Flores Transportation

It is easy to book transport from Flores to Tikal. I booked from the hotel the evening before going and I booked a seat on the 5am bus, the first bus leaving in the morning. The return trip was 60 quetzales (July 2009).

The bus drives around Flores and I was picked up outside my hotel at 5.15. When we arrived in Tikal the bus stopped at Jaguar Inn and Restaurant and there they had prepared sandwiches, tea and coffee for breakfast. It was convenient and quick to buy the breakfast hear. A sandwich and coffee was 25 quetzales. At 7.00 I had paid the admission to the Archaeological Park and was on my way to the ruins.

Coming back from the ruins I quickly visited the two museums and than caught the bus at 14.00 back to Flores. The company had several buses leaving for Flores in the afternoon and the seat was not booked in advance, which is good as you don’t know how much time you will need at the site.

I took the first minibus in the morning leaving Copán for the border. It left at 6.00 and was 20 lempiras (July 2009). At the border the customs went quick as I was the only passenger from the minibus who needed to get my passport stamped. On the Guatemalan side the bus going to Chiquimula waited for me. For that bus I paid 25 quetzales.

In Chiquimula the company Maria Elena has got buses to Flores/Santa Elena at 6, 10 and 15. At their office I bought a ticket for 100 quetzales for the 10 o’clock bus and then went out to find something to eat. At one of the eateries at the market I bought a plate with meat, rice and beans and a pepsi to drink. It was served with tortillas and it was 19 quetzales.

After a few hours drive towards Santa Elena/Flores the bus broke down. Someone were sent out to buy new screws, but the only ones they could get hold of were too long, so the men then tried to shorten them with the help of a stone and a pair of tongs. I don’t know if they succeeded, because after waiting for more than half an hour another, bigger bus heading for Santa Elena stopped. It was from another company, but I didn’t mind paying more as long as I arrived before dark. On this bus I paid 40 quetzales. There were another two hours until we reached Santa Elena. As we entered Santa Elena the passengers going to Flores had to change for a shuttle bus (it didn’t cost any extra). It took us to our hotels, and at the same time they tried to get us to sign up for a tour to Tikal the next day.

San Juan travel agency based in Flores, Guatemala, operates a bus from Flores to Belize City via Melchor de Mencos. It leaves Flores at 5 o’clock in the morning which, God willing, gives you the chance to catch the 12 o'clock water taxi from the Belize terminal to Caye Caulker. One little detail - if you need a visa to visit the country of Belize make sure you have passport-size photos. Otherwise you will be dispatched back to Guatemala, where the photo shop is and thus miss the chance to board the bus again. The driver’s patience is limited!

The airport transportation is reduced to taxi service only. The local "union" of taxi drivers is firmly entrenched and would not dare to negotiate a price, a bit of a Cuban syndrome. The price is the equivalent of 6USD unless after a lot of persuasion the driver does not figure that you might be a customer on the following day to Tikal and lower his fare to 5USD. The ride from the airport to Flores is less than 5min. and Santa Elena maybe 2min!

There is a minibus service organized by San Juan agency practically on the hour from Flores to Tikal and back. The price is exceptional compared to the taxi offers from the touts at the airport who would ask you for 60USD for the day. Plus you have the flexibility of staying in Tikal for a day or two.

TAG is little known airline with quite a bit of experience and "home-maid" feel to it. The ride was excelent albeit delayed. Observation of a following day flight gives the impression that the original cause of delay, fog, was highly improbable.

buses leave from Santa Elena, across the causeway from Flores. these are available destinations:

Guate (60-80Q) - Buses del Norte, Linea Dorada, Maya de Oro. 1st and 2nd class buses.

Finca Ixobel (Poptún) /Rio Dulce (20-40Q) - 2nd class buses or vans going to Guate. if van, tuktuk to Finca Ixobel or ask driver how much to take you all the way there.

Tikal (15Q) - regular bus at 13.00. continues to Uaxactún.

Carmelita (20Q) - 1 bus at 13.00 and early return. base for El Mirador hike.

Bethel (30Q) - 7.00, 8.00 and 13.00. cross river and continue to Mexico.

Melchor (15Q) - minivan every 3 hrs or so. cross bridge and continue to Belize.

Sayaxché/Cobán - minivan or regular bus. change at Sayaxché after river crossing if Van. Bus continues through. minibuses to Lanquín from Cobán.

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Flores’ small airport has no jetways or luggage carousel. Nor does it have air conditioning which means that the heat and humidity can be quite oppressive as you wait for your departing flight. Pass the time by doing some last-minute souvenir shopping or get a coffee drink at the espresso bar.