Flores Itinerary (3 Days): Complete Day-by-day Breakdown

Flores is a vibrant little island town in the middle of Lake Peten Itza in northern Guatemala. Best known for its proximity to the Tikal National Park, Flores is often frequented with the sole intention of visiting Guatemala’s largest Mayan ruins. BUT, you’d be mistaken to leave this town without exploring a little further. You’ll soon find out that it has much more to offer! After spending several days there in 2023, it quickly became one of my favourite places in Guatemala and I’m hoping that this Flores itinerary will help it become one of yours as well!

Whether you’re looking to kick back and relax with a drink and sunset views or embrace the jungle, Flores has something for everyone. So here’s a detailed breakdown of my 3-day Flores itinerary, containing everything you need to know about activities in Flores, prices, timings, budget and more.

Flores Itinerary in Short

• Day 1: Arrive and explore Flores
• Day 2: Visit Tikal National Park
• Day 3: Explore Lake Peten Itza: Jorge’s Rope Swing and El Mirador

Flores Itinerary in Full

How many days do you actually need in Flores?

Let’s be honest, the biggest reason why Flores is on the travel trail in Guatemala is because of Tikal. So if you’re only visiting because of the ruins, you may only need one night. And if you’re doing this, you may prefer to stay in one of the hotels in Tikal National Park (Jungle Lodge, Tikal Inn or Jaguar Inn) or camp overnight at Tikal.

I recommend at least two full days in Flores; preferably a little longer to avoid rushing. At a squeeze, you could do everything in two days (so that’s how long you actually ‘need‘), but part of the Flores experience is its chilled atmosphere, so an extra day or two is ideal.

If you’re a foodie like me, be aware that there aren’t loads of restaurants and bars in Flores, so you may begin to feel limited after a few days.

3-Day Flores Itinerary

Day 1: Exploring Flores

Most travellers arrive in Flores from across the border in Belize (San Ignacio) or from further south in Guatemala (Lanquin, Lake Atitlan or Antigua). This means that you will likely only have the afternoon and evening when you first arrive in Flores. Given its small size, this is absolutely fine.

Arrive and settle in

After a morning of travel, I recommend a quiet afternoon exploring the town not expending too much energy. The island itself only takes around 30 minutes to walk around, so take your time and explore the colourful, cobbled streets. Feel free to detour; wander onto the jetties; go in search of terrapins; take photos with the Peten sign, check out the cathedral at Parque Central, and buy snacks from street vendors.

NOTE: Flores is probably one of the safest areas in Guatemala. I walked around during the daytime alone with my camera and felt completely safe. The streets become eerily deserted at night.

If you crossed the border from Belize or Mexico, you may want to withdraw cash or find a SIM card. ATMs in Flores aren’t particularly reliable so you might need to try more than one. SIM cards can be found in small shops on the island; look out for Tigo or Claro signs (the two main network providers in Guatemala).

If you haven’t already, organise your arrangements for Tikal as early as possible. You can book a tour or visit independently. There are several tour operators scattered around the island and Los Amigos hostel is a popular and reliable spot to book any activities (even if they inflate the prices slightly).

Food, drink and sunset

Once you’re settled and acquainted, it’s time to go out for dinner and a drink. There are a few restaurants and bars on the west side of the island with terraces overlooking the lake, and there’s no better way to end your day than watching the sun go down with a cocktail (or beer) in hand. Some of the best sunsets I saw in Guatemala were in Flores as the lake reflects the amazing colours in the sky whilst the boats are silhouetted against the lake.

For drinks, Sky Bar is a popular option with its happy-hour drinks menu and strong cocktail selection. For food, Terrazzo which is just next door to Sky Bar has an equally good view and serves some amazing desserts.

NOTE: Sky Bar can get busy around sunset so arrive slightly early to get a prime spot.

There are other options with similarly gorgeous views, but I found these two to be the best regarded. Other travellers mentioned the craft beers at Restaurante San Telmo, but I found their service was slow and their menu was half-empty.

Day 2: Explore Tikal Mayan Ruins

Tikal is one of the most significant archaeological sites in Central America. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and also a National Park brimming with wildlife. There are around 3000 Mayan structures across the site (some not completely excavated), and it was thought the ancient civilisation was home to roughly 100,000 people. What you should take from this is that Tikal is pretty darn massive, and will take you several hours to explore and learn about this iconic spot.

Located 1.5 hours away from Flores, there are plenty of ways to visit Tikal National Park. You can take a sunrise tour, an early morning tour, a daytime tour, a sunset tour, or explore on your own without a guide!

I opted for a sunrise tour because apparently, I don’t value sleep…

In all seriousness, I would recommend visiting Tikal for sunrise for a number of reasons. Early in the morning, there are smaller crowds because the site doesn’t officially open until 6am. Only those who have paid an additional sunrise entrance fee can get into the national park. Watching the sun come up and listening to the rainforest come alive is a magical experience and is something that can’t be truly captured on camera.

One thing to be cautious of is that it’s not always the perfect sunrise. Often clouds or fog swamp the trees.

Having a guide was really valuable as it put context behind the spectacular ruins you’re seeing. If you don’t go as part of a tour, you can arrange a guide at the entrance to Tikal.

I returned from the sunrise tour at around lunchtime so you have the rest of the afternoon to relax, catch up on sleep, or chill in a hammock!

NOTE: If you’re squeezing your Flores itinerary into 2 days, head to Jorge’s rope swing in the afternoon to relax and cool off. You should still have plenty of time after doing a sunrise tour of Tikal.

Alternatively, since you have paid for the park entrance for the day, you can stay longer to explore or even continue on towards Uaxactun. Both of these alternatives would mean taking public transport.

Times: Every day, 6am-6pm (Sunrise tickets allow entrance at 4am)
Duration: 7+ hours
Price: Normal entrance to Tikal is 150Q.

In the evening, look out for some local street food. The west side of the island has a number of street vendors that pop up at around 4pm. Alternatively, my favourite food stall, Tacos Los Peces, can be found in the main square selling two burritos for 15Q!

Day 3: Explore Lake Peten Itza

Rent a kayak

Paddle out from the shores of Flores to get unspoilt, picturesque views across Lake Peten Itza. On a still morning, the lake can give you the perfect reflection.

Most hostels on the island offer kayak rentals, as do several tour operators.

Renting a kayak also gives you the option to paddle over to other areas such as El Mirador, Jorge’s rope swing, El Museo de Santa Barbara or Chechenal beach.

Take a boat trip

If paddling isn’t for you, catching a boat ride is a great alternative. You can pick up a lancha (local boat) from a number of pontoons around the edge of the island.

NOTE: Be careful not to get ripped off by the drivers, they will likely try to charge you a lot more than you should be paying. You shouldn’t be paying more than 25Q for one-way trips to most of these spots.

Mirador del Rey Canek

The Mirador del Rey Canek is a viewpoint located on the San Miguel side of the lake opposite Flores. It’s probably the best view of the island that you will find. Not only will you be able to see the whole island of Flores, but also the Mundo Maya international airport.

To get to the lookout, it’s a 15-20 minute walk from the shore where you hop off your boat or kayak. The walk is predominantly flat with brief sections of slight uphill. Then you will reach the small ‘tree tower’ which you can climb to get the panoramic views. If you are lucky, you might even hear howler monkeys whilst you’re up there!

Times: Every day, 24 hours
Duration: 1 hour (including walk)
Price: Free

Jorge’s Rope Swing.

Jorge’s Rope Swing is a small, family-run resort on the other side of Lake Peten (on the mainland). You can sunbathe; swim; grab food and drinks; listen to music; jump off the diving platform; and as you may have guessed there’s a big rope swing. It’s a great place to hang out for a couple of hours and meet other backpackers. Plus the views during sunset are stunning!

Is it safe to swim in Lake Peten Itza? Simply, yes the water in Lake Peten Itza is safe to swim in, as are most of the waters around Flores. It isn’t the clearest water, so check the depth before you dive in. The water by Jorge’s rope swing is relatively warm, so it’s a great place for a refreshing dip, especially if you’ve just walked to the Mirador del Rey viewpoint!

Times: Every day, 9am-7pm
Duration: 2 hours (approx)
Price: 25Q

Flores Itinerary Mapped Out

Flores Budget

You’re probably wondering how much should you expect to spend during this 3-day itinerary.

As a budget backpacker, I spent 1335Q during my three days here. The breakdown is as follows:

Despite its small size, Flores is a place with a large price variation. You can find street food for as cheap as 10Q, and restaurant food for anywhere between 30Q to over 100Q. Similarly, boat prices and tour prices will all vary depending on the stall or person you speak to. The only things that remain consistent are the Tikal park fees which can be found and purchased online and the entrance to Jorge’s Rope Swing which is 25Q.

What to do if you have more time in Flores?

If you have more time in Flores, you might be racking your brain for more things to do! On such a small island, one of your best options could be a chill day, but here are some more ideas:

El Mirador 5-day trek

If your time isn’t limited, there is one standout option: the epic 5-day hike to El Mirador. This trek isn’t on most Guatemalan itineraries and is completely missed by most people visiting Flores because of time or cost constraints. The trek provides a unique experience of Mayan ruins completely isolated from modern civilisation. The only way to get there is either by helicopter over the jungle or a 5-day trek through the jungle. These mysterious ruins are home to La Danta, the tallest Mayan structure ever built and one of the tallest pyramids in the world!

The hike starts in La Carmelita and heads north towards the Guatemala-Mexico border. Be prepared for a long and sweaty hike, with some days up to 8 hours of walking. I’m not going to deny that trekking those distances through the dense and humid jungle isn’t tough, but at least it’s flat! Plus, you will see loads of wildlife and no tourists (you left them back in Flores)!

Museo Santa Barbara

On a tiny islet to the east of Flores is the Museo Santa Barbara. It’s one of the only museums in the Flores region and hosts a collection of ancient Mayan artefacts from nearby ruins – dating back as far as 2000 years! Despite the small size of the museum, it aptly tells the history of this civilisation and is a great little visit if you like archaeology, Mayan culture or museums.

After browsing the museum, enjoy a drink on this scenic island at the local cafe. A boat from Flores island to Santa Barbara should cost 10-15Q.

Uaxactun Ruins

A few kilometres beyond Tikal, and further into the jungle, are the Uaxactun ruins. They’re not as large or famous as Tikal, but they are significantly quieter and less excavated. The lack of tourists makes it a more intimate experience, whilst the limited renovation makes it more rugged. Uaxactun is worth the visit if you prefer quieter Mayan ruins and have some time going spare. Once again, I would recommend a tour guide to help you understand the history.

Uaxactun can be visited on a day trip from Flores but organised transport is necessary due to its more remote location. If you would rather take public transport to Uaxactun, you will need to catch the bus from Santa Elena in the afternoon. This stops at Tikal at around 5pm and arrives in Uaxactun around 6pm. The return bus leaves Uaxactun at 7am meaning you will need to spend at least one night in Uaxactun village, which will show you a different side of Guatemala.

Before you go

Thank you for reading my 3-day Flores itinerary. If guides and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.

If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.

Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.

Happy travelling!