Tikal Day Tour

Pickup bus was an hour late during which we were unable to contact the tour company. Hour's journey to the site was pleasant enough but interrupted by a 30 minute stop at a souvenir shop on the way. At the sight all English speakers from the multiple busses were grouped together to follow one guide who took us through various jungle wildlife paths to the various temples. We saw maybe half the sight during the day starting with the largest pyramid and ending up at the main plaza sight. Explanations of usage and history were provided for the various sights, as was an insight into the wildlife. The day ends with an included lunch group was split between a location in the jungle and the souvenir shop we stopped at on the way in. This was OK and the extra drinks were a few dollars each. Note that the sight, and they optional pyramid climbs, could be taxing if the temperatures were over 40 Celsius common in the summer, or if the sight was a mud bath due to the rain it sometimes gets. Overall the men in the group felt the time spent at the central plaza was insufficient, and that we would have seen more pyramids and less wildlife given the choice navigating by our own maps. The women in the group were generally satisfied with the mix. Hour's return drive was direct to our hotels and didn't require a stop at the airport as the groups had been split out. Is worth noting that where as those of us in local hotels got picked up at 8am, those flying in from Guatemala City had 4am starts.

The site is fantastic. The tour was very well organized. The guide.... could be better.