Guatemala City & Tikal

While in Panama, Kevin & I met tons of travelers following the Che trail-- moving north from Patagonia, or some, after they hit Mexico, returning south.  We spent a bumpy van ride on the Kuna road with some young women from Chile.  We asked them about highlights from their several month journey.  They kept coming back to Guatemala.

So the next year we went to Guatemala.

We had also heard amazing things from Kevin's cousin.  He was brought out by Old Town Outfitters, a cycling & adventure planning organization in Antigua.  I had a work friend from Guatemala City.  Super cool.  First night's room all set with her Mom and neighbors.

Kevin & our hostess, Clementina

I don't know much about Guatemala City because we stayed with our sweet hostess & neighbor.  However, if you're staying in the city check out your zone's, or neighborhood's, distance from the airport or any other pertinent destination.  Guatemala City is big!  Clementina lives in Zona 18, which is FAR from the airport.  Taxis didn't want to take us to her.

That said, I've heard great things about Guatemala City.  It's not as appealing to the naked eye as neighboring Antigua.  If you only have a little bit of time I would opt for Antigua.  I get the sense that Guate City is an acquired taste.

We flew directly from Guate to Flores in the north, wedged between the borders with Mexico & Belize.  Flores is the nearest airport to the ruins of Tikal.  It's still a solid half hour to hour long ride to Tikal proper.  Flores itself is intriguing.  This city is a small island within Lake Peten Itza.  We decided to go from the airport into Flores to have lunch & wander around.  This is very much a small city where people live & work.  A few hours was plenty of time.  We grabbed a tuk tuk & headed towards Tikal, stopping in the neighboring village of El Remate.

While visiting Tikal you can stay at one of three hotels within the park.  They're significantly more expensive, not terribly attractive, and don't provide you with access to Lake Peten Itza.  The draw is being able to enter the park first every morning-- which is considerable!  Those sunrises are epic.  There is camping in and around the park but I can't speak first hand about that option.

An affordable well-rated hotel in El Remate, twenty minutes from the Tikal park, had a vacancy so our tuk tuk dropped us off at the door.  We were directly across the street from a gazebo over Lake Peten Itza.  As soon as we dropped off our bags we ran into the cool waters.  After some time stretching from our flights, swimming, & unpacking, we hitched a ride to Tikal.  If you arrive to the park in the afternoon you can buy a ticket that admits you that afternoon as well as the entire following day.  Best bang for the buck.

The following morning.

Crocodile!

We spent a great night eating crepes & playing cards with new friends.  A Canadian was spending his vacation from the coast guard riding his motorcycle throughout Central America. He'd just gotten scuba certified in Honduras.  A cycling shop owner from Chicago had just come from San Marcos de la Laguna.  He offered us a reccomendation that made the trip.  With their laughter & ideas we booked a bumpy van ride for Semuc Champey.