RAC

This coming February, we'll be traveling to Belize and Guatemala. The first three (San Ignacio, including Caracol) and the last three (Lamanai Outpost Lodge) will be spent in Belize, with the middle three in Guatemala.

Here's how our schedule breaks down in terms of what we know:

Day 4: Transport from Cahal Pech resort to Tikal Inn (arranged already), with estimated arrival around 11:00 am. Spend night at Tikal Inn

Day 5: Spend night at Tikal Inn.

Day 6: Catch 2:00 pm shuttle from Tikal Inn to Flores, check into Hotel Santana.

Day 7: 9:45 flight from Flores Int'l to BZE.

Besides seeing wildlife and ruins, our only other agenda item is a zipline.

Our very, very rough plan for our time there is this:

Day 4: Check into Tikal Inn upon arrival, do a zipline after lunch, and then check out the park after 3 pm so we can use the admission for the next day.

Day 5: Sunrise tour of the ruins, lunch and pool time during the afternoon, then returning to the park for the late afternoon.

Day 6: Go to park again? Wander trails? Hire a naturalist, as opposed to an archaeological, guide? Then, spend afternoon in Flores in some down time, wandering, shopping, relaxing.

Or would it make more sense to to the zipline on the morning of day six and spend the first afternoon relaxing by the pool?

Would it be worth it for us to spend the $$ for admission for another day to see the ruins after getting a tour the previous day?

We're really unsure how to proceed here, so we're open to suggestions of any and all kinds (well, except for the mule train to El Mirador--maybe another time).

cgenster

The only recommendation I feel qualified to give you is to ask for Roxie Ortiz to be your guide. She was fantastic and she is the sister of the manager of the Tikal Inn, but she doesn't live there so you have to request her ahead of time.

She pointed out things to us that were amazing and she knows the Mayan history along with relevant issues of today.

We went to the park one evening and then the next morning and we didn't see it all, but there is a ticket that you can purchase after 4pm one afternoon that is good for the next day which is the best deal.

Good luck and have fun.

RAC

We've already requested Roxy, but were told they didn't know that far in advance whether she'd be available.

shillmac

Hey, RAC, enjoy! It's fabulous.

MrShort1

I could spend several days at Tikal. One thing you might consider is talking to the night guards about a late night tour (8-9 PM). If the moon is full it is wonderful. If you can speak Spanish or meet someone staying at the hotel who speaks Spanish this is a great way to spend an evening. Of course this is not entirely above board but can be done for about $20 per couple, the guards will ask for twice this. Bring water and flashlights. When we went back this year we bypassed Tikal and spent the day at Uaxactun. This is not as grand as Tikal but interesting. We also spent time a Ceibal and Yaxha. Of those 3, Yaxha has the most amazing structures and view points I would recommend this. The boat ride to Ceibal was very interesting not as exciting as the boat trip to Lamanai.
Last March Flores had all the roads torn up and very little tourists. It was not the busy place we had seen a year earlier, a lot of the shops had closed up because of this construction. You could almost lie down in the street.

When at San Ignacio and going to Carocol head up earlier if you can and see the Rio Frio caves. Don't forget to check in with the army base before or they will come looking for you as they are on army property or close enough that they care.
The Rio Frio falls after the Carocol tour is a great way to spend some time cool off and wash the dust off. The ATM cave tour is also supposed to be quite interesting.
Remember if you are traveling in late Febuary don't forget to wave at me, I'll be the guy wearing a hat.

have fun

RAC

That's some great advice, especially regarding Tikal at night. We'll be there in Mid February. The tour we booked for Caracol includes stops at Rio Frio and Rio On.

Vttraveler

We did not do a zip line tour so I am not sure of the logistics for this. They are outside the park but I think the inns have transportation options to/from. It might seem disruptive to arrive then immediately head out to one of these tours.

We spent an afternoon and another full day in the ruins. They are really extensive and if you want to go to some of the more distant parts of the site and climb different temples, you will need this much time. We were there in February of this year and it was hot but we did not have trouble being in the park in the middle of the day. It is a fairly long walk in and out from the lodges--not something you can't do, but it takes time.

The wild life is extensive and I was sorry we did not know more about the birds we were seeing. We did take a short nature walk with various plants marked
The museum at the site has a rather limited collection not too well presented but there are great pictures of early excavations at Tikal.

hopefulist

I posted this in response to your thread on another forum, but will add it hear in case others haven't seen it: Ixpanpajul is a beautiful nature park near Flores that has a zipline tour (I didn't try it but Carla did and could maybe compare with others) as well as a beautiful hike that includes long suspension bridges above the canopy that was really wonderful. (Hi, Carla!!)

hopefulist

Yes, the ATM cave is amazing - I have GOT to get a travelogue posted!!

cgenster

RAC-The zipline tour at Ixpanpajul was great. My only complaint would be that there are only eight platforms with six lines. It was over way too soon.

The price was very reasonable. $25. USD and the staff was friendly and helpful. We had one lady with us who was very afraid and one of the zipline guys rode tandem with her each time.

Hi Stacey! I enjoyed your Belize blog and glad you had a great time. Enjoy your school year.

RAC

I checked out the Ixpanpajul website, and it looks great. It said transportion to there and back from Tikal for 2 people was $80. Can that be right?

The other zipline we've heard about is the one right next to the park.

hopefulist

You might have other options for transportation but it's pushing an hour from Tikal each way so you'd want to do it from Flores, I think. If you leave Tikal before 2 you'd have time to do one activity at Ixpanpajul enroute to Flores if you could arrange transport that way.

RAC

I don't think that would work for our schedule. We don't arrive in Flores until 2:30 pm. I think we'll do the closer zipline.

hopefulist

We left the Tikal Inn around 1:30 and had plenty of time to do either the zipline or the canopy hike, arriving in Flores in time to rest up a bit before dinner - just another option. It was nice only being a few minutes from Flores after our adventures.

RAC

I guess we could (the shuttle leaves from the Tikal Inn at 2:00 pm), but that would give us zero time to experience Flores during the day.

We'll probably have to save Ixpanpajul for the next time we're in the region.

hopefulist

It's good to have excuses to go back..

Kannute

www.actionboysbelize.com