3-Wheeler from Santa Elena and other Flores, Guatemala Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Motorcycle
Getting TO/AROUND: Flores is so small that foot transportation is really the best way to get around in the pueblo, but after a hike around Santa Elena, a ride back across the causeway can save the feet from exhaustion. There are running around Santa Elena these three wheel motorcycle vehicles, recently imported from Asia. Bargain for the price and hold on. I can't recall what we paid, but I'm sure that it was a few dollars at most. It was either this, or wait for the old school bus to go by. The one we rode in was virtually new, but the owner had some problems with the gas line, as I recall. Three average sized people can squeeze into the backseat, but prepare for the low overhead. These drivers aren't dare devils though.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: After crossing the river border at Bethel, a bus departs at about 3pm for Flores and ultimately heads for Guatemala City. Be sure to check the schedule in advance when you arrive in Bethel because this is the only bus, and an overnight stay in Bethel is likely to mean camping as I didn't see any hotels of any kind. The old bus will load mostly locals, and we saw turkeys being loaded into a fumey compartment near the engine. As the bus works its five hour bumpy ride toward Flores it fills up with passengers so that by the time it arrives in Flores/Santa Elena, the bus is full of passengers. There are very few tourists on this route, making this a true adventure tour. Even so, the seats were reasonably comfortable and the view out toward the flatlands of the Peten not unpleasant even after the sun had set. Each pueblo stop was a cause for great excitement and for food vendors to display their fruits and snacks. The ticket price is the equivalent of $8- as I recall. Don't try to get reservations in advance as there is not formal bus station in Bethel. The bus will arrive in Santa Elena, and from there one can either walk or take a taxi. We choose to walk as the taxi drivers wanted sizeable sums for a rather short distance. If one chooses, a passenger can stay on this bus and continue to Guatemala City, an additional six hours or so, as I recall.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: In Santa Elena, near the market, there is a minivan stop where passengers can board and wait to depart. When the van is loaded with passengers and cargo, it departs. These minivans are generally in good repair and the proprietary drivers sensible about their driving. Most drivers are sensible about the arrangement of rooftop cargo, but if you are hoisting your backpack up there, I'd watch to make sure it's reasonably placed among the many other types of boxes and bags strapped in. It may be possible to pay for an extra seat if bringing the backpack inside, but otherwise trying to insist that anything larger than a purse or daypack be part of the cramped passenger quarters will be regarded as a nuisance to the locals that regularly use this service. From Flores/Santa Elena minivans depart for the east bank of Rio Passion, where small boats shuttle passengers across to pueblo Sayaxche. This was about a $5- ride, as I recall. Waiting minivans fill up and head to Coban and other places in the Mayan Highlands, another $5- or so. These vans are loaded with locals, and tourists are rare. For transportation to Tikal, make arrangements at your hotel the day before. Tikal destine tourist vans are considerably more expensive because they are almost exclusively dedicated for tourist service and provide a round-trip ride. Expect to pay several times the cost of an equivalent distance minivan ride elsewhere, but it's still fairly cheap and not a financial impediment, except for the downride stingy.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS) is the only International Airport in Guatemala, aside from the one in Guatemala City. The airport is quite near Flores, located a little more than a mile from the causeway. TACA and TAG airlines have daily flights between Guatemala City and Flores, but are reportedly frequently delayed in either direction. Mayan Island Air and Tropic Air have regular service from Belize City. TACA and Mexicana fly from Cancun. Continental flew from Houston, Texas once a week, but this service is reportedly suspended. There are shuttle vans direct for Tikal from the airport, and many tourists coming through the airport skip Flores altogether in their hurry to get to the ruins. This is a mistake in my view for a number of reasons, but you choose what you want to do.

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