Information on getting to EL REMATE, FLORES, TIKAL, PETEN
Information on getting to EL REMATE, FLORES, TIKAL, PETEN
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about La Casa de Don David hotel and restaurant, click here  BY
AIR Flights to Flores arrive from Guatemala City everyday. Taca has three flights weekly from Cancun Mexico. There are daily flights to Guatemala City from Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Mexico, Cancun, and many other international cities. Tropic Air has recently resumed service between Flores and Belize, www.tropicair.com. Local flight schedules change regularly and are often unannounced with the demand so always check. Flights To and From Guatemala City: try Grupo TACA, Tel (502) 2470-8222, (502) 7926 1238, Website www.grupotaca.com, or TAG, Tel (502) 2360-3038, 2361-1180 e-mail tagsa@intelnet.net.gt www.tag.com.gt Flights To and from Cancun: Grupo TACA, Tel (502) 2470-8222, (502) 7926 1238 Web site www.grupotaca.com Guatemalan airport tax of $2 for the flights to and from Flores Guatemala country departure tax ($30 per person) Flights To and From Belize: Tropic Air is now servicing the Belize-Flores route, check www.tropicair.com. If you fly into Belize and choose not to fly to Flores, you will need to take a bus or other transportation to the Guatemala border and then take a bus to Flores or El Remate. Please check the arriving by Express Bus section further down on this page. At the Belize immigration station there will be a departure tax of $18.75 USD. Also, when leaving Belize by air, the International airport has a departure tax of $35 USD, but this may be prepaid by your airline in your ticket price. Check with your airline. Departure fees are subject to change, check the Belize Tourism Board website for a full list of the fees http://www.travelbelize.org/immigration.html#fees. Please note if you're arriving from Belize and planning to return during your trip, be sure to check immigration requirements for re-entry to Belize. We have had Swiss and Argentina visitors who had a one entry visa and were required to get a new visa for re-entry. If you bring the form we can make your photos (no charge if you are staying with us) and you will be prepared for re-entry. Cost varies depending on your country of origin. When arriving to Flores, taxis or minibuses will
bring you to La Casa De Don David for $28-$30 (up to 4 people) Or
if there are several other persons traveling in the same minibus you
can arrive collective for $3.00 per person. We can also send a taxi for
$28.00 (up to 4 people)
There is no formal bus station in Guatemala City or other parts on the country. In bigger towns or cities, there is a large parking area where local buses gather usually called "La Terminal". Be very careful in these areas, as most are often unorganized and crowded. Most services have their private bus station, office or parking place. Buses To and from El Remate and airport or Flores area: There are taxis for $28-$30, or collective minibuses (Q20 = $3.00, best to have change ready). Collective minibuses to Santa Elena/Flores run almost hourly, between 6 am - 2 pm, and from Santa Elena/Flores to El Remate from 6 am - 6 pm. The ride is approx. 30 min. Some experienced travelers not carrying much luggage catch these minibuses on the main road in front of the Flores/Santa Elena airport (about 100 yards away). After 6:00 pm there are none or limited minibuses to El Remate. If you get a minibus going to the Belize border, you may be dropped off in El Cruce “Ixlu”, which is approx. 2 km. from El Remate. From there you must get another bus, taxi or walk 2 kms. to El Remate. If you're interested in renting a car while in the Flores-Tikal area, try Tabarini, Tally, Hertz or other companies. All of these can be found usually at or near the airport. The hotel can arrange a taxi for $28.00 if you request. Call La Casa de Don David at 7928 8469 or 5306 2190. Buses To and From Guatemala City: Getting around in Guatemala City, as in any big city there are unsafe areas so be careful. It's best to get around by taxi. However, in the city we don't recommend hailing a taxi on the street, the safest way is to call or have your hotel call a formal taxi service company to pick you up. A good option for taxi service to are yellow taxis with meters, Tel. 2470-1515. Noting a taxi number or driver's name is helpful if you should encounter any problems. Linea Dorada,
http://tikalmayanworld.com, offers two types of bus
service from Guatemala City, "luxury" and "economico". The
"economico" is a cheaper overnight option but without amenities and
less comfortable seats, often with several stops along the route. It
departs at 10:00 pm and costs $22 one way. The "luxury" bus is
generally comfortable, faster and often with A/C, toilet & TV, and
fewer stops. Cost is $30 one way, departures at 10:00 am and 9:00 pm. Please note that the companies normally don't guarantee that you will get the services as advertised. Overnight buses normally arrive to Flores in the early morning and you can take a collective minibus to El Remate arriving around 6 am, cost Q11. Just ask the driver to drop you at the hotel entrance. Beware of high pressure ticket salesmen who will offer you a deal that may not work out. Small car taxis charge about $28-$30 to El Remate, and can be found usually where the bus drops you off. Buses To and from Antigua: Antigua is located 23 km from Guatemala City. Visitors traveling to Tikal from Antigua often take a collective shuttle to the Guatemala City airport or individual bus station to continue on to Flores. If you are traveling with several other people, you may find it convenient to take a private shuttle or taxi. Revue magazine is a good source of information when in the Antigua area and traveling through Guatemala. You can pick up a free copy at hotels, restaurants or check their website at www.revuemag.com Buses To and From Rio Dulce: Many buses in route to Flores pass through the Rio Dulce area all day and night including the better buses of Linea Dorada and ADN. Linea Dorada has a small office there. You can contact them for pick up on the main road. Otti tours in Rio Dulce offers good reliable transportation in minibus and taxis. Buses To and From Coban: Casa Acuña Hotel has a good
shuttle service to and from El Remate, every day leaving Coban via
Sayaxche at 8:OO am and leaving El Remate at 8:00 am. The scenic
trip is about 8 hours over paved road and cost approx. $24 per person.
Several local buses and old shuttles crowded with local people go daily
to or from Sayaxche. There is a local bus from the bus station in Santa
Elena to Coban at 6:30 am and 12:30 pm
Express Bus To and
From Chetumal, Mexico, Belize City and San Ignacio - you can take the
Mundo Maya/Linea Dorada preferred bus http://tikalmayanworld.com. From the Chetumal bus terminal it
leaves at 6:00 am daily and costs about $30. From Belize the bus
leaves at 9:30 am, cost $25. This is your best deal as this normally
comfortable bus reserves seating and you can arrange for the driver to
bring you right to the hotel entrance in El Remate. Another bus line
also operates this route but you may find the service is
unsatisfactory. The Linea Dorada to El Remate/Flores
from Belize City departs the marine terminal in downtown at 9:30 am.
The trip is approx. 4 hours, cost $23-25 USD and you can purchase
tickets right at the terminal. Be sure to ask the driver to bring you
to the hotel entrance.
You
can take the 9 mile ride from San Ignacio to the Belize-Guatemala
border by taxi or local bus. Cross the border and get a local bus,
collective minibus or taxi. Local buses run almost every hour. If you
should be at the border at the time the Linea Dorada buses are
returning from Belize City or Chetumal, they can get you to the hotel
entrance for about $5. Be sure to
talk to the driver first. If not they will drop you off at the
Crossroads about 2 km from the hotel. Better, more comfortable
minibuses go for about $50 for 4 persons or $70 up to 8 persons. Just
tell to the driver you are going to Hotel La Casa De Don David in El
Remate. At the border, you will almost always find taxis and minibuses
looking for passengers. Bargain your price. Just remember, if you take
transportation that is in route to Flores you will arrive at the
crossroad in Ixlu and need to get another bus or taxi for the 2 km ride
to our hotel. Expect to pay about $18.75 USD in departure fees from Belize, even if you are in transit. Save your receipt as it may help with the fee if you plan to return to Belize within a month. Departure fees are subject to change, check the Belize Tourism Board website for a full list of the fees http://www.travelbelize.org/immigration.html#fees.Going to San Ignacio, Belize City and Chetumal, the Linea Dorada bus leaves Flores at 6 am daily and passes La Casa De Don David about 6:30 am to pick up passengers. Buy your ticket at the hotel front desk. If you're just going to the Belize border cost is $6.00, to Belize City or Belize City Marine Terminal $25.00. Most visitors pay nothing to enter Belize. US dollars are accepted in Belize almost everywhere and usually for the same exchange rate of 1 USD = 2 BZE dollars). Be careful - many travelers pay double on their first visit. Be sure to clarify if prices are in US dollars or Belize dollars Bus To and from Palenque, Mexico: This route must be traveled by
taking a minibus from Palenque to the Mexico/Guatemala border, at which
you must cross the Usumacinta river and then continue on to Flores, and
vice versa if going to Palenque. While in Tourist often report a lot of
waiting and individuals selling tickets in this area. Remember nothing
is free even when sold as such. Many taxi & mini bus drivers
convince you to stay at certain hotels or buy certain services that
they get a commission from. At La Casa De Don David, we do
not sell tickets or services for commission, rather try to offer the
best service available and at this time do not offer services to or
from Palenque. We are not associated with any
of the street or hotel minibus salesmen or taxi drivers. The prices and
services can vary a lot and if you've paid in advance its almost
impossible to get a refund if your service isn't fulfilled. To and from
El Remate taxis and minibuses cost $28 to $30, which we can arrange for
you if needed.
BY CAR Vehicle Permits for cars from other countries Driving to the Hotel: From Flores or Santa Elena, follow the signs to Tikal. About 30 km. from Flores or 2 km. past the intersection Ixlu/El Cruce with the road to the Belize border, you will enter the small, lakeside wood carving village of El Remate. La Casa De Don David is on the left-hand side about 500 yards after passing the craft shops, which are the first buildings on your left as you enter the village. The hotel is located at the Y junction that separates the main road from the lakeside road.Driving From Belize: Expect to pay an $18.75 USD fee for exiting Belize, however these are subject to change, check with the Belize Tourism Board website for a full list of the fees http://www.travelbelize.org/immigration.html#fees. Keep your receipt. It may reduce your final departure tax at the airport or border if returning to Belize within 30 days. Crossing the border at Benque/Melchor, expect to pay about $6 to $10 car permit. At the present time there are no car insurance sales for Guatemala there, but you can buy insurance in Flores (not required). Upon crossing the border, there is a very small bridge on which you pay a toll to cross. Tolls are typically Q5-10, however we have heard of ripoffs of up to $20 USD. The road between the border and Ixlu (crossroads) is in the slow process of being paved, so expect a half-hour of rough road and then some potholes in the pavement, depending on the current conditions of the road. Be careful. It is about 60 km (approx. 35 mi.) and takes about 1 1/2 hrs. by car, slightly more by bus. From the Ixlu crossroad or junction, take the right turn towards Tikal. To the left you will go to Flores. El Remate and the hotel are towards Tikal about 2 km. away. Crystal Auto Rental is one of the only car rental companies who will let their vehicles cross the border from Belize into Guatemala. They have good vehicles at reasonable prices and will rescue you if you should break down. Contact: LUCIO L. LANDERO  reservations@crystal-belize.com or www.crystal-belize.com
Tel: 501-2-31600; Fax 501-2-31900 Belize toll free:
0-800-777-7777Private Transportation to and from El Remate
There is minibus service available with A/C and a driver who speaks a
bit of English, which can be arranged through the hotel. Prices are for
1-8 persons (unless specified otherwise) and if requested, one or two
short stops can be made along the way to visit local attractions.
To and From El
Remate: BELIZE CITY If you would like a fluent English speaking guide on your trip, add $60 per day Generally the price is less if one or two people go in a small taxi or if the minibus has no A/C.
Getting Around in El Remate: The
village is small and you can walk or use a bicycle. Bicycles are
available across from the hotel for rental. There is private
transportation and collective minibuses servicing the Tikal/Flores
route. El Remate is located halfway between Flores and Tikal.
Transportation to all area attractions is easy to arrange. There
are hiking trails in the area. Also see Transportation in El Remate
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