Where to stay in Flores and Tikal

The best places to stay in Flores and nearby Tikal include cozy hostels, beautiful luxury hotels and everything in between. As one of the most popular destinations in Guatemala, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from when it comes to accommodations. You can spend your days on the Isla de Flores peninsula as well as at beautiful locations on Lake Petén Itzá. Or how about a jungle lodge at the nearby Maya city Tikal? The range of places to stay in and around Flores is enormous. In this blog we help you to make a choice. What are the best places to stay in Flores? And which hostels and hotels in Flores will give you an unforgettable travel experience?

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How to get to Flores in Guatemala

Flores is located on a peninsula in Lake Petén Itzá in northern Guatemala. There are several small villages around the lake, but Flores is the most popular with travelers because of the charming streets and the wide range of travelers-oriented restaurants and hotels.

Flores consists of two parts and it is good to take this into account when looking for a place to stay. The rather uninteresting town of Flores is on the mainland, but the touristic and more charming part of Flores is on a small peninsula in the lake. This peninsula part is also referred to as Isla de Flores and this is where you’ll want to look for a place to stay. Don’t look for a hostel or hotel conveniently located near the bus station, as the main bus station of Flores is located in the town and not on the peninsula.

As one of the most popular destinations in Guatemala due to its proximity to the famous Maya site Tikal, it is easy to get to Flores from each destination in Guatemala as well as from neighboring Mexico and Belize. The easiest and fastest, but also the most expensive way to travel to Flores is with a local flight to the local airport of Flores, Mundo Maya International Airport.

More affordable are the buses that connect Flores with virtually all popular destinations in Guatemala. In 4 hours you can already travel to the jungle paradise Rio Dulce in southeastern Guatemala. You can travel to the more southern destinations in Guatemala in about 8 hours. There are also bus connections to Mexico (Palenque and Chechumal) and Belize (Belize City). We already mentioned that the Flores bus station is not on the peninsula, but south of it in the town itself. You can easily take an Uber or tuktuk between the bus station and Isla de Flores. But if you book a bus ticket from Flores to your next destination at your hotel or a travel organisation, there is a good chance that your ticket will also include a minivan transfer from the peninsula to the bus station. Make sure to ask for it.

Isla de Flores | guatemala | The Orange Backpack

Why Flores is worth visiting

Pastel-colored facades, coble-stoned streets, dazzling sunsets and famous Mayan temples draw all travelers in Guatemala eventually to the Flores peninsula. Isla de Flores is a well-known base from which to explore northern Guatemala, with the Mayan ruins of Tikal being the best-known and most popular day trip.

Read more: best things to do in Isla de Flores.

Even though Flores is extremely popular with travelers, it is quite small and there is not that much to do on the island. But that is actually the biggest charm of this destination! There is a relaxed vibe around the peninsula and you don’t have much to do other than relax. The best things to do in Flores – besides visiting the famous Mayan temples of Tikal of course – are wandering through the colorful streets, walking on the promenade along the water, enjoying the great restaurant scene, taking a boat trip to the viewpoint over the lake, kayaking and relaxing on the beach. Flores has the most beautiful sunsets and the atmosphere is wonderfully relaxed. It is one of those places where many travelers linger a bit longer than originally planned and you will understand that immediately after spending a few days in Flores.

Sunset in Flores | Sunset in Flores | guatemala | The Orange Backpack

Where to stay in Flores

On the peninsula, on the lake or at Tikal?

The best places to stay in Flores include budget-friendly hostels, beautiful luxury hotels and everything in between. As one of the most popular destinations in Guatemala, there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from. When booking your hotel, pay close attention to the location. Make sure you’re staying on the charming peninsula being close to all the restaurants and fun activities and not accidentally in the rather uninteresting town on the mainland. Isla de Flores has both comfortable hotels with a swimming pool and more budget-friendly hotels and cheap party hostels.

There are also beautiful and luxurious hotels on Lake Petén Itzá and is it worth considering whether you would rather spend your days there than on Isla de Flores. The hotels are much more beautiful and more secluded in lush nature, offering guests a wonderfully relaxing travel experience. Many of these hotels and resorts are just a short distance from Flores, so you can still head over to the peninsula and enjoy the restaurants and other fun things to do. For example, the tiny town of San Miguel is located directly opposite Flores and is also a very nice and much more quiet place to stay. A lancha can bring you in a short boat ride of a few minutes to Isla de Flores for 5 to 10 quetzal.

A third option is to stay at Tikal instead of Flores. At the gates of the archaeological park of Tikal are four hotel options, located directly next to each other. We also stayed here during our visit to Flores and Tikal, but we would not recommend it. The hotel rooms at the Tikal National Park are quite expensive compared to Flores. We liked staying near the entrance to be able to enter the park at opening times. But there are many tours from Flores, even a very early sunrise tour, to be the very first in the park. You may have to get up a bit earlier than when you sleep at Tikal, but you save yourself the trouble of arranging transport to Tikal yourself and booking an expensive hotel room.

Where to stay on Isla de Flores

#1 Los Amigos Hostel for the most popular hostel in Flores, known for its parties and relaxed atmosphere. This backpacker favorite is known as a party hostel with friendly staff, colorful interior and the opportunity to get to know other travelers. There are both dormitories and private rooms.

#2 Hotel Casona de la Isla for a wonderful hotel with a view of the lake and an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub. You will not find many swimming pools on Isla de Flores, so if you would like to be able to take a swim at your own hotel, Hotel Casona de la Isla is the best option.

#3 Hotel Casa Amelia for a lovely hotel with great views of Lake Peten. There is an Italian restaurant, an extensive breakfast is included and the hotel gets very high reviews ratings from hotel guests.

#4 Hotel Isla de Flores for probably the most beautiful hotel on Isla de Flores and with a central location in the middle of the island. It has an outdoor swimming pool on the roof terrace (!) and an on-site restaurant.

#5 Hostal Don Cenobio for the best-reviewed hostel in Flores. The hostel has a beautiful view of the lake and only offers beds in dormitory rooms. Our favorite hotspot in Flores, Cool Beans, is just around the corner.

Where to stay at Lago Petén Itzá

#6 Bolontiku Boutique Hotel & Spa for a beautiful boutique hotel near San Andres and a 15-minute boat ride from Flores. The hotel offers a lovely outdoor pool overlooking the lake, a small beach, a swimming pool, a bar and an exotic garden. Bolontiku is the best place for an unforgettable experience at Lago Petén Itzá.

#7 Zapote Tree Inn for a popular hotel in San Miguel right opposite Isla de Flores and therefore only a short boat ride from the peninsula. With an outdoor swimming pool, a beach, a library, a restaurant and a bar, Zapote Tree Inn has everything you could wish for.

#8 Hotel Gringo Perdido for a romantic hotel near El Remate, so on the northwest side of the lake in the direction of Tikal National Park. The tropical garden, the view of the lake, the lounge areas with hammocks over the water, the outdoor pool and the on-site restaurant make this one of the best hotels on Lake Petén Itzá.

#9 Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel for a boutique hotel on a smaller lake right next to Petén Itzá. This luxury hotel is breathtakingly beautiful and has all the amenities you could think of, such as a beautiful swimming pool, an extensive restaurant and a spa. The rave reviews only include high review ratings. Flores is only a 12-minute drive away.

#10 Villa Maya for a stunning luxury hotel on a tropical estate, on the edge of the Petenchel and Monifata lagoons. White-tailed deer and peccaries are raised on site, and the hotel features two outdoor pools, a spa and a restaurant. Rooms at Villa Maya come with balconies overlooking the garden, forest and lagoon.

Where to stay at Tikal

#11 Hotel Tikal Inn for the most popular hotel at Tikal National Park with a location in the middle of the jungle. Guests stay in bungalows with palm frond roofs in the jungle or at the pool. This hotel is the most popular option at Tikal because of its good value for money. It is therefore often fully booked, so make sure to book your stay well in advance.

#12 Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal for a hotel in the national park with simply furnished bungalows and an on-site restaurant. Due to the remote jungle location, WiFi and electricity are only available daily during specific time slots.

#13 Jungle Lodge Tikal Hostal for the most budget-friendly option in the national park, where we also stayed during our visit. There are tropical gardens, a swimming pool and a restaurant. Bathrooms are shared.

#14 Hotel Jungle Lodge Tikal for a luxury hotel at Tikal with a somewhat higher price tag. The tropical setting, outdoor pool and luxurious thatched bungalows are a photogenic sight.

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