{"id":10086410,"date":"2023-07-27T14:30:47","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T14:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hb4thbbsfl.onrocket.site\/?p=10086410"},"modified":"2023-08-12T17:23:28","modified_gmt":"2023-08-12T17:23:28","slug":"things-to-do-in-flores-guatemala","status":"publish","type":"travelguides","link":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/nl\/blog\/dingen-om-te-doen-in-flores-guatemala\/","title":{"rendered":"Your guide to Flores, Guatemala | Exploring Tikal and best things to do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n <\/i>Exploring Flores<\/span><\/a> \n <\/i>Where to stay<\/span><\/a>\n <\/i>Where to eat<\/span><\/a>\n <\/i>How to get around<\/span><\/a>\n <\/i>Things to do<\/a> \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The small island town of Flores, set on Lake Peten Itza, is easily one of the most charming spots in Guatemala. Colourful colonial buildings. Great restaurants. Sunsets over the lake. It\u2019s easy to fall in love with this place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a causeway connecting it to the mainland, Flores is also the perfect jumping-off point for nearby attractions like Tikal. Talk about the best of both worlds!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re visiting Flores soon, you’ve come to the right place. After reading this guide, you’ll know which area to stay in, where to find the best restaurants, how to get around and what to do in this charming island town in Guatemala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Flores worth visiting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One spot that you shouldn’t miss on your Guatemala itinerary<\/a> is Tikal. The experience of walking through the jungle, admiring the Maya pyramids and imagining the 100,000 people that used to live is unforgettable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flores is the best place to visit Tikal, so it’s worth visiting just for that. It can also be a nice place to relax for a few days if your Guatemalan adventure has been a bit hectic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How long should you stay in Flores?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most people come for just one day as a base for visiting Tikal, but we recommend 2-3 days in Flores to fully enjoy it. Trust us, you don’t want to miss out on all the cool things to do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re also visiting Flores to go on the 5-day El Mirador trek, plan at least one full day in Flores after the trek. You’ll want a day to rest and take care of that muddy laundry you’ll inevitably bring back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to stay in Flores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Street
Colourful streets of Flores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By far the best place to stay is on the island of Flores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where most visitors stay and where you\u2019ll find all the amenities that you need \u2014 restaurants, cafes, shops and tourist information centres. There\u2019s even a little shopping mall just a short walk away on the mainland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where exactly you stay on the island doesn\u2019t matter as it\u2019s so small! You can walk around the entire island in 15 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply stay in the accommodation that you like the most, and that fits your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accommodation on Flores island<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Flores is tiny, so accommodation options on the island are limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prices can be a bit higher than elsewhere in Guatemala, starting at $25 per night for a private room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our favourite place to stay in Flores is Hotel Casazul<\/a>. Its bright and modern design, coupled with a terrace overlooking the lake, is perfect for relaxing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do find that all of the best accommodation on the island of Flores is fully booked, then consider a jungle retreat. Hidden amongst the trees, Zapote Tree Inn<\/a> has a pool overlooking the lake. Life can\u2019t get much better than that! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best places to eat in Flores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For a little island, Flores has a lot of places to eat. There are lots of lake-side restaurants, street stalls and little cafes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although there are many choices, they\u2019re not all great! To make sure that you only have delicious meals in Flores, here are our 3 favourites places to eat:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maple & Tocino \u2014 the best place to eat in Flores<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maple & Tocino<\/a>, in our opinion, is the best place to eat in Flores. They offer a variety of things to eat \u2014 waffles, crepes, traditional Guatemalan breakfasts, pizza and more. The juices and smoothies are a must-try!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grab a table on the terrace and enjoy your food while taking in the beautiful lake view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restaurante Raices \u2014 a beautiful spot overlooking the water<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t get much closer to Lake Pet\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 than at Restaurante Raices<\/a>. The outdoor terrace literally sits on the water. This is one of the fancier restaurants on the island, offering tasty grilled meats, steak, fish, tacos and pizza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t beat the ambience here. It\u2019s beautifully lit, next to the water and the waiters immediately make you feel welcome!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cool Beans \u2014 a fun place to hang out for a while<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The food at Cool Beans<\/a> is best described as authentic and simple. It\u2019s a cheap place to grab a meal and a lovely spot to hang out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The whole restaurant is surrounded by greenery, with hammocks hanging from trees. They also have board games available to keep you entertained for a couple of hours. The staff are also lovely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get around Flores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The area of Flores includes both the island and part of the mainland. Most visitors stay on the island where a lot of the accommodations and restaurants are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everything you could need is on the island, so getting to where you want to go is easy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the best ways to get around Flores:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By foot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your own two feet will be your main mode of transport. Walking around the whole island only takes around 15 minutes, and pretty much everything you need is there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to visit the big supermarket at the entrance of Flores Island, your walk will be no longer than 15 minutes, no matter where you start on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By taxi\/tuk-tuk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Red
Tuk-tuks are a quick and cheap way to get around Flores<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If you need to venture a bit further or have a lot of luggage that you don\u2019t want to carry, there are taxis and tuk-tuks available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They\u2019re easy to find as they\u2019re often waiting in spots where tourists are dropped off, or will give you a honk as they\u2019re driving past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuk-tuks are often cheaper than taxis in Guatemala, with most journeys costing around Q5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top things to do in Flores<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Get your bucket list ready. In this guide, we’ll show you the best things to do in Flores and how to experience them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best tours in and around Flores<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n