Day 1 in Flores - Tikal

Welcome to Flores - Tikal! Upon arrival at the airport, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Arrive at your hotel, check in and head out to explore the region! There is so much for you to see and do!

We recommend you get acquainted with the tiny island of Flores, stroll along the colorful streets and pick a place by the lake to sit back and enjoy lunch with a view. After lunch, take a walk along the lake shores and maybe take a canoe out on the water or a relaxing boat ride.

Try the local specialty `Pupusas` which are thick corn tortillas stuffed with a variety of fillings such as pork, refried beans, and cheese. The tortillas are then deep fried to give them a crispy outside layer and a squishy inside, and served with salsa and cabbage. Flores boasts one of the best Pupusa restaurants in the country `Pupuseria Excelente` a quaint cafe popular with the locals.

You have a few options for activities to enjoy this afternoon, visit the Petencito Zoo, which can only be accessed by boat. Here visitors can get up close and personal with animals that have been sick or injured and are recuperating at the zoo until they can be released back into the wild. See crocodiles, ocelots, pumas, jaguars and spider monkeys scurrying around the zoo as well as many native birds including the stunning scarlet macaw.

Take a trip to the Ixpanpajul Natural Park, an adventure park brimming with exciting and exhilarating activities such as Ziplining through the treetops of the jungle or walking high amongst the treetops on the Sky Way suspension bridges. This beautiful big park covers 450 hectares of untouched rainforest and boasts spectacular viewpoints and night safaris. The opportunities here are endless, visitors can go hiking through the jungle or horseback riding or simply lay back and relax in a hammock and be at one with nature.

On your first evening in Flores stroll along `Zona Viva` on Calle Playa Sur, where a strip of bars and watering holes can be found, grab a drink and then continue on to the lakefront promenade where most of the restaurants and cafes can be found. Enjoy a meal with lakefront views and take in the chilled ambiance of the town and its stunning surroundings.

Day 2 in Flores - Tikal

Start your second day super early! Like pre-dawn early and make your way to the Gran Plaza in the Tikal National Park for a once in a lifetime sunrise over the ancient Mayan ruins and the treetops of the rainforest. The ancient city of Tikal is a mystical and magical place and watching the sunrise here can really put you in touch with nature and the spectacular surroundings of the park.

Today explore the ancient Mayan city and all its glory! Discover the history of the ancient Mayan civilization and the awe-inspiring archeological sites of Tikal. Wander around the sprawling Tikal National Park through the lush dense rainforest on covered walkways and see the spectacular pyramids dotted around the park. The site covers 100 square km of land and was once home to a population of a quarter million people. Tikal is one of the most popular and famous places in the country brimming with ancient ruins dating back to 200 B.C. It is also known for having the second tallest pyramid of its kind and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Once you have worked up an appetite you can head to some of the restaurants found just outside the entrance to the national park. Many of the eateries are found at hotels located just off-site, which are open to the public. Enjoy some delicious roast chicken served with rice, beans, and fresh tortillas to fuel you up for the rest of your adventures.

Visit the Canopy Tours Tikal located just outside the entrance to the park and explore the rainforest on a series of treetop platforms that are connected by wire cables or zip line from platform to platform for an exhilarating rush and spectacular views. Visitors can see plenty of wildlife in the jungle including howler monkey`s, birdlife and other animals that call the jungle home.

Be sure to make your way back to the park just before the sun sets, seeing the Pyramids and treetops lit up by the sinking sun is another wonderful sight and the ruins are breathtaking under the moonlight.

Once back in Flores enjoy another great meal with lakeside views while basking in the memories of an amazing day in Tikal.

Additional Days in Flores - Tikal

If you are able to spend additional days in be sure to visit Yaxha, Guatemala`s third largest archaeological site located about 62 miles away from Flores. Yaxha is a famous Mesoamerican archaeological site and a former ceremonial center of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. The ruins here extend for 2 miles along a limestone ridge that runs parallel to the lake boasting stunning views.

Check out Uaxactun, an ancient sacred site and Mayan city which was a ceremonial center dotted with temples and pyramids. It is the oldest Astronomical Observatory from the Mayan world, it was designed so that, at sunrise on equinoxes and solstices, the sun appears to rise out of the central temple.

Visit El Mirador, a large pre-Columbian Maya settlement discovered in 1926. The ruins here date back to the 6th century BC, La Danta is the largest pyramid in the world in terms of mass. The trek to reach the remote ruins takes at least five days trekking through the lush dense jungle.

Your Last Day in Flores - Tikal

Depart from your hotel to the airport for your return flight home. We recommend that you purchase a private transfer to the airport if so the representative will meet you at your hotel with plenty of time to get you to the airport for your flight out.