SusanInToronto

I just got approval for my vacation, and we're going to Guatemala in early December (yay!). We definitely want to go to Tikal and we're considering a 2 day / 1 night tour as opposed to doing it on our own. Any recommendations? We'd be coming from Antigua. Thanks.

hopefulist

If you don't mind going with their time and tour constraints those tours are a good deal, I think. We chose to take a bust up, stopping in Rio Dulce for 2 nights, then spent 1 night in the park (Tikal Inn) and one in Flores (Casona de la Isla) before catching a flight back to Guatemala City to connect with our flight home. It's easy to buy the tickets and make reservations on your own but I don't think you're likely to save a lot of money.

sm827

Hi Susan-

We used Turansa for that tour and they were fine except for when they forgot to pick us up at the end. If I were to do it again I think I might just book it myself (but I may have some control issues I need to work on). I also think that you probably could just do it through any travel agency in Antigua once you get there, but I am too much of an advance planner for that. Tikal is fantastic--have a great time!

SusanInToronto

We had thought of doing it on our own and taking the bus there (stopping in Rio Dulce) and flying back at the end. But I'm not able to get as much time off work as I hoped - so we have to cut out 1 place we were going to visit.

SM827 - I know what you mean about 'control issues'!

SusanInToronto

SM827, just wondering, apart from the food on your tour, did you think that it was worth it? I am also looking at Turansa. How many were on the actual tour?

I guess part of the appeal of the tour is the convenience, shuttles, etc. - on the other hand, if they don't pick you up, it's not so convenient!

If we booked our own, I was thinking of the Tikal Inn.

sm827

Hi Susan-

Actually, the good thing about Turansa was that it was just us. I think that it is more accurate to say that we booked a package through Turansa. So we were by ourselves for the minivan to the aiport and then we sort of merged with other groups as needed. So, obviously, there were others on the plane with us and then when we got to Flores the Jungle Lodge has a desk at the aiport and all of the people going there gathered at the desk and then were sorted by language. I think there were probably about 20 people in our English speaking group and we all got on one bus to the lodge. Then those were the people that we toured the park with that morning. And then after that we were completely on our own until it was time to go back to the aiport when we all gathered to get back on the bus.

I will say it was nice to just have someone else take care of the details since it was such a short trip and Turansa did a fine job except for the glitch at the end. And, to their credit, they did apologize without any prompting from us so I don't think it is how things go for them all the time.

If you do stay at the Jungle Lodge, I would just say only eat meals that you have already paid for there. We never tried the food at the Tikal Inn and maybe it is better. It seems like almost anything would be better.

Let me know if you have other questions.