I was planning to do Tikal as a one day trip using PACZ tours but now think that the overnight be better. However, the cost is so, so high comparatively. If we did it as a day trip we would pay $165/ person then our hotel is $99/ night that we are planning to use. So, grand total $430 (well, + dinner but that doesn't have to cost much) vs $600 for the overnight trip. In the long run an extra $170 isn't the end of the world but I'd be interested to hear if there was some other way to arrange this overnight tour and trip from Belize (Maya Mountain Lodge in San Ignacio) that might cost less but still be a good, safe, easy tour and experience.

Thanks!
Beth

www.jaguartikal.com

at Tikal nice cheap

can arrange trasport usually

The 1st time we visited Tikal we taxied to the border (or you could bus there - we were just staying at the Trek Stop a few miles away and the taxis were cheap), changed money with the money changers (know the rate ahead of time and just be watchful), crossed out of Belize and into Guatemala (2 stops), and hired a van driver on the other side to drive us to Tikal and to pick us up the next day at a specific time (I think we said 1pm) - worked slick. In 2003 we paid $50 each way for the transportation for our family of 5.

My favorite hotel in the park is the Tikal Inn - nice big, clean rooms and a pool for cooling off. If you're lucky with your timing, archaeologist Roxy Ortiz might be providing early morning tours while you're there - she's phenomenal.

My travelogues, blogs, and photos are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

Tikal sets are in the Belize 2003, Guatemala 2007, and Guatemala 2009 collections. Keep us posted!

If your lodge runs tours to Tikal, you can ask how much it would cost just to catch a ride with them to Tikal. We did that while staying at Cahal Pech. They did a fabulous job.

We'll second the recommendation of the Tikal Inn, but might recommend going ala carte instead of ordering the meal-inclusive plan. You have very limited choices when you include meals in your stay, and some of them (spaghetti al pomodoro) are not good.

The little comedores (open air dining rooms) down the road are very good and inexpensive.

I would arrange it yourself rather than let Maya Mt. Lodge arrange it (there will be a hefty surcharge; they do work with tour companies, and make the phone calls, etc., for you, but it is more expensive). There are definately ways to ride along to Tikal if a tour has room (note, however, we had a very long day there, and made it back to S.Ig. very happy and satisfied with our Tikal trip; and we are archaeological geeks. Just another opinion!)
In addition, before you eat meals at the MM Lodge, you might want to ask the price per meal. (IMO, they are very expensive; you might want to eat many meals in some of the great restaurants in town; just a warning. For example, a single egg on toast, coffee, juice, and some sliced fruit (no menu) cost us $10 US per person).

My economical Tikal experience is similar to hopefulist's. From the border, my wife and I took a minibus taxi to the Tikal/Flores junction. This junction is about 2 km from the town of El Remate. I believe it cost us 50 quetzales for the 2 of us to do this.

We stayed at La Casa de Don David in El Remate. We had tried to get a place to stay at Tikal proper, but they were full. El Remate is about 30 minutes away from Tikal. I believe our room was approximately US$55. We received 2 free dinner vouchers with this.

The hotel in El Remate helped us with the trip to Tikal. For about US$50, the two of us got a driver to Tikal and a guide for a morning tour. Our tour group was huge (about 50 people!). Their private tours were more expensive (about US$60 each for 2 people).

US$600 for two people for one night is kind of expensive. Are you using private transport?

Thanks everyone. I don't have any inclination to try and arrange things a la carte or independently. I want the ease of a tour company. We plan to use PACZ based on positive reviews here and elsewhere. I really appreciate all the feedback though!

Re. MML- I chose it for the proximity to town so we won't be stuck with the high meal prices.

Beth

I don't have any insights on tour options from Belize but did want to say that IMO it would be well worth it to spend extra money to stay overnight at Tikal. It is an amazing place for the ruins and the wildlife and is much less crowded in the late afternoons and early mornings. Also cooler. We stayed 2 nights and were glad we had the full day and a half in the ruins and the next morning to see the small museum.

We stayed at the Jaguar Inn which is cheaper than the Tikal Inn and doesn't have a pool. It was fine. We ate one night there and one night in one of the Comedores and had good not great meals. No spaghetti. I like rice and beans and tortillas so was quite happy in Guatemala.