San Ignacio
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Tikal Day Trip with Local Lunch from San Ignacio

San Ignacio, Belize

From USD 145.00

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travellers

Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
San Ignacio Tours
All San Ignacio Tours
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Private and Luxury
  • 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Hotel pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Visit the incredible ancient city of Tikal on this day trip from San Ignacio. Once a powerful city center during the Mayan period, today Tikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws scores of visitors each year. Your professional guide takes you across the border into Tikal National Park in Guatemala, and leads you on a fascinating tour of the archaeological complex. Round-trip transport from your San Ignacio hotel and all park fees are included.
  • Day trip to Tikal from San Ignacio
  • Visit Tikal National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Tour the ruins of Tikal with a professional and informative guide
  • Learn about the Mayans who built one of the largest archaeological sites of the pre-Columbian world
  • Round-trip hotel transport by comfortable coach included

What's Included

  • Local guide
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off within San Ignacio town limits
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities
  • Departure tax fee (US$ 19 per person, due on day of travel)
  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off outside San Ignacio town limits

Meeting And Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

  • 6 Far W St
    6 Far W St, San Ignacio, Belize

    Ground floor of Elviras Building by Ervas Restaurant

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

07:00 am

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

We provide complimentary pick up from hotels within San Ignacio town limits, for hotels outside of town, a small surcharge applies.

What To Expect

Visit one of the largest and most important Mayan sites in all of Central America. Your professional guide will pick you up at your San Ignacio hotel for the drive to Tikal National Park. You will be assisted in all border crossing procedures to enter Guatemala safely. Be sure to bring your passport.

Once inside the park, let your imagination run free as you explore highlights among more than 3,000 structures that archaeologists have excavated so far. Learn about daily life and religious practices of the ancient Mayans while wandering through the maze of the Central Acropolis, and envision the excitement of an elite sporting match in the ball courts.

Tikal boasts an array of magnificent ceremonial temples. Climb the steep staircase of the 144-foot (44-meter) Temple of the Grand Jaguar, built to honor a Mayan king. A set of twin pyramids with altars will greet you at complexes Q and R. Marvel at the Temple of the Masks, which was once adorned with intricate ceremonial mask carvings. Perhaps most impressive is the oft-photographed Temple IV, also known as the Double Head Serpent.

After a refreshing lunch break inside the park, satisfy your inner archaeologist during free time when you can explore the ruins independently. Your guide will then take you back to Belize and drop you off at your San Ignacio hotel.

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • It is recommended you wear comfortable clothes and walking shoes
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
  • Note: departure tax fee is due on day of travel in cash
  • Please note: a minimum of 2 passengers is required in order for this tour to operate. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Hotel pick up and drop off included in pricing is for hotels within San Ignacio town limits. For hotels outside of San Ignacio a surcharge applies
  • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

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Traveller Tips

A very hot day with lots of walking so don’t forget water and comfortable shoes.
Its a long ride from Belize but it is well worth the drive.
Reviews
5.0
137 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travellers.
Showing 1-10 of 137 reviews
Awesome
Tom_O, Feb 2023
This was fantastic, our guide Marco was the nicest guy, very knowledgeable and just an absolute joy to spend the day with.
Excellent, Informative trip to Tikal
Priscilla_W, Feb 2023
Our tour guide, Willy, was the absolute best!! So knowledgeable about the Mayans and the people of Guatemala and Belize. The excursion itself was also great. Making the trek up all of the stairs to the tops of the temples is a MUST. The views are outstanding of the rain forest canopy with the temples popping out. The traditional lunch was also delicious. You can watch the young lady making the tortillas from scratch. I had the mushroom chicken and my husband had the pork chops. I would definitely recommend this excursion. And I do not think you have to have an inner nerdy anthropologist like me to enjoy it!
All around great experience
Megan_G, Feb 2023
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the ruins. He provided our group with the perfect balance of guided tour mixed with ample opportunities to explore on our own. The experience was well run, even going through customs from belize into Guatemala was executed seamlessly. I would highly recommend this experience for everyone.
Fabulous day & a great guide
KerrBacchus, Feb 2023
This trip was so much fun. The ride from San Ignacio was fine, and the border crossing was easy. i never felt unsafe or unsure of what to expect. We were transferred to a Guatemalan guide on the other side of the border and our group was lucky enough to get Willy. Willy was incredibly knowledgeable and very friendly. We made a stop to a nice gift shop with a model of Tikal, which was very helpful to visualize when you got to the site. Tikal was amazing with all its beauty and history. There were quite a few tour groups, but ours was small enough that you never felt left behind. I'm sure we didn't even see half of the site, but it felt comprehensive. On the return trip, Willy went out of his way to stop so we could explore a beautiful cemetery we'd seen on the way there. A true highlight! Then Willy really went out his way to arrange a stop at his parent's bakery (wish I had gotten the name!) on the way back to San Ignacio where he and my travel buddy surprised me with a delicious dulce-de-leche cake for my birthday - candle and all. It was a truly great way to spend the day, and Willy is the best!
Amazing and a small snafu.
Sarah_R, Feb 2023
There was a mix up in where we were being picked up, so I recommend you call ahead to confirm. We went to Elvira’s to meet our driver but the tour company is no longer there due to COVID. However once we got to the Guatemala side our driver Luis and our guide Ronald were amazing!! They got us to Tikal fast and safely. Ronald studied archaeology in university and had so much to share about the history and architecture of Tikal. He also let us take our time. Got dropped off back on the Belize side with no ride but that got sorted too. Note that the phone number for Belize Family Adventure on the website is wrong. Would 100% recommend except for the confusion on the Belize side.
Do this!
David_P, Jan 2023
The guide was excellent. The ruins were awesome. Take tome to climb the buildings. Nothing else to add.
Excellent excursion....
Philip_P, Jan 2023
Excellent excursion. Border crossings between Belize and Guatemala were super easy. Guide at Tikal was experienced and knowledgeable!
Fantastic tour!
Michael_P, Dec 2022
Fantastic tour with Willy! Very knowledgeable, on time, and always felt safe. Would very much recommend.
great trip to a great site
jason_h, Aug 2022
Great day trip from San Ignacio. This was my second time visiting Tikal and it's one of my favorite places. We had to get dropped off at the border and walk across but the process went smoothly. Our guide in Guatemala was fantastic. The whole trip was worthwhile.
FABULOUS day trip to Tikal with Luis 😀
Seth_D, Aug 2022
Our day was FABULOUS starting with Edgar who drove us to the border, he was so friendly and professional and we had a great ride with him there ( and back ). Once we got through customs etc at the border Adexx and Luis were there to take us on our day trip adventure to Tikal!! We stopped for an amazing breakfast, then at a local shop for some goodies and then we were on our way to Tikal. Luis was AMAZING…. Best guide ever and he knew EVERYONE there. He was soooo knowledgeable and kept us up on all there was to know, a wonderful and great person we are happy to now know 😀. Adexx got us to and from safely and we giggled about some things along the way! The day was WAY more great then we had even expected!! Would HIGHLY recommend this company and their amazing staff‼️
Tikal = a great experience!
Tim_G, July 2022
Our tour guide was Luis. He was super knowledgeable and brought local knowledge as well as that of the Mayan culture, the Tikal site and much more. It was a very fulfilling day. We had fun, experienced the local cuisine for lunch (and a breakfast bonus at a local spot - we had to pay but it was fantastic). The site is an incredible perspective of the civilization they built. We understood why it is a UNESCO World Heritage site!
Mayan Ruins and a Beautiful Country
skye_h, July 2022
This was an amazing trip through a beautiful country. Guatemala was beautiful, and seeing Tikal was a highlight of our trip to Belize. Do this trip, you will not regret it! Guide was knowledgeable and we learned so much.
Great tour
Tamsyn_B, Apr 2022
Our guide Marco was very insightful and we really enjoyed our time at Tikal. The whole tour went smoothly. The lunch at the end of the tour was great. Highly recommended! It’s worth noting that you may want to get some Guatemalan currency if you want to get souvenirs as USD isn’t as widely accepted as it is in Belize.
A must do when in San Ignacio
Thomas_B, Apr 2022
We had a wonderful day trip to Tikal with Belize Family Adventures. Our guide, Mariela, was just phenomenal. She took great care of us, from the Belize-Guatemala border all the way to Tikal (including a stop for a great Guatemalan coffee break) and back. She was very knowledgeable about Mayan history, the Tikal dynasties and anything related to the site, the discoveries, the traditions and the Mayan gods. She took the time to answer all the questions from the group, always with a smile and a great sense of humour. She gave us all the time we wanted to explore around, climb the pyramids, admire the beauty all around us… We had an amazing glimpse into the Mayan world and culture and strongly recommend this tour!
Exceptional guide
Peter_S, Apr 2022
An exceptional guide brings history to life. Our guide, Marco, offered many insights into the Mayan culture, beliefs, and history, including reasons for the the designs of the temples and a sense of everyday life throughout the period. He let us take it at our pace and seemed to sense whatever level of detail would be just right. Belize Family Adventures arranged seamless transportation from San Ignacio to Tikal and back, including the handoffs both ways at the border. The lunch was at a Tikal restaurant and was very good.
Great trip from San Ignacio to Tikal.
Ken_B, Mar 2022
We had an amazing day trip to Tikal. Our guide Maria was phenomenal and made the ruins come alive. A couple notes: the drive is about two hours but very scenic. Crossing the border was time consuming. Make sure you have money for crossing into Guatemala. Also during Covid, make sure you get tested 72 hours in advance. If not you could get tested at border, but it takes awhile. All in all, be patient. It’s well worth it!
Simply amazing!
Nicholas_U, Mar 2022
The process was very easy and our guide was wonderful! Tikal is an amazing place, so much more than we expected.
Best tour ever!
brady_f, Feb 2022
Mariella was the best tour guide! Very personable, knowledgeable, and thoughtful. We had a great a time on this tour and was definitely worth it. We highly recommend!!
A must see!
Jacqueline_R, Feb 2022
Amazing site. Rich history provided by our informative guide Mariella. Unbelievably vast archeological site. Astounding what these people built without beasts of burden or the wheel. Delicious lunch included.
Memory we will never forget
Brandy_H, Dec 2021
Our guides , Leo and Eduardo were amazing . Leo is very knowledgeable and obviously proud of his culture and the Mayan beliefs which made the tour interesting . The ruins themselves were just beautiful. The drive was a little hairy on a rainy day but it was a bonus adventure mudding .
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