Tikal SUNRISE, Archeological focus and Wildlife Spotting Tour (North and West)
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Tikal SUNRISE, Archeological focus and Wildlife Spotting Tour (North and West)

Active
(310 reviews)
6h
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Mobile or paper ticket accepted

About this experience

Premium tour visiting the best spots to photograph the monuments.

Guaranteed departure, we operate only with 1 guest with no extre charge.

Extensive tour, Sunrise and Archaeological (two in one) with enough time and flexibility, excellent for photographers.

Hassle free entry fees, those are not included because price varies according to nationality and age, but available in advance, we pay those for you, then you reimburse our guide during the service.

Excellent English-Spanish bilingual guide with deep knowledge of local history, flora and fauna and with service attitude to give a meaning to each monument visited.

We will walk approximately 6 to 8 kilometers during this tour, but not consecutively. The longest walk between two stops is approximately 20 minutes.

Bring your camera! We love taking photos, we will show you the best spots.

Available options

F/ Flores surrounding, S Group

No more than 9 guests: From Flores, Santa Elena and San Benito hotels and Airbnbs. Guests at San Miguel must come to Raices Restaurant in Flores.<br/>Pickup included

From El Remate, Private

Exclusive guide for your party: From hotels and Airbnbs in El Remate (Casa de Don David, Gringo Perdido, Mon Ami, Posada del Cerro, Alice Guest House, etc.)<br/>Pickup included

F/ Flores surrounding, Private

Private guide for you: From Flores, Santa Elena and San Benito hotels and Airbnbs. Guests at San Miguel must come to Raices Restaurant in Flores.<br/>Pickup included

From San Andres Peten, Private

The guide will be just for you: From Hotels and Airbnbs in San Andres Peten (Bolontiku, Nitun, G Boutique Hotel, etc.)<br/>Pickup included

From Tikal hotels, Private

Private guide: From hotels in Tikal (Jungle Lodge, Jaguar Inn, Tikal Inn and Tikal Campsite)<br/>Pickup included

From San Jose Peten, Private

Private guide for your party: From Hotels and Airbnbs in San Jose Peten (La Lancha Village, Camino Real Tikal, etc.)<br/>Pickup included

F/San Andres Peten Small Group

Maximum 9 participants: From Hotels and Airbnbs in San Andres Peten (Bolontiku, Nitun, G Boutique Hotel, etc.)<br/>Pickup included

F/San Jose Peten, Small Group

Maximum 9 passengers per guide: From Hotels and Airbnbs in San Jose Peten (La Lancha Village, Camino Real Tikal, etc.)<br/>Pickup included

From Tikal hotels, Small Group

Maximum 9 guests: From hotels in Tikal (Jungle Lodge, Jaguar Inn, Tikal Inn and Tikal Campsite)<br/>Pickup included

From El Remate, Small Group

Less than 9 guests per guide: From hotels and Airbnbs in El Remate (Casa de Don David, Gringo Perdido, Mon Ami, Posada del Cerro, Alice Guest House, etc.)<br/>Pickup included

What's included

Mosquito Repellent Application
Tikal Map
Air-conditioned vehicle
Breakfast to go: an apple, a banana, a guatemalan champurrada (thin round cookie), a tayuyo (corn tortilla with refried beans inside), coffee and water refill
Lunch at Jaguar Inn Restaurant, 5 options (gluten-free and vegan options)
Water refill in the vehicle
Professional Excellent English-Spanish Speaking tour guide

Detailed itinerary

1

The activity begins when we pick you up at your hotel, when booking, please choose the time according to the location of your hotel. In case you don't know the location of your hotel yet, just book the cheapest tour option, later you let us know your hotel location and if there is a price difference, you can pay it to our guide.

The walking tour begins at Gate 2 of Tikal National Park at:
From March 22 to September 21: at 4:00 am
From September 22 to March 21: at 4:30 am

DURATION OF EACH WAY OF TRANSFER BY LOCATION WHERE WE PICK YOU UP

a. Tikal: 00h: 05m

b. El Remate: 01h: 00m

c. San Jose, Peten: 01h:20m

d. San Benito, Santa Elena Flores or Flores Island: 01h: 30m

e. San Andres: 02h: 00m

Tikal has two titles of UNESCO, it's cultural and natural heritage of humanity, that's why we'll spend more than six hours exploring different archeological monuments and to go from monument to monument, we'll use nature trails with a high chance of spotting some species of wildlife.

2
Stop 2

First thing, we will climb this temple with you to wait for sunrise from the top, enjoying the most wonderful view and the sounds of the waking up wildlife, then we will have breakfast up there.

We developed the sunrise tour because our guests deserve to see Tikal first thing in the morning to appreciate wildlife when it is more active as well as at the end of the day.

The main attraction of this tour is the awakening of the jungle with the noise of birds and howler monkeys, the sunrise is seen only 20% of the time, as it is usually cloudy or foggy.

The official name of this temple is Temple of the Double Headed Serpent, as when the temple was discovered, it had a wooden carved lintel with the sacred double headed serpent carved on it, now this wooden carving is in a famous museum.

The nickname of this temple is Temple of Star Wars as back in 1977 the movie director George Lucas came to Tikal to film part of the original Star Wars Movie, Episode IV "A New Hope"

3

This complex was used as a Royal Cemetery for the kings and queens of Tikal, it's compared with an onion, because of the multiple layers of interesting architecture it revealed, in some of these layers we can see the masks of the rain god and the sun god.

The guide communicates efficiently with all guests. During the tour, the guide accompanies you to climb the monuments to explain the most important details while you are above the monuments. We take you to the best spots to take pictures at the right times, this is ideal for photographers and we'll see many Mayan structures.

4
Stop 4

The Great Plaza is the place in Tikal with the largest amount of energy, it's also the most restaured complex of this mayan site, it has multiple stelae, some of them with carving showing the portrait of some kings of the city.

This complex was excavated back in 1960's by the Museum of University of Pensinvania.

5

We'll explore this complex with you, it was built as the residential area of the royal family of Tikal, it has 6 courtyards, 3 of them have been restored, this complex was also probably the place to host to all the royal visitors that came to Tikal from other mesoamerican cities for diplomatic reasons.

It has a palace with 5 floors and some of the lintels on the doors of this palace are still the original wooden lintels placed by the people who built it about 14 centuries ago and the wood is still in good shape.

6

We'll climb this temple with you and enjoy the best view of the Great Plaza, looking at the masks carved on top of this temple.

The view from this temple is a great chance to take a picture of Temple I, North Acropolis and the Great Plaza.

7
Stop 7

We will walk around the most iconic monument of Tikal taking pictures of it from different angles.

The official name of this temple is Temple of the Great Jaguar because when the temple was discovered, it's original wooden lintel has a Great Jaguar carved on it, now, that beautiful carving in wood is in a famous museum.

Back in 1960's when archeologist excavated this temple, they found underneath this temple, the greatest treasure ever found in Tikal, it was the burial of Hasaw Chaan K'awil, the most famous king of the dynasty of Tikal, the jewelry over the skeleton of the king included 16.5 pounds of jade jewels.

8

The walking tour ends at Gate 2 of Tikal National Park at 10:30 am and we offer you a hot meal and a cold drink at the Jaguar Inn Restaurant, after eating you can walk around the visitor center to see more wildlife, visit the scale model or buy souvenirs.

The activity ends when we drop you off at the location we picked you up, or it can be to a different location, but for this, you need to let us know in advance.

This tour is ideal for passengers flying from Flores Airport (FRS) that afternoon on the flight:

TAG 5U131 leaving to Guatemala City at 14:15

What's not included

Foreigners, Sunrise and Park Entry fees to Tikal only payable for guests 10 year old and on.
Guatemalans with local ID, Sunrise and Park Entry fees to Tikal, only payable for guests 10 year old and on.

Available languages

Guide guide
EN ES

Reviews breakdown

Viator 5.0
76 reviews
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Tripadvisor 5.0
234 reviews
5★
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Important information

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Seat belts available
If you are the only adult in your group and you pick a small group option and at least one more adult reserves for that same schedule, we’ll include the cost of the entry fees for you, which reduces the price for USD34.
Bring the best walking shoes
Bring a raincoat just in case
Bring the best clothes for hot weather
Bring a flashlight (or you can use your phone's flashlight)
Bring a canteen or bottle to refill water
If you have a Guatemalan local ID (DPI) send us a picture of it, in this event your entry fees will be only USD7

Important notes

Your guide or driver will come to the door of your hotel to pick you up, then you show him your digital or printed ticket.

About Petén

Petén is the largest department of Guatemala, known for its vast tropical forests, ancient Mayan ruins, and rich biodiversity. It is a paradise for archaeology enthusiasts, nature lovers, and adventurers, offering a unique blend of history and natural beauty.

Top Attractions

Tikal National Park

Tikal is one of the largest and most significant archaeological sites of the Mayan civilization. It is home to thousands of ancient structures, including temples, palaces, and plazas.

Historical/Nature Full day 150 GTQ

El Mirador

El Mirador is an ancient Mayan city hidden deep in the rainforest. It is known for its massive pyramids and remote location.

Historical/Nature Multi-day trek or helicopter tour Varies depending on the tour

Lago de Petén Itzá

This large lake offers beautiful views, water activities, and a relaxing atmosphere. It is surrounded by lush vegetation and small islands.

Nature Half day to full day Free to explore; tours vary in cost

Must-Try Local Dishes

Pepián

A rich and flavorful stew made with meat, vegetables, and a blend of spices and seeds.

Main Dish Contains meat and gluten

Tamales

Corn dough filled with meats, vegetables, or cheese, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.

Snack Can be vegetarian or vegan

Chiles Rellenos

Stuffed chili peppers filled with meat, cheese, or seafood, and then battered and fried.

Main Dish Contains gluten and dairy

Popular Activities

Hiking in Tikal National Park Jungle trekking to El Mirador Kayaking on Lago de Petén Itzá Boat tours on the lake Sunset viewing at Parque Central Coffee tasting at local cafés Visiting Mayan ruins Exploring local markets

Best Time to Visit

December to April

This is the dry season, offering the best weather for exploring the ruins and enjoying outdoor activities. The skies are clear, and the temperatures are pleasant.

20-30°C 68-86°F

Practical Information

Language

  • Official: Spanish
  • Widely spoken: English, Mayan languages
  • English: Moderately spoken in tourist areas

Currency

Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)

Time Zone

CST (UTC -6)

Electricity

120VV, 60HzHz

Safety Information

Overall Safety Rating: Generally safe

Petén is generally safe for tourists, but petty crime and scams can occur. Be cautious, especially in crowded areas and at night.

Important Precautions:
  • • Keep valuables secure and out of sight.
  • • Avoid displaying wealth or expensive items.
  • • Be cautious when using ATMs, especially at night.

Getting there

By air
  • Mundo Maya International Airport • 5 km from Flores
By bus

Flores Bus Terminal, Santa Elena Bus Terminal

Getting around

Public transport

Buses are the most common and affordable way to get around. They are frequent and cover most areas.

Taxis

Available • Apps: No widely used apps; taxis are hailed on the street

Rentals

Car, Bike, Scooter

Neighborhoods

Flores Santa Elena

Day trips

Yaxha
80 km from Flores • Full day

Yaxha is an ancient Mayan city known for its well-preserved temples and stunning views of the surrounding jungle and lakes.

Uaxactun
25 km from Tikal • Half day to full day

Uaxactun is an ancient Mayan city known for its astronomical significance and well-preserved ruins.

Festivals

Festival de la Primavera • April Semana Santa (Holy Week) • March or April (dates vary)

Pro tips

  • Hire a local guide for a deeper understanding of the Mayan ruins and culture.
  • Visit Tikal at sunrise to avoid crowds and enjoy the magical atmosphere.
  • Try local street food for an authentic culinary experience.
  • Carry insect repellent and protective clothing to avoid mosquito bites.
  • Learn a few basic Spanish phrases to enhance your interaction with locals.
From $25 per person

Price varies by option

Adults
Age 18-99
1
Childs
Age 3-9
0
Infants
Age 0-2
0
Booking requirements:
  • Min travelers: 1
  • Max travelers: 15
  • Adult required for booking
Secure booking
Free cancellation available
Instant confirmation

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