the humidity is about 90%. The average maximum temperature is between 32C and 42C (90F – 108F). The average minimum temperature is between 20C and 28C (68F- 77F).- Clothing: Wear light cotton clothes, shirts with long sleeves and slacks, use extremely comfortable and non-slippery shoes (not sandals) Bring along sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen. You'll need a sweater though during the flight.
- Mosquitos: If you want to be really safe, use insect repellent containing deet (= Di-ethyltoluamide); if you prefer to use natural essences (like geranium, basil or citronella) to keep insects away, remember to apply them hourly, in order to be effective. Other natural ways of repealing mosquitos are: 2 weeks before your trip start eating carrots, take supplements of natural yeast, or drink quinine tea (Natural aromatic essences and quinine tea are for sale in Guatemala).
- Water & Food: Drink plenty of water during your sight seeing. Bottles of water (agua pura) are sold at the restaurant and at the visitor's center. Take some trailmix or other snacks with you.
- Luggage: bring a minimum of personal belongings in a rucksack or similar; you won`t need your heavy suitcase, which will be guarded in your hotel in Antigua until your return. Luggage on the plane to TIKAL/FLORES is limited to 9 Kilos (=19lbs).
- Electricity: Electricity here is produced by generators. To save energy, electricity is turned off between 10:00 pm and 06:00 am. We recommend to take a flash-light with you.
