Turismo Aventura, Flores, Guatemala

Billy Cruz and Monica Samayoa founded Turismo Aventura in 2003 to provide tourists with unique, economical services that adhere to standards of responsible tourism. After starting with a single bus in the Petén area, the company grew quickly through repeat business and word of mouth and now offers tours throughout Guatemala and into all neighbouring countries in the Mundo Maya.

Turismo Aventura is certified by INGUAT, and as such is actively committed to promoting tourism that is responsible and low impact. The founders participated in the creation of Green Deal, a certification program for sustainable tourism, in connection with the Asociación Alianza Verde.

While day and overnight trips to Tikal are obviously the focus of most travelers to this region, the company also offers some fascinating trips through the jungle and to rarely visited sites to satisfy even the most intrepid adventurer. Tours can be customized to fit the needs of the group, and the owners’ contacts with hotels and restaurants throughout the area can be used to create a completely personalized getaway.

Tour prices vary according to group size, and require a minimum of two people to run. Discounts are available on the listed prices for groups of over seven people. A sudden spike in fuel prices may cause prices to rise. Prices do not include tax.

Tikal tour...

Private tours US$65-165pp, Shared tour US$65 pp

Set in the lowland rainforest that covered the structures for centuries, Tikal’s temples jut into the sky above the canopy. As the largest of the Classic Maya cities, it once dominated the region, reaching the height of its power approximately 1,500 years ago. What followed was a steady decline and the eventual abandonment of the site by the end of the 10th century. This one-day tour of the site is your chance to rediscover this once-great city.

It is a one-hour drive from Flores to Tikal National Park. Along the way, you will pass Lake Petén Itzá, see how local artisans carve Maya motifs, and have the opportunity to sample chicle, natural chewing gum. If you’re lucky you may even spot wildlife along the road. Once you arrive at the site, a short climb up a stepped path brings you to the ruins themselves.

You will spend some 4-5 hours exploring the ruins and cover a distance of approximately 3 miles on foot. The tour will take you past such structures as Temples I-V, the Central Acropolis, the North Acropolis, the ball court, and the Plaza of the Lost World, the oldest area in the site. The forest that surrounds the site is home to howler and spider monkeys, both of which can be seen (and often heard!) from the trails, as well as various species of trees that the ancient Maya used for everything from mattresses to medicine. Your guide can explain various aspects of Maya culture, architecture, and history and describe the progression of the site from the time of its occupation to the present day, including its rediscovery and restoration, the formation of the national park, and its inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A three-course lunch is served after the tour of the ruins, and you then return to the bus for the trip back to Flores.

It is also possible to take this tour from Guatemala City, in which case transportation is arranged to/from the airport in Santa Elena. Tours are available in English and Spanish at no additional cost. Tours in other languages, such as French and Italian, are available but require an additional fee.

Other Tours

El Mirador

US$379 - $459pp

This 5-day tour takes you to an unrestored 2,000-year-old Maya site that once may have outshined even the grand city of Tikal. Isolated and understudied, El Mirador includes the tallest Maya pyramid discovered to date, which reaches a towering height of 18 stories and has a base the size of three football fields. The size of the site – over 16 square kilometers – has important implications for theories of the politics of the Pre-Classic Maya period and the history of the New World.

The trip to El Mirador takes two days. Along the way you will experience the traditional chiclero lifestyle in the village of Carmelita and see El Tintal, a site currently under excavation. The third day will be devoted to exploring the sprawling ruined city, which is made up of hundreds of structures and is still largely unmapped. Days 4 and 5 will be used for the trip back to Carmelita and transfer to Flores. It is also possible to spend an additional day in the jungle if arrangements are made in advance.

Included in the price are transportation between Flores and Carmelita, meals, drinking water, pack & riding horses, camping equipment, Spanish-speaking guide, and entrance fees to the sites. Good physical condition is a necessity for this tour, as is willingness to cope with long treks over rugged terrain.

El Zotz/Tikal

US$190 - $242pp

This 3-day tour lets you experience the best of the area’s wildlife, archaeology, and jungle. The first day involves a land transfer to Cruce Dos Aguadas and a 5-hour trek through Biotopo El Zotz. In the evening, you will go to the mouth of a bat cave to witness hundreds of thousands of bats exiting the cave at dusk to find food. Day 2 will have you exploring the nearby archaeological site, where you can catch a glimpse of the temple summits of Tikal. You will then walk 4 hours to camp at El Yesal, deep in the jungle. From El Yesal, you can again see Tikal on the horizon. On day 3 you will finally reach the outskirts of Tikal, after a 3-hour walk past dozens of unexcavated mounds. You will continue to the excavated part of the site and spend some time exploring the ruins before returning to Flores. Arrangements can also be made for you to spend the night in Tikal and be picked up the next day.

Included in the price are transportation from Flores to El Cruce and from Tikal to Flores, meals, drinking water, pack horses (you will have to carry your pack in Tikal National Park), camping equipment, Spanish-speaking guide, and entrance fees to the sites.

Other Tours

Other tours are available to Maya sites such as Uaxactún and the rarely visited Piedras Negras. The company also runs rafting excursions on Río Cahabon, canopy tours, birdwatching excursions, and trips to far-flung destinations in Belize, Honduras, and Mexico. A complete list of tours can be found on their website.