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Guatemala holiday and honeymoons; An expert guide to Tikal and the Peten region

Click here for Tikal Hotel Reviews

Tikal is the most impressive city of the ancient Mayan world and an absolute must. It doesn’t get much better than this – an enormous site, encroached by tropical forest with steep pyramid temples that pierce the jungle canopy. Watching the sun set from temple 4 as you hear the booming roar of the Howler Monkeys is a magical experience.

The towering mega temples cover an area of 3 square kilometres and were shrines to the glorious dead and Mayan gods. In its heyday over 100,000 people lived and worshipped here. The decline of the Mayans is a mystery that left the city abandoned in the 10th century only to be rediscovered in 1848.

Flores is your gateway to the various Mayan sites and jungle of the Peten region. It is a charming little Spanish colonial town crowded onto an island hill in Lake Peten Itza, only a one hour drive from Tikal. You can fly from the capital or travel overland via Livingston on the beautiful Caribbean coast.

THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN AND AROUND TIKAL:

Tikal. Tikal is a captivating and fascinating site amid natural beauty. The site is vast and can be visited in one day but we recommend you spend two full days. Sunset from the top of temple 4 is a memorable experience.

Yaxha. The third largest Mayan site in the country, Yaxha has a twin pyramid complex, nine acropolis and more than 500 structures. Temple 216 offers a wonderful view of the lake and surrounding rainforest. It is located on the shores of a peaceful lake just one hour from Flores.

There are a large number of other sites in this region such as Ceibal, Uaxactun and Yaxchilan for real enthusiasts of the Maya to explore further.

Tikal Hotels

All the hotels you will find on Latin Odyssey have been handpicked by us especially for you - we don’t recommend a hotel unless we have been there! You’ll find a detailed description as well as video’s and photo’s. However, we would recommend a phone call or an email to help you to decide which hotel will be the perfect one for you.

Ranking

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Nitun

Situated on the northern shores of Lake Peten, this is more of a jungle retreat than a hotel. Nitun is run by the owner, Lorena, who after 16 years still has the enthusiasm of someone that has just started. The lodge has 4 casitas which are spread out over the banks of the lake. The brick walls and thatch roof give a traditional feel about the place.

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Villa Maya

For us, the attraction of Villa Maya is its communal areas and location. Situated on the edge of the lake approximately 20 minutes drive from the busy town of Flores, makes it feel like more of a hide away. The open plan of the reception, bar and restaurant makes you feel like you are never too close to anyone else at the hotel, which considering its size – 56 rooms, is an achievement.

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La Casona del Lago

This simple hotel lies opposite the island of Flores. It has 32 clean and comfortable rooms which have all been recently renovated. The rooms are plain yet spacious and offer all the amenities that you would expect; en-suite bathrooms with bath and shower, cable TV and WIFI.

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La Lancha

One of three Francis Ford Coppala properties of which La Lancha was the first. Situated on the northern side of the lake and nestled within the surrounding jungle, this is undoubtedly the best option in the area. The dining and bar areas are simply decorated with Mayan masks, bookshelves made from local canoes and bamboo chairs. The swimming pool has a superb view across the lake and the option of using their shell phone system to call for drinks to be delivered anywhere within the property.

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Jungle Lodge

Situated inside the Tikal national park, this is the most convenient option for exploring the ancient Mayan city of Tikal - it is just twenty minutes walk from the centre of the ruins. This means that you can spend the whole day enjoying Tikal and easily walk back for lunch and a rest.

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