Do you know if there are guides available at the site. Twigs snapped underfoot as we made our way along the dusty trail, as exotic creatures like Yucatan spider monkeys, oscillated turkeys and bright-billed toucans rustled around in the leafy tree branches high above our heads. 
Once my Instagram dreams were achieved, we met back up with Regge whod sought shelter from the blazing Guatemalan sun under a canopy of leafy trees, then continued toward the remaining archeological sites. This is why you should always consider travel insurance! Sometimes its both, simultaneously, regardless of the size of the truck coming directly at you. That is so North American of you. Loved the details of your visit along with the pictures, you had some great shots of the views. But what I didnt know was that we would have a Lodge-appointed escort for the entire day, a Guatemalan driver (in a brand new, air conditioned van), and a private tour guide we would pick up somewhere along the way. It was great! He didnt know why. Yes, all of them. #o, The photo series that got me into @outsidemagazine, An oldie but goodie from #Tikal in #Guatemala. 2weeks on a catamaran and 3 days to go and visit Tikal before leaving back home in Switzerland! We even saw a snake standing up in the middle of the street. Dont be shocked when a toucan flies right past you or when a monkey swings from a tree ten feet from where youre standing. Unsubscribe anytime. This is actually one of my favorite cultural learning experiences now. Gee, I wonder why. But while they provide shade, they actually prevent airflow. Whatever SPF you normally use, double it. Just wondering how far in advance did you need to book in order to visit or did you do this while you were in Belize already. until the inhabitants eventually migrated away in 10th century A.D. We dropped Aquilino off at the same rest stop where we found him on the way back to Belize, now knowing the beauty and history of his country. Ladies and gentlemen, that was a stupid assumption to make. And he was the BEST. Yes. This 5-star full-day tour includes private transportation to and from the border of Belize to Tikal National Park as well as a knowledgeable guide for the day. Definitely worth a break to try this cock-a-doodle-brew. But another reason to visit this small country is for its Mayan history. There is only one rental car company in Belize that is allowed to cross the border. Stuff youve never seen before. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. This one looks amazing! Based on your pictures and description it sounds pretty much the same. The Maya ruins of Tikal National Park are an incredible side trip thats not too far from Belize at alljust a 2-hour drive from our jungle lodge outside San Ignacio. Youll actually be in the sun a lot more than youd expect. Tikal, Guatemala Day Trip / Gary Peterson. Instead, I swear by Keensbreathable hiking sandals that are also incredibly sturdy and comfortable. The whole Guatemala day tour process is both quick and easy. Dont forget to pick up travel insurance! That, I knew. 
On the way back we stopped at a roadside store offering Guatemalan wood carvings and cold beers. 
Our Tikal day tour was the complete opposite of visiting [insert any major European city here] in the summer and all the shoving, spitting, corralling, pickpocketing, and getting sweat on, harassed, knocked down thats inevitably associated. On so many trips Ive been with people who sleep on the bus or train rides and I just cant understand it. I make jokes here but, when visiting, remember this is still an active worship site and should be treated with respect. Get my 2022Hotel Booking Checklist here! Our first encounter with a Mayan temple was intriguing because you needed to search the hill covered with growth, before identifying the old stones on top. If you forget your passport, consider your Tikal trip null and void. I recently spent time in San Ignacio on the Guatemala border, a location I visited before, but felt needed more exploration. Reach out on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, Filed Under: Belize, Guatemala, Quick Trip Itineraries. The shape, the greeneryeverything looks very similar. Further in, I became excited with the view up the trail of a massive Mayan temple through the trees ahead. I stayed at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, a great decision. It really is an eggs-quisite beer. Hey there, She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and feline sidekick. Also, bring the bottle with you. By subscribing you agree to the terms in my. Everything you need for your trip to Oktoberfest in this FREE printable checklist. To illustrate, heres a photo of me taken just after our day at Tikal: Yup, I died. They have a license. This saved time, enabling us to cover most of the important sites in one day. (Honestly, I cant say enough good things about the quality and benefits of staying at Black Rock Lodge in Belize. Oh, I love going to Mayan ruins! I assumed Id have the same guy all day. Enjoy! In 1996 the Maya people were given the right to once again worship in their ancient sites however they pleased. Check out the many other things that shocked me on this trip! Thanks Nick! And if one of the top things to do in Belize is go to Guatemala, who was I to argue? I love how you can still climb on some of the structures, and the view from the top is amazing. I feel silly that I didnt realise there were Mayan ruins in Guatemala, but now I do I desperately want to visit. In true Ashley fashion, I recommend the fried chicken and fries. As much about roots as it is ruins. There are many tour operators in Belize who can organize the trip, including MayaWalk Tours which handles all of the logistics including border crossings and payments, transfers, lunch and a dedicated guide. This Belize guidebook includes this side trip to Guatemala. It had only taken about two hours of driving to get from our hotel in Belize to where we stood now, including scenic stops in the countryside to sip Guatemalan coffee, sample chicle which is what makes chewing gum, and watch a group of chatty women do the villages laundry in glistening Lake Macanche. For the record, if you did have a car while in Belize and want to just drive to the Guatemala border (or take a taxi), Viator offers a Tikal day tour that picks you up at the border and continues the trip. Would love to get any tips or advice if you have any! Its also a great jumping point into Guatemala and the ruins of Tikal, the most famous Mayan site of all. You will need it like youve never needed water before. There was no question it was the perfect place to finish our epic Tikal day tripand best of all, we didnt have to take on a single dinosaur in this so-called Jurassic Park. May 7, 2021 //byAshley Smith 19 Comments. Obviously, I jump at any chance to use it, especially when said chance involves exploring ancient ruins of mysterious origin. This tour combines the best of the first two. You can also see Yavin in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The last thing I remember saying before my skin ran down and puddled in my shoes is, I dont know how much were going to be in the sun. Yes, climbing them is a lot of work and descending them is even harder. I brought my own water, but you can buy water in the park, and sodas and the local favorite, Jaguar High Gravity beer. Once you make it across the border (dont forget your passport!) This was back in the mid-1970s, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away when Tikal was still a fledgling archaeological site and not yet open to the public. There is an on-site restaurant at Tikal and its a great place to sit down, relax, and replenish during your Belize to Tikal day trip. Its home to natural beauty, volcanoes, rainforests, and countless more ancient sites to explore. This post was originally published in June 2016 but has since been completely rewritten and updated for 2021. As you can imagine, this was one of my favorite aspects of my day trip to Tikal. Its probably a kickass monkey. So you can just park your car at the border and pick it back up when youre done. No. Tikal tours from San Ignacio in Belizes Cayo district are also an easy day trip, since the Guatemalan border is just a 15 minute drive away. Heres what you need to bring to Belize to wear to Tikal. Here at Tikal, major festivals and casual Sundays are devoted to practicing their rituals and ceremonies and theres even a not-at-all-unreasonable anti-Columbus day. They'll take you through the park to give you all the ancient details and assist with all border crossing procedures. Holding a baby monkey. Youll need the break; dont be a hero. That is a legit, serious statement. Dont fall for their cuteness, its seriously damaging. Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. He will exchange it. Dont touch or harass the animals in any way. its a two-hour drive to Tikal. And if you still want to try Gallo but simply cant fathom drinking alcohol in those conditions, you can find it labeled as Famosa here in the US. Ive made it my mission to help you travel the world on a Time Budget. Considered one of the major sites of the Mayan civilization, it was a stronghold from the 6th century B.C. Riding through Guatemala I learned proper etiquette is to drive on whichever side of the street has the fewest potholes. Problem is, youre probably judging all border crossings based on your experiences at LAX or Miami International. Bring a zoom lens so you can get great wildlife photos from afar. I mean, Tikal is in the jungle. For something that helps provide energy and much-needed electrolytes, my readers love these replenishing Gatorade chews.
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It was easy to see how the ancient Mayan site of Tikal, Guatemala earned the nickname Jurassic Park. From the lush jungle surroundings to the screams of howler monkeys in the distance that sounded more like dinosaur roars, it felt like a raptor could pop out of the dense vegetation surrounding us at any moment. And I repaid him by asking a thousand and one questions about border control policies. On your Belize to Tikal day trip you can expect to see howler monkeys (the bigger black ones), spider monkeys (the skinnier black/brown ones), and lots of babies of both! Im so glad we made the trip over. I think well be under trees most of the time.. (Read: He makes this trip multiple times a weekhis passport would have to look like a phonebook to hold all the coming and going passport stamps. Aquilino explained to us that George Lucas heard about the site and made the trip all the way to Guatemala to film the five-second scene. Just remember to always keep your eyes to the trees! The view was mesmerizing as we gazed out at the lush rainforest which stretched as far as the eye could see, the skyline marked by temples soaring out of the trees against a blue-bird sky painted with puffy white clouds. My guide said there are many more sites hidden in the trees, yet undiscovered, in the forests of both Guatemala and Belize. As much about monkeys as it monuments. A local travel/adventure company, Mayawalk Tours, who picked me up at the hotel lobby the day after my arrival. (Bonus: Theyre also the perfect, must-have shoe for touring the ATM cave!) A Guide to the Central America Covid Measures, Restrictions, and Curfews, How to Choose the Best Tour Company for an Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala, An Updated Guide to the COVID Travel Restrictions in Central America, many sites scattered through the jungles of Cayo District. CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO PIN: OMGyeah I said itOMG!! (Shout out to Victor for asking if I wanted to pull over to take pictures of some birds eating a dead cow and not thinking any single bit of that was weird.).
Thanks Eddie! If you had been asleep, you would have missed that! Parking in the lot at the entrance, there were no signs of ancient ruins. Tikal is hot and climbing hundreds of steep stairs can take itstoll on your body. Guatemala is just so pretty. He schooled my husband on all the different types of Guatemalan liquor at the gift shop and, against all advice, he still purchased the stuff called fire water.. I am adding TIKAL to my bucket list project right now. If youre a Star Wars fan, then you probably already know that Tikal was the filming location for Yavin 4, the jungle-covered fourth moon orbiting the gas giant Yavin, a rebel base. The hotel restaurant was excellent as was the poolside service, which I found most relaxing. What a refreshing change this was! Featuring 8BONUS things to do in Memphis. Maybe Ive just been traveling around Europe too long, but I expect the crowds at top tourist destinations to look mostly like the pages of a Wheres Waldo book. The Mayaback with a vengeance! Click that link for everything you need to know about staying at this spectacular eco-resort in the jungle!). No spam ever. Or when a tarantula crawls up your leg while youre scrolling through pictures on your phone. You couldspend two to three days at Tikal with ease, which I will do next time. We take a look atRead More A Guide to the Central America Covid Measures, Restrictions, and Curfews, Planning an Acatenango volcano hikeRead More How to Choose the Best Tour Company for an Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala, A country-by-country guide to theRead More An Updated Guide to the COVID Travel Restrictions in Central America. WOW! Anchored by Temple I and Temple II, there are plenty of structures to explore and climb up for a birds-eye view, with very few spots off-limits to visitors. I saw literally about a handful of other people during my entire day and two of those people were friends wed made at Black Rock Lodge. All these meso American civilizations deeply fascinate me. Thanks for your support! Where is the currency exchange? When you only have enough time for a Belize to Tikal day trip, check out this list of great Guatemala day tours. Get my 2022 printable Iceland packing checklist for FREE! Must be some way to get there! How it can carry stuff wherever it damn well pleases? Oooh I hope you can!! So there is still the chance of discovering that one massive Mayan temple containing proof of alien encounter.
There is almost no signage or informational placards around the park so unless you just want a really good workout and to not learn anything: The Central American low season goes from May to December. Yes, but its complicated. Your Belize to Tikal day trip is just as much about wildlife as it is ancient life. The staff was friendly and super-helpful, and the locationwas breathtaking. A day trip to Tikal is one of many excellent examples of the Mayan culture available when visiting or living in Belize. Buy them here on Amazon or here on Zappos. All website content & images 2014-2022 Ashley Smith unless otherwise stated. With only about three feet of standing room up there and no rails whatsoever, youre actually risking your life taking that selfie. Dont walk through the car washes! All this to say, dont let the fact that you have to cross a border or go into an entirely different country deter you from heading from Belize to Tikal. The jungle setting and the howler monkeys really make you feel like youre in an Indian Jones movie! Definitely plan on spending more time in Guatemala in the future. Required fields are marked *. Obviously, our Belize to Tikal day trip was THE FUNNEST. Oh, you thought the Maya disappeared thousands of years ago? Loving all the animal photos, too! Thats a 3-hour drive at least. Seriously, just be cool. For the love of gods, dont get so close to the edge. Best time to visit Tikal: The park is open year-round, with high-season being mid-December through April. You'll also receive new posts and updates. Physically, mentally, cosmetically. Thank you! You'll also receive new posts and updates. This looks amazing! I would love the animals I have never even hear of a Coati before and it would be totally awesome to take that hike in and hear all the howlers barking. So youre telling me we have to park our car in Belize, walk across the border, then have someone pick us up in Guatemala, in another car? So they make exceptions for tourism workers.). Get your free Boston checklist + map here! But I want someone to lead me around and tell me all the good stuff because its like super hot out. Yes. I have never been to Guatemala and I would love to see these ruins. Gary Peterson lives on the Placencia Peninsula, Belize, where he writes books about Central America and the Caribbean. Remember when I said the Belize-Guatemala border crossing was a piece of cake? Trail mix, Clif bars, a banana, whatever you prefer to replenish the energy youre going to lose mock-escaping a temple in a mine cart with Short Round, played begrudgingly by your husband as Big Sexy. Your email address will not be published. Anyone who says humans are the superior species is out of their minds. Even Indiana Jones wore a hat. At the border, he exchanged money for us, took our passports and did the whole shebang while I chatted with a tourism agent, and even gave me a dollar of his own to use the restroom. Your own denial is. I dont think anyone in Guatemala knows or cares more about Maya culture and history (and native wildlife and plants) than Aquilino. Watching people get their photos taken at the top of Temple IV is enough to make anyones heart race with the same intensity as when you lean too far back in your office chair.
