El Remate Travel Guide

 
by natalie09
 
  •   Hotels
    by natalie09
  •   Hotels
    by natalie09
  • El Remate
      El Remate
    by easterntrekker
  • Lake Peten Itza
      Lake Peten Itza
    by easterntrekker
  •   El Remate
    by calcaf38
 

Pro

easterntrekker profile photo

  A friendly little village , very close to Tikal 


Con

calcaf38 profile photo

  Not much to do 


In a nutshell

paparush profile photo

  Quiet, peaceful alternative to Flores 

 

Explore El Remate

Things to Do  

Watching the wood carvers

Watching the wood carvers, El Remate

 easterntrekker Says:  El Remate is like many dusty little village in this part of Guatemala , save for one difference "the wood carvers". The carvers do amazing work here and they are happy to show there talents to anyone who wants to watch . About 70 per cent of the locals carve ...they use... 

At the dock

At the dock, El Remate

 easterntrekker Says:  There are several docks built along Lake Peten Itza . They have a little thatched roof hut at the end . They make great place to read a book or to just unwind. 

Lake Peten Itza

Lake Peten Itza, El Remate

 easterntrekker Says:  There is a nice two hour boat trip available for $15.00 , to watch the sunset and get a look at some of the different water birds. There was a night tour available too and if you are lucky you an see caymen. 

Make the Kids Laugh

Make the Kids Laugh, El Remate

 calcaf38 Says:  Be sure you take crayons, balloons and such along. Then don't just throw them around like a king throwing coins. Establish a little contact. You will make friends. If the parents are around, give the gift to the parents to give to the kids. 

Just Walk and Enjoy

Just Walk and Enjoy, El Remate

 calcaf38 Says:  There is a huge speed bump (tumulo) at the entrance of every village. Therefore, traffic is slow through small hamlets, and you can walk safely. No one will mind you walking around smiling. 

Share the Road with the Animals

Share the Road with the Animals, El Remate

 calcaf38 Says:  Annimals run freely throughout El Remate: horses, donkeys, turkeys, goats, pigs, and dogs. At night, the birds produce a wonderful serenade, along with a few rain drops on the metal roofs. 

Crash the Churches

Crash the Churches, El Remate

 calcaf38 Says:  I simply barged into two churches, to say hello and look around. In the green one, I explained that I worked for a church-affiliated non-profit, and compared notes a bit. In the white one, I found a minister singing for the children and I stayed and enjoyed it for a while.... 

Restaurants  

Cahui: Sleepy Restaurant on the Main - the Only - Street

Cahui: Sleepy Restaurant on the Main - the Only - Street, El Remate

 calcaf38 Says:  I ordered the most expensive thing on the menu, a Pollo with Champignones, and it was nothing special. Mostly, it was not very hot - temperature wise - and definitely not spicy. The service was charming, but completely inattentive, although the place was very quiet. By the... 

La Lancha restaurant.: Great food.

La Lancha restaurant.: Great food., El Remate

 euzkadi Says:  The food of this hotel is great. Good fish and a delicious sweet pepper soup. I also bought some wines of Mr Coppola vineyard. 

Transportation  

Taxis

Taxis, El Remate

 easterntrekker Says:  We took a cab from Flores airport to our hotel in El remate. It cost $10.00. There are taxis you can get in El Remate to take you around the area...such as Tikal if you would like.The one we had had cool purple tinted windows!!! Made the sunrise evem more spectacular!!Ha!! 

Taca Air

Taca Air, El Remate

 easterntrekker Says:  We flew with Taca air to Flores airport from Guatemala City . Its a short flight on what looked like a new plane.There was a 30 Q. departure tax leaving G. City and a 20 Q returning.Cost was $200.00 return. We booked it long ahead. 

How to get here from Mexico or Belize

How to get here from Mexico or Belize, El Remate

 Waxbag Says:  Many people think the only option to get to Tikal and Guatemala from Mexico is by flying. It is possible to take a bus. There are regular buses from Cancun and Tulum that go to Chetumal where it is possible to get a bus to Belize city. At the boarder in Santa Elena you will... 

Shopping  

Wooden Crafts to Buy in El Remate

Wooden Crafts to Buy in El Remate, El Remate

 Waxbag Says:  There are several small shops on the west side of the only road through town. They sell local crafts. Of course in Gautemal there are all kinds of local crafts sold. But I really liked the quaility and uniqueness of these crafts. wooden items: turtles, birds etc. Not much. 

Local Customs  

From canoes to jaguars

From canoes to jaguars, El Remate

 easterntrekker Says:  The carvers of El Remate started originally carving miniature canoes. About eighteen years ago they started to carve more intricate figures like , huge jaguars ,monkeys and elaborate Mayan figurines of the deities. It amazed me that there could be so much talent of this kind... 

Local Boys

Local Boys, El Remate

 paparush Says:  As you step off the bus, or out of the van, you will be approached by young, local boys who want to "help" you find your hotel.Let the kids show you the way to your lodging then hand them a fiver ($5Q) 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Recent travel warnings

Recent travel warnings, El Remate

 marissac Says:  During my current trip I have found that the recent US travel advisory about drug violence in northern Guatemala and Tikal area is not directed at tourism. Other travelers I was talking to did not feel threatened, and all services are functioning as normal, buses etc.... 

Watch the Beef at Don David's

Watch the Beef at Don David's, El Remate

 paparush Says:  Ate lunch at la Casa de Don David, which looked like the nicest resturaunt in town. My wife got a 'steak burger' that was rotten in the center. She was sick as a dog the next day (Tikal). I had one bite and was quite sick the next morning...luckily mine wore off quickly. 

What to Pack  

Mosquito Repellent is a must

Mosquito Repellent is a must, El Remate

 easterntrekker Says:  Travel light...no formal wear here! Long sleaves and long pants Take care to wear Mosquito Repellent . There is still dungue fever here ! 

Off The Beaten Path  

Visit Nearby Rain Forest of Biotopo Cerro Cahui

Visit Nearby Rain Forest of Biotopo Cerro Cahui, El Remate

 Waxbag Says:  Biotopo Cerro Cahui is new preserve created right off of Lago Peten Itza 3 kms away from El Remate. Much of the rain forest is secondary growth as it used to be apart of a farm but there are quite a lot of large mahongany trees and sapadilla hard wood. Many species of fern... 

Favorites  

le Casa de Don David your one stop shop!

le Casa de Don David your one stop shop!, El Remate

 paparush Says:  At Don David's you can change money, make travel arrangements to Tikal, make bus reservations, and just about anything else you need to do. The staff is friendly, helpful, and as David says, they "speak perfect broken English". 

The Place

Plan a El Remate vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and El Remate locals

Experience El Remate
  •   30 Tips and Reviews
  •  43 Photos
  Share your Travels  
Map of El Remate
 

The People

 
Our Members Say
 profile photo

 The food of this hotel is great. Good fish and a delicious sweet pepper soup. I also bought some wines of Mr Coppola vineyard. 

 

Questions and Answers

Babzz profile photo

Q:  Hello again...Yet another question... We'll be staying in Flores while visiting Tikal, but I'm interested in El Remate. Has... 

Babzz profile photo

A: Hi ilona, Thanks for the reply. I'll be there at the end of Febuary. We were planning to stay in Flores just because it seems the easiest with regards to... 

Read 4 Replies

postQuestion_button

Top El Remate Writers

1

El Remate, halfway between Flores and Tikal

calcaf38 profile photo

 El Remate is a small village at the Eastern edge of Lake Peten Itza. It is halfway between the popular town of Flores / Santa Elena and the National Park of Tikal. The road is paved all the way and...... 

2

A good base for Tikal

easterntrekker profile photo

 El Remate is a tiny village on the outskirts of Tikal . It makes a good place to base yourself for an early morning start to explore Tikal. There are quite a few little hotels and I spotted a Hostel... 

3

El Remate, On the Road to Tikal

Waxbag profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in El Remate. I'd love to share with you the 6 tips I've written, the 3 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

4

On the shore of the Peten Itza lake.

euzkadi profile photo

 A small village with good hotels and beautiful lake views, its located 30 kms from Flores, and very close to the great mayan ruins of Tikal. 

5

No probs in el Remate

paparush profile photo

 Spent three days in el Remate in May, 2003. Had heard the stories of tourists being harrassed in the area. We saw many, many special tourists police in and around el Remate. They walked, bicycled, and... 

View all rated pages

View newest pages

Build your own El Remate page