When we embarked on our ambitious 2-month journey through Central America, we knew things wouldn’t be exactly as before. Our experience in Tikal was the perfect example.
Once a fully-functioning megapolis of over 200,000 people, Tikal is amongst the most impressive work from the Maya era. And it alone is a good enough reason to visit Guatemala.
Though our experience didn’t go as planned, we still managed to fully enjoy the vast beauty of Tikal. Here’s how we adapted and what you should know before your next visit to Tikal.
In This Article:
How to Obtain Tikal Tickets
Tikal Hours: more limited than you think
Beware: The Crowds Are Back!
Buying Tikal Tickets Online
Tikal Pre-Sunrise Tours: a good idea
Sanitary Measures in Tikal
How to Get to Tikal, Guatemala
Can You Climb the Temples in Tikal?
Best Places to Stay Near Tikal
1) You Have to Get Your Tikal Tickets Before Entering
This was something that we learned, unfortunately, after passing through the main gates. How did this happen?
Well, we wanted to be at the park at the crack of dawn. So we smartly (or so we thought) planned to stay overnight at the Jungle Lodge in Tikal. It’s basically a fancy hostel situated at walking distance from the park.
Our flight arrived in the evening, so we made the drive up around 9PM. The drive was nice, and about half of it is in the jungle reserve past the Tikal security gate. The gate officer was very friendly and just needed to check our reservations at the hotel. Nothing else was mentioned.
The next morning, we got up nice and early and headed for the park. At the entrance, the guard sent us to another booth. We thought that they’d have tickets there. We thought wrong. It was the “bracelet” stand.
The bracelet stand worker sent as back 18km to the entrance. 18km takes a long time when the limit is 35km/h. It takes longer when you have to do it twice.
When it was all said and done, we were way past sunrise. So try and plan ahead. I’m not even sure you can buy tickets after 5PM, though sometimes the Tikal Lodge has extra tickets. In our case, they did not….
2) Tikal Hours Are Different Than Before
The hours are now 6AM-5PM. This presents an issue for buying tickets, especially since it can’t be done online anymore. I have NO clue why.
If you’re flying up, book a morning flight. If you’re taking a bus, take an overnight bus that arrives in the morning.
3) Crowds Are Returning, Especially Locals
It’s BUSY. I mean it.
An interesting phenomenon that has been occurring because of Covid-19 is people exploring their own countries. It makes sense for those who aren’t savvy or the travel restrictions.
This means that locals are flocking to the sites they normally wouldn’t have the chance to see. It’s actually kind of refreshing to be surrounded by locals enjoying their own country. Just be aware of it.
For this reason, I recommend starting as early as possible. I noticed the crowds starting to enter by the flock as we were leaving, right around 10-11AM.
4) You Can’t Get Tikal Tickets Online Anymore
Unfortunately, your options for buying tickets are pretty limited; go the main ticketing office or hope for your hotel to have some leftovers.
At the dawn of Covid-19, Tikal shut down completely. Well, for the second time since the Mayans were pushed out. When the park was re-opened, the option to purchase Tikal tickets online did not return. I guess they want to be truly authentic to the technology levels of the Mayans.
This pared with the limited hours of the ticketing office may mean you need to plan ahead. Staying an extra day is the best way to ensure you will get to see everything.
5) Pre-Sunrise Tikal Tours Sell Out Early
Ah, the joy of waking up before everyone else. Except for 75% of the animals here, who are mostly nocturnal. Pre-sunrise tours are a great way to see the Temples shine and twinkle under the light of the full moon, take those amazing long exposure nighttime shots, or just enjoy the park with peace and quiet.
There’s just one holdup: pre-sunrise tours require special tickets – tickets you have to purchase ahead of time, and as you now know, not online.
Once again, make sure to plan ahead. Stay 2 or 3 nights to maximize your potential. The Tikal Jungle lodge is optimal since you are right next to the park, and can return for a nap without having to drive an hour back to town!
6) You can get tickets at the airport
If you’re flying in, or you’re stopping by Flores on your way to Tikal, you can skip the long lines at the park entrance by planning ahead.
Tickets are available at the CHN Bank agency at the Flores Mundo Maya Airport from 8AM-5PM. But there’s also a Banrural Bank agency at the mall near the airport up to 7PM.
7) You can take a shuttle or bus to Tikal
We’ve encountered difficulties finding buses/shuttles many times in our travels across the world during the pandemic. Many of them weren’t running at their normal schedules. Worse yet, many of their websites haven’t been updated since the beginning of the pandemic.
Our recommendation is to call/contact the bus and shuttle companies directly. If you’re not able to reach them, contact hotels and hostels in the area – they’ll usually have the latest information.
We personally took a flight on TAG Airlines up to Flores (FRS – Mundo Maya International Airport) and rented a car. It was more expensive, but it maximized our time at Tikal and minimized our chances of getting stuck.
8) You can’t climb the main acropolis of Tikal
In the past, it was possible to take awe-inspiring pictures from the top of the Acropolis – the main square of Tikal. Nowadays, you still can!
You just can’t climb the actual temple. There are stairs and a viewing deck on the northern Temple of the Acropolis – which is where I took the above picture. So while you can’t climb the Temples in Tikal anymore, you can still attain the same gratifying views of the amazing complex.
9) It is possible to enter Guatemala without a Covid test
Guatemala has eliminated Covid-19 related travel restrictions.
10) Where to stay near or at Tikal
You basically have two choices: staying close to Tikal (not as much to do, less food, but closer to the main attraction) or down in Flores (bigger city, on a beautiful lake, lots of food).
In Flores, our favorite hotel is the Bolontiku Botique Hotel. This 5-start hotel integrates naturally into the jungle, providing a quiet stay on the shore of a mystical Lake of the Itzá.
For Tikal, there isn’t much choice. That being said, you won’t go wrong with the Jungle Lodge Hotel and Hostel. It’s pretty basic – but it still has everything you need.
