Sign in with Facebook- Join for free
- Sign In
Sign in with Facebook
Pro
A friendly little village , very close to Tikal
Con
Not much to do
In a nutshell
Quiet, peaceful alternative to Flores
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...
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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....
Cahui: Sleepy Restaurant on the Main - the Only - Street
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.
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.
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!!
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
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...
Helpfulness
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.
What to buy: wooden items: turtles, birds etc.
What to pay: Not much.
Written Dec 13, 2003
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...
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)
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....
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.
Helpfulness
Luggage and bags: Travel light...no formal wear here!
Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Long sleaves and long pants
Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Take care to wear Mosquito Repellent . There is still dungue fever here !
Written Apr 2, 2007
Helpfulness
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 and orcids are here as well other kinds of many other species. Howler and spider monkeys can be herd if not seen, especially near sunset. White-tail deer, raccoon, armadillos are also here and maybe even the jaguar. There is quite a lot of birds here as well including herons, toucans, parrots, kingfishers and a Peten turkey.
The rangers are very welcoming. They let me hold a boa. There are several nice and well marked trails that go up through the 650 hectacre park. Some of the trails lead up to some really nice panaramic views of the lake.
On the lake near the gates of the park is a great spot to hang your hammock and read a book and enjoy a brown bag lunch.
Entrance cost is about $3 US and comes with a really nice map and information about the park and its floral and fauna.
Open from 6 am to 5 pm.
When I was there it looked like they were building a visitors center.
Written Dec 13, 2003
Favorite thing: 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".
Written May 29, 2003
El Remate, halfway between Flores and Tikal
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......
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...
On the shore of the Peten Itza lake.
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.
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...
Build your own El Remate page
Comments