Town · Guatemala · Central America
A small lake island and the usual base for visiting Tikal
Photo: Kevin Escobar Villeda / Pexels
Flores is a compact island town on Lake Petén Itzá in northern Guatemala, linked to the mainland by a causeway. Backpackers use it as the base for day trips to the Maya ruins of Tikal, about 65 km away.
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Best for: Walking everywhere and lake views
The island is the old centre, with narrow streets, small restaurants, lakeside terraces and tour agencies close together. Staying here means you can walk to the jetties, the plaza and most places to eat. The island is small, so some rooms are close to bars and restaurants and can be noisy in the evening. Check whether the location suits your plans.
Best for: Bus connections and practical stops
Santa Elena is on the mainland shore, across the causeway from the island, and is where much of the everyday business of the area takes place, including shops, banks and long-distance bus services. Hostels here suit early departures. It is a short taxi ride or walk across the causeway to the island, and the feel is more local and less polished than Flores itself.
Best for: A quieter lakeside base closer to Tikal
El Remate is a small village on the eastern shore of Lake Petén Itzá, on the road towards Tikal, so it is closer to the ruins than the island is. It has a rural, laid-back atmosphere, with lake views and little nightlife. It suits travellers who want an early start at Tikal and do not mind having fewer restaurants and bars around.
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Flores sits on a small island in Lake Petén Itzá, in the department of Petén, and is connected to Santa Elena on the shore by a short causeway. The official Guatemalan tourism board describes it as compact, walkable and relaxed, with colourful streets, lakeside terraces and sunset views. You can walk around the whole island in a short time, which makes it easy to get your bearings on arrival.
Most travellers come for Tikal, the Maya city in the rainforest, which the tourism board places about 65 km from Flores or Santa Elena, roughly one to one and a half hours by road. Tikal was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1979. Daily excursions run from the island, and many people choose a dawn visit, when there are fewer visitors and howler monkeys are most active.
The lake and the wider Petén region offer more than one outing. Boat trips, kayaking and swimming spots near villages such as San Andrés and El Remate are all possible, and Yaxhá and Uaxactún can be reached on day excursions. Hostels in the area suit people breaking up a long overland journey between Guatemala and Belize, or flying in for a few days of ruins. Read official UK travel advice before you plan routes in Petén.
Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS) serves Flores and Santa Elena and is a few minutes from the island by road. The official tourism board notes daily flights from Guatemala City taking about an hour. Overland, the road from Guatemala City to Flores typically takes around 8 to 10 hours, and tourist shuttles and long-distance buses also link the area with Belize and the Guatemalan highlands. Official UK travel advice warns about armed robberies on tourist routes to Tikal and Petén and advises against public buses, so read it before choosing transport. From the island, taxis and shuttles reach Tikal.
The climate is tropical year-round. The dry season, roughly November to April, is generally considered the most comfortable time to visit and gives better trail conditions at Tikal. The green season, from May to October, is wetter, with a greener jungle atmosphere and fewer visitors, and official UK travel advice notes that rainy-season flooding and landslides can disrupt routes in Guatemala. Temperatures typically range from around 24 °C to 32 °C.
Tikal is about 65 km from Flores or Santa Elena, according to Guatemala’s official tourism board, and the journey typically takes around one to one and a half hours by road, depending on transport and stops. Many visitors take a shuttle or organised tour from Flores, and some choose a dawn visit when fewer people are at the ruins.
Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS) is a few minutes from Flores and receives daily flights from Guatemala City taking about an hour. By road, the journey from Guatemala City typically takes around 8 to 10 hours. Official UK travel advice warns about robberies on tourist routes in Petén and advises against public buses, so read it before you plan an overland trip.
Many backpackers spend two to four days around Flores. That gives time for a Tikal day trip, a wander around the island and perhaps a boat trip on Lake Petén Itzá. The tourism board suggests two to four days in the area. Add extra days if you want to visit Yaxhá or Uaxactún, which are also reached on day excursions.
The dry season, roughly November to April, is generally considered the best time, with better trail conditions at Tikal. The green season from May to October is wetter but greener and quieter. Official UK travel advice notes that rainy-season flooding and landslides can disrupt travel routes, so check conditions before you go and allow some flexibility in your plans.
Yes. Flores sits on a small island in Lake Petén Itzá, in northern Guatemala, and is connected to Santa Elena on the mainland by a short causeway. The island is compact and walkable, with lakeside terraces and small streets. Many hostels are on the island itself, while others are in Santa Elena or in lakeside villages such as El Remate.
Flores is a stop on The Central America Gringo Trail: Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Reviewed by the HostelConnect editorial team on 8 November 2026. Check entry rules, transport and conditions with official sources before you travel.
