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Tikal Private Tour: Explore Temples and Jungle Trails
5.0
18 Ratings
Melchor de Mencos
Discover Tikal’s wonders on a private tour from San Ignacio. Climb temples, explore jungle trails, and delve into history with a local expert.
Discover Tikal’s wonders on a private tour from San Ignacio. Climb temples, explore jungle trails, and delve into history with a local expert.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Melchor de Mencos - This tour takes you across the Western Belize–Guatemala border. Our team ensures a smooth border crossing experience. Initially, you will pay the Belize departure tax of USD 20 per person and receive an exit stamp in your passport. We will then assist you at the Guatemalan border, where you will obtain your entry stamp. The…
- Melchor de Mencos - This tour takes you across the Western Belize–Guatemala border. Our team ensures a smooth border crossing experience. Initially, you will pay the Belize departure tax of USD 20 per person and receive an exit stamp in your passport. We will then assist you at the Guatemalan border, where you will obtain your entry stamp. The entire border crossing process is completed in about 30 minutes.
- El Remate - After driving for about an hour within Guatemala, we will pause briefly to capture photos of Lake Petén Itzá, one of Guatemala’s three largest lakes.
- Tikal National Park - Following a total 2-hour drive from the border, you will reach Tikal National Park, where your guided tour will commence. A local expert guide will lead you through the main attractions of the Tikal Archaeological Site, including the Great Plaza with Temple I and Temple II, the North Acropolis, the Central Acropolis, Temple III, Temple IV, and the Lost World complex. You will have free time to climb selected temples and take photos from the best viewpoints, as suggested by your guide. While exploring the jungle trails, you might encounter local flora and wildlife, such as spider monkeys, howler monkeys, coatis, turkeys, toucans, and various bird species. After a guided tour lasting approximately 3.5 to 4 hours, it will be time to start the return journey.
- El Caoba - On the return trip from Tikal, we will drive for about 30 minutes to a local restaurant for the included lunch. You can choose from five menu options, including vegetarian and vegan choices, with one drink included. Relax and enjoy your meal served with handmade corn tortillas.
- Melchor de Mencos - After lunch, we will drive approximately 1.5 hours back to the border. Our team will assist you with the border crossing to return to Belize. No border fees are required for the return crossing.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Carbonated beverages
- Lunch
- Tikal Day Entrance Fee
- Private Guide
- Private transportation
- Carbonated beverages
- Lunch
- Tikal Day Entrance Fee
- Private Guide
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Belize Departure Tax, Melchor de Mencos
- Gratuities
- Belize Departure Tax, Melchor de Mencos
Additional Information
This exclusive day tour is designed for your group alone. Journey from San Ignacio, Belize to Tikal with comprehensive border assistance. Discover the site at a leisurely, customized pace with a dedicated local expert guide. The guide will lead you through jungle paths, narrate Tikal’s history and culture, assist in wildlife spotting, and guide you to…
This exclusive day tour is designed for your group alone. Journey from San Ignacio, Belize to Tikal with comprehensive border assistance. Discover the site at a leisurely, customized pace with a dedicated local expert guide. The guide will lead you through jungle paths, narrate Tikal’s history and culture, assist in wildlife spotting, and guide you to the most stunning viewpoints. The tour is enhanced with an included lunch and personalized service throughout the trip.
Location
Guatemala-Belize Border Custom
Free pickup is available within the San Ignacio Town area.
If you are staying at a resort, hotel, lodge, hostel, guesthouse, or Airbnb outside the free pickup area, please let us know your location and we will confirm whether it falls within our pickup range.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(18 Ratings)
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511shastar
Oct 30, 2025
Paco is the best! - We were lucky enough to have Paco drive us to/from the Belize border and Tikal. He was a month into learning English, but knew a heck of a lot more than he realized. He was able to answer all of our questions and pointed out everything he thought we'd like to see. He spotted spider monkeys, iguanas, coatimundis, and ocellated turkeys for us too. He made sure we smelled the allspice leaves and had the best time that we could have. He even went to get my dad some antacids when we stopped for souvenirs. We were in his care and he took his job seriously.
If you haven't been to Tikal from the border, there are a ton of giant potholes on the roads. He was able to safely and confidently avoid every single one. Paco said,"I have a license to drive on the moon" and he wasn't lying. I cannot recommend Paco enough. His assistance and guidance was the highlight of my week-long trip to the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grant_w
Sep 7, 2025
Best Day Tour in Years! - Can’t say enough about the day we spent experiencing the history and beauty of Tikal! Not one for group tours, we always try to do a private tour if possible, and especially in this case that made all the difference.
Great value for the price, especially given needing to be driven to the border of Guatemala, and then handed over to another driver, who then took us to the park where we met our guide. He asked us what we were most interested in seeing, and in this case, my son and I were trying to record the sounds of several particular animals for a project, and he went out of his way to ensure we went where others weren’t and where we could find some quiet to just listen. Nothing felt forced here, every minute was about us and our experience and the guide sharing his knowledge.
If we’d had the time, I would’ve gone back the next day and done the exact same thing because I know he would’ve been able to show us something completely different. This one is a keeper, don’t think twice about booking!
Review provided by Viator
Jack_d
Jul 26, 2025
Great day at Tikal - We loved our driver Paco and tour guide Luis.
Luis is the best tour guide and full of knowledge about the Mayan culture. He is one of the most extraordinary people we have ever met. Tikal is such a neat and an amazing place to see. After our tour we stopped for a nice lunch. It was really a great day and we are so glad we had Paco as our driver he was fun to talk to on our drive to and from Tikal.
Review provided by Viator
Maryannk
May 29, 2025
Fantastic tour! - Great tour! The provider was very prompt in answering questions prior to the tour. Pedro picked us up, took us to the border, and handed us off to Sergio the guide and our driver. They make the border crossing seamless. Sergio is a great guide and communicates practicalities well. For example, he explained how often there would be bathroom/water stops on the road and in the park. It was very hot even for Belize and we appreciated what a trooper Sergio was. He was mindful to keep us in the shade whenever possible. He is extremely knowledgeable about Tikal as well as the nature in the park. Lunch stop on the way back was quite delicious. It was a long, hot day but despite that it was a highlight of our trip. I strongly recommend using this tour provider if you was a well organized, high quality excursion.
Review provided by Viator
Jacobwx2239ww
Feb 28, 2025
Great Private Tour - Our driver from San Ignacio to the Guatemalan border was great…he was there waiting for us when we returned. The driver on the Guatemala side was also excellent, he was bilingual, funny and willing to stop anywhere for us. He had ice cold towels waiting for us after the tour in Tikal and made an extra stop on the way back, so we could try Gallo beer. Sergio the tour guide was fantastic…he shared his knowledge of the Mayan civilization, was patient with our child, and you can tell that he’s been a guide for 12+ years. Just a great guy to have as a guide. We saw toucans, howler monkeys and even a jaguar. Also, I almost forgot…lunch was amazing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K2892pdrickd
Feb 20, 2025
Don't hesitate—just do it! - Tikal is breathtaking! We had a wonderful private tour with our family, including our nearly two-year-old child. A special thanks to our guide, Louis, for making it an unforgettable experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Matt_t
Feb 17, 2025
Very Memorable - Amazing journey. Great guide with so much knowledge. Made it very easy. Highly recommend. Great views and stories.
Review provided by Viator
Andrea_c
Jan 4, 2025
Great trip! - Great trip! Tikal is amazing and the guys we traveled with made it easy and fun! The guided tour allowed us to make the most of the time and was super interesting!
Review provided by Viator
Companion59944415963
Dec 15, 2024
Bilingual, customer oriented, and passionate! - Hugo jr was both fantastic and knowledgeable. You could see his passion and love for the mayan culture and preserving its temples. From start to finish he offered facts and made sure we were well taken care of. We had the pleasure of being driven by el Jefe himself, and he made sure we were fed and stopped for souvenirs. 10/10 would recommend, and will definitely be returning!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Happiness11361006124
Dec 4, 2024
10/10 would recommend - Yumi was fantastic. Very hospitable and has a wealth of knowledge and would highly recommend her tour! She made sure that I had time to see everything I wanted to see and answered my many questions, and was a pleasure to spend the day with.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
