Hotels in Flores

Flores: Island Gateway to Tikal's Maya Ruins

Flores sits on a small island in Lake Petén Itzá, connected to the mainland town of Santa Elena by a 500-metre causeway. The island's colonial grid — pastel facades, cobblestone lanes, and rooftop terraces facing the water — packs into roughly 1 km² in the Petén department of northern Guatemala. Most visitors arrive because Tikal National Park lies 65 km northeast, a 1.5-hour drive through lowland rainforest; Flores is the practical overnight base before early-morning sunrise tours at the temples.

Where to Stay and Getting Around

Hotels concentrate on the island itself and along the Calle 15 de Septiembre strip facing the lake. Budget guesthouses and mid-range lakefront properties dominate; few exceed three floors given the island's limited footprint. The regional airport, Aeropuerto Internacional Mundo Maya (FRS), sits 2 km east of the causeway in Santa Elena and receives daily flights from Guatemala City (flight time ≈ 1 hour).

Practical Tips

• Getting to Tikal: Shared minibuses depart Santa Elena at 04:00–06:00 for sunrise entry; book through any island hotel the evening before.
• Rainy season: June–October brings heavy afternoon showers; pack waterproof gear for jungle walks.
• Currency: Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ) is standard; ATMs are in Santa Elena, not on the island itself.