Were We Glad for This! and other Parque Nacional Tikal, Guatemala Hotel/Accommodation Reviews

Our original plan for visiting Tikal had been to find cheaper accommodations in or around El Remate, the small village located about 30 miles from the Mayan temples in the National Park and then to try to arrange transportation in. However, given our time constraints and lack of Spanish, we decided to cut out the complications and head straight for the centre of the NP, taking our chances on finding accommodations in one of the three hotels located there. On our late-morning arrival, our mini-van took us first to the Jaguar Inn (they were full but had covered hammocks and tent sites available for about US$7), then the Tikal Inn a couple of hundred feet away (also full) and finally to the Jungle Lodge. We were in luck here, because they had spare double rooms with shared bath facilities going for US$40, credit cards accepted (Note: a 5% surcharge is applied to all credit card payments)!

Unique Qualities: The Jungle Lodge is actually the hotel closest to the trail leading into the Mayan temple site and it consists of 50 rooms situated on lush tropical grounds. I was totally amazed at the quality of the buildings and grounds that we suddenly found ourselves in! There are a number of separate bungalows spread around the property as well as the row of cheaper double rooms that we managed to get ahold of. The shared bath was very plush, separate rooms for 'Girls' and 'Boys' with tiled floors, very nice sinks, big mirrors, clean toilets - couldn't ask for anything better.

The hotel also had a spacious dining room with attached bar (see my 'Restaurant' tips) which also accepted credit card payments - lucky because I only brought a limited amount of Quetzales (7.6 Q = 1 US$) with us. Our room had two separate beds and a ceiling fan to help the louvered windows with the cooling. Because the hotel is located in the middle of the jungle, along with everything else at Tikal, power is supplied by a diesel generator from a nearby research lab and is switched off between 10 PM and 6 AM. Note: on the 'Other' contact email address below add a ".com" on the end - VT does not allow enough space for the full goods!

Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$20-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 502/476-8775
Address: Tikal National Park, Guatemala
Directions: One of three hotels located at the central area of Tikal National Park, only a 10 minute walk from the entrance to the Mayan temples.
Other Contact: reservaciones@junglelodge.guate.

With our late morning arrival at the Jungle Lodge, two long afternoon walks to the temples, darkness by 6:30 PM, another morning walk and then check-out before 1 PM, we did not have a great deal of time available for a proper look around our choice of accommodations. It was therefore with some regret that we discovered this beautiful hotel swimming pool as we waited for our return mini-bus ride back to Belize! Never even got to dip our feet in!

We did however enjoy sitting out on the chairs in front of our little room. It was nice to stare out into the jungle, watch the Oscellated Turkeys (at first, I half-wondered if they were Peacocks) as they strolled past and we could also hear the echoing crys of the male Black Howler Monkeys in the tree-tops as they staked out their territorial claims.

The Jungle Lodge was great for us!


Leave a Comment

Theme: Hotel