Tikal tour from Guatemala City: Flight, park entry & guide

Ancient Mayan city in the jungle, reached by plane and explored on foot

A full-day tour of Tikal National Park departing from Guatemala City with round-trip airfare, ground transport, park entry and a certified guide in English or Spanish. The itinerary includes a 1.5-hour bus ride through Petén to the ruins, time climbing pyramids and walking forest trails, lunch at a restaurant inside the park, and the same-day return flight. Shared transportation requires a minimum of four passengers. Private transport is available at additional cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Flight and Tikal National Park Tour

• Arrive at La Aurora International Airport
• Fly to Mundo Maya International Airport
• Travel by bus to Tikal National Park
• Explore pyramids and temples
• Have lunch inside Tikal National Park
• Return by bus to Mundo Maya International Airport
• Fly back to Guatemala City

The experience

You start at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, where your flight tickets arrive by email before departure. A 1-hour flight takes you to Mundo Maya International Airport in Petén, where the tour operator's staff meets you at arrivals. From there, a 1.5-hour bus ride carries you through the jungle to Tikal National Park: the largest prehispanic settlement in Guatemala, with a population that once reached 100,000 people.

At Tikal, a certified guide leads you through the ruins on foot. You climb pyramids and temples to see the forest canopy from above, walk among ball courts and palaces, and move through the jungle surrounded by monkeys, birds and tree species the Mayans knew. The guide explains how the city functioned and why it mattered to the civilization that built it. After the trekking, you rest and eat lunch at a restaurant inside the park: a meal without beverages. The return journey mirrors the arrival: 1.5 hours by bus back to Mundo Maya, then a flight home to Guatemala City.

The tour runs 15 to 17 hours total, door to door. Round-trip airfare is included, though it covers one personal item only. Checked luggage or a higher-tier ticket requires an additional fee. Shared transportation departs from Guatemala City and needs at least four passengers to operate. If the minimum is not met, the operator contacts you to arrange private transport for a surcharge. A valid passport is required on the day of travel.

What’s included

• Round-trip airfare from Guatemala City to Petén.
• round-trip ground transport by bus from the airport to Tikal National Park.
• entry to Tikal National Park.
• a certified guide in English or Spanish.
• lunch at a restaurant inside the park.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tikal Tour - No Shuttle IncludedGuide in English or Spanish · 04:00This is the basic tour option, where you meet at La Aurora International Airport to start the tour. No shuttle is included.

With shuttle includedGuide in English or Spanish · 04:00Pickup and drop-off at your hotel

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 04:00

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Guat2do Travel Experiences

Is this one for you?Book with shuttle included if you're arriving in Guatemala City without a rental car or prefer not to drive. The operator arranges all ground transport from the airport. Choose without shuttle if you're already in Petén or have your own transport to the park entrance.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is Tikal National Park and why is it important?

Tikal is an ancient Mayan city in the jungle of Petén, Guatemala, and the largest prehispanic settlement in the country. UNESCO declared it a Natural and Cultural Humanity Heritage site in 1979. At its height, the city held around 100,000 people and featured temples, pyramids, ball courts and palaces that reveal how the Mayan civilization organized itself and thrived.

How much time do I actually spend at the ruins versus traveling?

The full day runs 15 to 17 hours from Guatemala City. You spend 1 hour flying to Petén, 1.5 hours by bus to the park, then several hours trekking and climbing the pyramids and temples with your guide before lunch. The return journey takes 1.5 hours by bus and 1 hour flying back to the city.

What happens if fewer than four passengers book this tour?

Shared transportation requires a minimum of four passengers to depart. If the minimum is not met, the operator contacts you to discuss upgrading to private transportation for an additional fee, or you can arrange an alternative date.

What does the airfare include and what costs extra?

Round-trip airfare from Guatemala City to Petén is included in the tour price. The ticket covers one personal item only. Checked luggage or an upgrade to a higher-priced ticket with more availability incurs an additional cost, which you can arrange at checkout or before travel.

Will I see wildlife in the jungle at Tikal?

Yes. The jungle surrounding Tikal is home to monkeys, birds and various tree species. You will encounter them as you walk the forest trails and climb the pyramids, which offer views over the jungle canopy.