Flores is a small city in Petén, Guatemala. It is located on an island in the lake Lago Petén Itzá, connected to land by a causeway. On the other side of the causeway lie the twin cities Santa Elena and San Benito. For many, the main reason to visit Flores is its proximity to Tikal, the most famous Mayan ruins in Guatemala. Flores is also the natural starting point for other tours of the Petén.

Flores is a quiet and peaceful place, and probably one of the safest places in the at times wild north. In nearby Santa Elena you have to be more cautious, and you should stay away from San Benito.

There is an international airport just outside Flores with flights from Guatemala City, Cancun, ... The flights between Flores and Guatemala City are often delayed (both ways). A taxi from the airport to Flores costs Q20 (or Q10 per person if that gives the driver more money).

Buses from Guatemala City and Belize City stop in Calle Principal, Santa Elena, a five minutes walk from the causeway to Flores. You can go by car from Guatemala City and from Belize City.

Inside Flores you usually just walk. Walking around the island takes about 15 minutes. To visit Santa Elena or San Benito you can walk, take a taxi or take the bus. The towns San José and San Andrés on the shores of the lake to the north are best reached by boat. The boats can also take you to Petencito Zoo or just for a tour of the lake. You find the boats behind Hotel Santana. The boatmen usually overcharge you, so be sure to negotiate before accepting their price.

Attractions

* Ak'tun Kan, la cueva de la serpiente (the cave of the serpent). Take the main road through Santa Elena and turn left at the end of the road and just follow the signs, it is pretty well marked. It is a 30-minute walk from the causeway to Flores. Or you can take a taxi for Q20. Admission fee Q15 that includes a guide. Inside the cave you can see a lot of formations that resembles various objects, animals and people, and of course plain stalagmites and stalactites. Most of them are labeled (in Spanish) and the guide will also happily point them out.

* Petencito Zoo

* Motul de San José a small Mayan site just north of San José. You can get to San José by bus or boat.

* Ixlú is a small Mayan site just by the Melchor de Mencos junction on the way to Tikal. Only of interest to the die-hard fans of Mayan sites.

* Tikal One of the main reasons for visiting Flores, Petén or even Guatemala. 60 km from Flores. The park is open from 06:00 to 18:00. If you arrive after 15:00 the ticket is valid the next day as well. Admission fee Q50. You are advised to be at the park when it opens to experience the rich wildlife and to avoid the crowds later in the day. See separate article.

* Holtún is a small archaeological site 60 km from Flores on the way to Melchor de Mencos and the Belizean border. You have to walk 15 minutes on a broad, but unmarked path to get to the site. Ask the locals to give you direction. The site contains some large temples mostly covered by trees and vegetation. Masks painted in color decorate the inside of one of the temples, but this part is unavailable to tourists (unless you can get a permit from the guard in charge). The part you can get to on your own also has masks, but it's not that impressive. Only for the dedicated fans of Maya sites.

* Yaxhá is a archaeological site 73 km from Flores on the way to Melchor de Mencos and the Belizean border. 62 km from Flores, just after Holtún, you find the turn-off to Yaxhá, some 11 km along a dirt road. There is no admission fee, but you have to sign in the guest book. The site is not so frequently visited as Tikal, but its well worth the trip. You might be the only visitor, and that will give you a pretty different experience from wading through the often crowded Tikal. There are ongoing restoration works at the site.

* Topoxté is a small site on an island on the west shore of Lago de Yaxhá. You can reach it by lancha (boat), and it will cost you around Q100. The ride is only 15 minutes each way.

* Nakum is a site some 20 km north of Yaxhá. From there it is possible to reach Tikal in a days walk (but you need a guide).