Most people traveling through Guatemala wind up heading to the teeny island of Flores. Generally, visitors are not coming to see Flores itself, though—rather, the island is the best springboard to explore Tikal, some of the best and most complete Mayan ruins on the planet.
However, Flores has a LOT to offer beyond just serving as a quick basecamp for seeing Tikal. My husband, Justin, and I spent several days here and fell a little in love with this quirky place. So if you want to explore this magical island a bit deeper, here’s the best 12 things to do in Flores, Guatemala.
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About Flores, Guatemala
Flores is the capital of Petén, the northernmost region of Guatemala that’s known for its lush rainforests.
The town itself is quite small, sitting on an island in Lake Petén (that’s connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway) and sprawling a whopping 0.1 square kilometers. Despite it’s teeny size, the historic town packs a LOT of charm, with candy-colored buildings, cobblestone streets, and beautiful views of the surrounding lake.
Beyond just being Instagrammable, though, Flores is also an important town in Guatemala—it’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in all of the Americas AND was the last Mayan city to fall to Spanish colonization in 1697. Mayan culture is still alive and well here, from some stone carvings in its town square to its residents, many of which who still speak the Mayan language.
Sounds intriguing? Here’s what you can get up to in Flores!
Things to do in Flores, Guatemala
1. Visit the Tikal ruins
Okay, so this one’s pretty obvious, but the number one reason that anyone comes to Flores is to explore the Tikal ruins. And for good reason!
With over 3,000 structures and sprawling over 575 square kilometers, Tikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest Mayan archeological sites on the planet. Plus, one of the coolest things about Tikal is that, unlike some of the other popular Mayan ruin sites, you can actually do your best Indiana Jones impression and climb up several of the impressive pyramids and buildings that remain standing today.
Tikal is located about two hours away from Flores, so the most convenient way to get there is by joining a tour or taking a shared shuttle.
If you have room in your budget, I’d strongly recommend going on a tour, like this option—there’s so much fascinating history that you can learn about, from how the Mayans built these impressive structures, lived their daily lives, and why they likely left their home behind.
2. Explore the Uaxactún Ruins
The Uaxactún Ruins are actually right by Tikal (just half an hour away!), but with waaaaay less visitors. Plus, the ruins here are actually older (dating all the way back to 2,000 BC)!
Uaxactún is admittedly smaller and less impressive than Tikal, but absolutely still worth a stop, due, in part, to its important history.
In fact, Uaxactún is kind of a big deal in the Mayan civilization. It’s known for its astronomical observatory and three of its temples, which perfectly align with the sun on certain days of the year. It’s actually believed that the Mayans began the development of their famed calendar here!
The easiest way to get to Uaxactún is on a tour, like this option.
Alternatively, you can theoretically get a collectivo from Santa Elena (the town across the bridge from Flores) to Uaxactún. However, given the schedule of when the collectivos come and go, you’ll need to spend at least two nights in the nearby town of Uaxactún.
3. Get a cocktail at a rooftop bar
While Flores is quite charming, it’s also a bit on the touristy side. And, like any good tourist hot spot, there’s plenty of rooftop bars to choose from, where you can take in the surrounding views of Lake Petén.
My personal favorite is Terrazzo, Ristorante E Bar, which has delicious food and drink, friendly staff, and a primo location on the west side of the island. We liked it so much, we actually went back for two of the nights we were in Flores!
Try to time your visit with sunset—the silhouettes of the boats gliding across the lake, against the punchy color of the sky, are stunning!
4. Jump into Lake Petén at Jorge’s Rope Swing
If you’re looking for a fun place to hang out with friends while in Flores, look no further than Jorge’s Rope Swing.
This spot is owned by a local family and right on the lakeshore, with hammocks and cabanas to sunbathe, diving platforms, and, of course, the namesake rope swing. Plus, there’s a bar and restaurant onsite so that you can have as many nachos and cervezas as you fancy.
The only way to get here is by taking a water taxi, which you can grab from this dock. The boat ride should cost you around 50-150Q roundtrip, depending on how good your Spanish and negotiation skills are.
There’s also a 25Q entrance fee at Jorge’s, which is open from 9 AM to 7 PM.
In full disclosure, service here can be a bit hit or miss, and this place can be a bit quiet (like… literally, with no music playing) in the mornings. If you’re looking for a more party vibe, I’d suggest going in the afternoon!
5. Swimming in Lago Petén Itzá
If you’re not into rope swings or diving platforms, you can alternatively skip Jorge’s Rope Swing and simply swim right off the island of Flores.
We didn’t personally get in the water, because, when we visited in February, the weather was a bit on the cooler side (and, to be honest, the water wasn’t exactly the clearest during our trip).
That being said, we saw TONS of people—both locals and tourists—swimming right off the docks on the western side of the island. Plus, we’ve read multiple sources that say the water is perfectly safe to swim in.
One afternoon, we sunbathed on one of the docks and dangled our feet into the water. It felt like the PERFECT temperature—not too cold or too hot.
6. Enjoy the Yaxha Ruins to yourself
While most tourists quickly breeze in and out of Flores to just see Tikal, there’s actually a TON of other Mayan ruins around Petén.
Take, for example, Yaxha National Park, which is home to a lush rainforest; over 400 species of animals, including howler monkeys, tapirs, and jaguars; and 500 ancient Mayan structures. Originally built around 3,000 years ago(!!!), Yaxha has nine MASSIVE pyramids, 13 altars, and two ball courts—and, best of all, no tourists!
As an added bonus, Yaxha is a much smaller and more manageable site than Tikal, so it’s a great option if you have mobility challenges or aren’t in the mood to walk a bajillion steps (fun fact—we walked 25,000 steps the day we visited Tikal!).
Yaxha is about two hours away from Flores, so the easiest way to get there is by taking a tour, like this option or this sunset option.
7. Take a boat ride around Flores
If you’re looking for a chill way to spend the afternoon, consider hiring one of the many water taxis that hang out by Flores’ docks for a few hours.
The drivers can take you on a tour of the surrounding islands and attractions located on the shores of Lake Petén, like Museo Santa Barbara, a small but impressive museum of over 5,700 Mayan artifacts, or Chechenal, the closest thing that Flores area has to a beach.
The water taxi will cost you anywhere from Q20 and Q200, depending on whether you just want to go to one of the stops or you want to be driven around for several hours.
8. Hike to El Mirador del Rey Canek
The most popular place to take a boat around Flores is El Mirador del Rey Canek, a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Flores island, in the teeny town of San Miguel.
Grab a water taxi, which will ferry you across the water for about 10 minutes to a peninsula that’s just northwest of Flores. It should cost around Q30-40 round trip.
Once you’re dropped off at the dock, you’ll follow a well-marked path for about 10 minutes uphill until you reach a colorful wooden platform.
From here, you’ll get arguably the very best view of all of Lake Petén and the candy-colored houses of Flores.
Insider tip: If you’re visiting on a warmer day, prepare to get sweaty on your climb up to the mirador! But you’re in luck—one of the paths here will take you straight downhill to the aforementioned Chechenal Beach, which offers a cute, colorful dock and a small stretch of sand that’s the perfect spot to cool off in the lake. So bring your swimsuit and your quetzales—entry to the beach is 50Q.
9. Explore the streets of Flores Island
Obviously, you have to wander around the pastel-colored buildings in Flores!
You can easily walk across the island in about 15 minutes, but, instead, spend some time wandering around, taking in the lakeside views, and poking your head into the stores, restaurants, and bars that line its cobblestone streets.
Be sure to stop at Flores’ main square, which is home to a few Mayan stelae (a stone slab with carvings) that predates Spanish colonization, as well as the Catedral Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios y San Pablo Itzá, which has beautiful stained glass windows.
10. Get your adrenaline pumping at Parque Natural Ixpanpajul
Parque Natural Ixpanpajul is an adventure park of sorts, with all kinds of fun activities, like hiking, birdwatching, or riding tractors through the jungle.
However, it’s best known for its six hanging bridges that traverse the lush treetops and a zipline, with 8 different platforms, that whizzes through the jungle. Be sure to stop at its mirador—it’s one of the best places around Flores to spot howler monkeys!
Ixpanpajul is conveniently located about 15 minutes from Flores. If you’re set on seeing lots of wildlife, you might want to consider taking a tour or, alternatively, there’s a daily shuttle to the park that leaves Flores at 8 AM or 2 PM.
11. Learn Spanish
Although there aren’t as many Spanish schools in Flores as there are in Antigua or around Lake Atitlan, there are a handful, including the well-regarded Dos Mundo.
There’s a wide range of options here, like private or group lessons or even a four hour crash course, if you’re super short on time. Additionally, if you want a more immersive experience, you can stay with a local Guatemalan family.
Justin and I actually spent two weeks in Guatemala to attend a Spanish school and stay with a local family—it’s helped our (very poor) Spanish skills get SO much better!
12. Trek to El Mirador
If you have some extra time to devote to Flores, the hike to El Mirador looks EPIC!
On this trek, which usually spans five days (two days there, one exploring the site, and two days back to Flores), you’ll hike through the Guatemalan jungle to El Mirador. This is actually the tallest Mayan pyramid on the PLANET (standing at 232 feet)!
Along the way, you’ll learn about the history of the Mayans, see tons of incredible wildlife, like monkeys and toucans, and get to sleep in an ancient Mayan village—where else in the world can you do that?!
While any five day hike is going to have its challenges, El Mirador isn’t TOO bad—the hike is relatively flat and guides are usually pretty good at baking in lots of stops along the way.
We didn’t have time to do this while we were in Guatemala, but we made friends with some people on our shuttle from Semuc Champey to Flores, who absolutely LOVED this experience. It’s definitely on our bucket list for our next trip to Guatemala!
The only way you can hike to El Mirador is with a guide, like this tour option, which uses local guides and focuses on supporting the local economies.
Alternatively, if you’re short on time or hiking for five days sounds like sheer torture to you, there’s a handful of tour groups that will actually fly you in a helicopter from Flores to El Mirador as a daytrip, like this option or this option—it sounds SUPER cool to see El Mirador’s pyramids from above!
How to get to Flores, Guatemala
Getting to Flores can be a bit easier than most Guatemalan cities, because there’s actually a few ways to get here—either by plane, bus, or shuttle.
Getting to Flores by plane
As compared to some other destinations in Guatemala, Flores has a pretty huge benefit up its sleeve—it has its very own airport!
So, if Flores is going to be the first stop on your Guatemalan adventure or if you happen to be coming from Guatemala City (the only other city in Guatemala with an airport), you’re in luck—it’s super easy to get here!
Flying is more expensive than other options—usually between $115 and $180 one-way from Guatemala City to Flores. However, it takes less than an hour to fly here, meaning you’ll have almost an entire extra day to explore Guatemala, as compared to getting here via automobile!
Getting to Flores by bus
On the other end of the spectrum, if you’re on a tighter budget and happen to be coming from Guatemala City (or from Rio Dulce), there’s a public bus that’s easy to use.
There’s three different companies that you can use, Fuente del Norte, Autobuses del Norte, or Linea Dorada. Maya de Oro, a 10-hour overnight bus operated by Fuente del Norte, is going to be your best bet—try to snag one of the huge reclining seats on the first floor!
Getting to Flores by shuttle
If you’re coming from a destination other than Rio Dulce or Guatemala City, there’s no public bus that goes directly to Flores.
Accordingly, the easiest way to get to Flores is via a tourist shuttle. While it theoretically would be possible to get to Flores using a collectivo or chicken bus, it would take a LONG time and about a bajillion connections and would be quite challenging, unless you speak fluent Spanish.
Luckily, in any of the major tourist destinations in Guatemala or southern Mexico, it won’t be hard to find a shuttle to Flores—just ask at the front desk at your accommodations or stop at any of the tour agencies lining the streets. They’ll be more than happy to sell you a seat on one of the shuttles heading to Flores!
Insider tip: If you’re coming to Flores from Antigua or Lake Atitlan in southern Guatemala, I’d recommend baking in some time to stop at Semuc Champey, which is (kind of, sort of) on the way. With a series of crystal clear turquoise pools, tucked away in a lush forest, and adventurous activities, like caving or tubing down a river, it’s a must-see destination in Guatemala and the perfect place to break up the super long drive to Flores.
How to get around Flores, Guatemala
The town of Flores is quite small and easy to get around—it just takes about 15 minutes to walk clear across the island!
However, many of the attractions here are located outside of the island itself—so you have a few other options of getting around, other than your feet:
- Tuk-tuk: This is a great—and REALLY affordable—option to get around. We took one from our hotel to the Flores airport to leave Guatemala and it only cost around 30Q (under $3 USD) for both of us!
- Water taxis: These boats are everywhere in Flores and are the only way that you can explore the islands or shoreline of Lake Petén. There’s no real set prices for pretty much any of the destinations here, so get ready to bust out your Spanish to get the lowest price!
- Collectivos: These are the most affordable options you’ll have to travel to places that are a bit further away, like Tikal or Uaxactún. However, finding and navigating collectivos are a bit on the confusing side if you don’t speak Spanish, and are usually the slowest transport option—so this may not be the best choice if you’re short on time.
- Tours: Most travelers wind up booking tours that include transport to get to the attractions that are further away from Flores. They are usually the most expensive option for getting around, but it’s usually the most convenient and straightforward way!
When to visit Flores, Guatemala
Like most places in Guatemala, the best time to visit Flores is during its dry period from November through April, when you can explore the town and the incredible sites around it under clear sunny skies.
Otherwise, May through October is known as Guatemala’s wet season. Given that most of the best things to do in Flores are outside AND are located inside of a rainforest, come prepared with a rain jacket, some waterproof boots, and a positive attitude!
Where to stay in Flores, Guatemala
- Los Amigos Hostel: This budget-friendly hostel has a friendly, social atmosphere, fun decor, and an excellent location in the center of the island. Justin and I stopped here a few times for dinner and drinks and were really impressed by the service!
- Villa de Lago Hotel: This mid-range property has everything you need whilst in Flores, including spacious rooms with air conditioning (a MUST in the warmer months!), complimentary breakfast, and a terrace with spectacular views over Lake Petén.
- Hotel Isla de Flores: This hotel gives you a lot of bang-for-your-buck, with a killer rooftop pool, the most ADORABLE coffee shop on the first floor, and spacious rooms with comfortable beds.
Tips for visiting Flores, Guatemala
Consider what cash you’ll need on hand on arrival
While payment by credit card is becoming much more common in Guatemala, not all hotels and restaurants accept it. And, even the ones that do frequently charge a service fee for using it, which can range from 5-7%.
If you need cash when you arrive, there are two ATMs in Flores. However, both of them can be a bit on the finicky side and are known to run out of cash from time to time.
Luckily, there’s several more ATMs just across the causeway in the neighboring town of Santa Elena (at least seven!), so you should never be TOO far from being able to access cash. However, if you’re arriving in Flores in the evening, you may want to consider coming armed with a sufficient amount of cash, so that you don’t have to be wandering around at night in Santa Elena, looking for an ATM.
Insider tip: I’d strongly recommend avoiding 5B ATMs in Guatemala—in addition to charging around a $4 USD fee for using the ATM, they also charge a 9% conversion fee, which is absolutely outrageous! BI ATMs typically charge a $4 USD ATM fee, but do not have any kind of extraneous conversion rates.
Beware of ticket scams
While we didn’t experience this at all, we’ve heard that it’s not uncommon for vendors to sell scam tickets to local attractions, like Tikal, on the buses or the streets of Flores.
So only purchase tickets for attractions either online, at the official ticket counter, or in a tour agency office—not from random people you meet out and about!
Plan for at least a couple of days
Most people are only in Flores for two nights total—basically, they arrive one evening, explore Tikal the following day and spend the night, and then swiftly leave Flores on the third day.
If that’s all the time you have here, it’s certainly better than not seeing it at all, but I absolutely think that Flores is worth dedicating a few extra days to.
Justin and I spent a total of four nights here and, while we got to see a LOT of the highlights in Flores, we still didn’t get the opportunity to do and see everything we wanted to.
There you have it—there are SO many cool things to do in Flores! Do you have any questions about visiting this colorful city? Let us know in the comments below!
