Travel advisory · GuatemalaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Guatemala.The warnings cover only these areas: 5 km strip along the Mexican border, Guatemala City, Zone 11, Guatemala City, Zone 12, Guatemala City, Zone 18, Guatemala City, Zone 19, Guatemala City, Zone 21, Guatemala City, Zone 24, Guatemala City, Zone 3, Guatemala City, Zone 5, Guatemala City, Zone 6, Guatemala City, Zone 7, Guatemala City, Zone 8, Huehuetenango Department, Izabal Department, La Democracia, Mixco, Petén Department, San Antonio Huista, San Marcos Department, Santa Ana Huista, Villa Nueva.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- 5 km strip along the Mexican border · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, New Zealand, UK
- Guatemala City, Zone 11 · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 12 · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 18 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy, US
- Guatemala City, Zone 19 · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 21 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 24 · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 3 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 5 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 6 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, France, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 7 · avoid non-essential travel · Canada, Spain, Italy
- Guatemala City, Zone 8 · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- Huehuetenango Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy, US
- Izabal Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- La Democracia · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
- Mixco · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy
- Petén Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy
- San Antonio Huista · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
- San Marcos Department · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, Italy, US
- Santa Ana Huista · avoid non-essential travel · New Zealand, UK
- Villa Nueva · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France, Italy, US
Also named by one government: Areas around active volcanoes (Germany), Agua Caliente border with Honduras (Canada), Alta Verapaz Department (Italy), Anguiatu border with El Salvador (Canada), Chiquimula Department (Italy), El Carmen border with Mexico (Canada), El Ceibo border with Mexico (Canada), El Corinto border with Honduras (Canada), El Florido border with Honduras (Canada), Escuintla Department (Spain), Guatemala City, Zone 1 (Canada), Guatemala City, Zone 13 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 17 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 20 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 22 (Italy), Guatemala City, Zone 23 (Italy), Ixchiguán (Italy), La Hachadura border with El Salvador (Canada), La Mesilla border with Mexico (Canada), Melchor de Mencos border with Belize (Canada), Quetzaltenango Department (Italy), San Cristobal border with El Salvador (Canada), San José (Escuintla Department) (Canada), San Pedro Ayampuc (Guatemala Department) (Canada), Siquinilá (Escuintla Department) (Canada), Tajumulco (Italy), Tecun Uman border with Mexico (Canada), Tiquisate (Escuintla Department) (Canada), Villa Canales (Guatemala Department) (Canada)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider travel | Mar 12, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Besondere Vorsicht walten lassen; keine generelle Reisewarnung (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | High Degree of Caution | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | vigilance renforcée (en jaune) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Tikal National Park
A Maya city of temples rising above the rainforest, with monkeys and toucans along the trails.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Tikal is the ruined city of an ancient Maya civilization, set in rainforest in Guatemala's Petén Department. It was one of the largest Maya cities, and its temples still rise above the forest canopy. Temple IV is the tallest pyramid, about 70 meters from the plaza to the top of its roof comb. The Great Plaza sits between the North Acropolis and the Central Acropolis.
The park was created by government decree on 26 May 1955 to protect the ancient city and the forest around it, and UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site in 1979. Visitors regularly see coatis, spider monkeys and howler monkeys, and more than 300 bird species have been recorded. The site is about 303 km (188 miles) north of Guatemala City. Flores and Santa Elena are about 64 km (40 miles) away by road to the southwest. The park sits on limestone, so bring your own drinking water. Expect heat and humidity year-round, with daytime highs of about 28 to 35 °C. Check entry fees and opening hours with the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Guatemala before you travel.
Tikal National Park in five
- Go at openingMorning is cooler, and the monkeys and birds are most active before the tour groups arrive.
- Sunrise needs an extra ticketEntry before regular opening, for sunrise from Temple IV, needs a separate ticket and a guide. Book it through your lodge or a tour.
- Hire a guide at the entranceThe site is large and spread out. A licensed guide helps you find the main plazas and the wildlife.
- Carry water and cashThere are few shops inside, distances are long and the heat builds by noon.
Things to do in Tikal National Park
See all attractions in Tikal National Park
Need to know
- Entrance
- Foreign-visitor fee in quetzales; sunrise costs extra
- Permits
- Sunrise and sunset visits need a separate ticket and a guide
- Season
- Open all year; drier from about February to May
- Nearest town
- Flores, about 1–1.5 hours; El Remate is closer
- Getting there
- Flights from Guatemala City to Flores (FRS), about 1 hour
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Dry, coolerJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh30°Low18°DryFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 35 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- MarchPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh33°Low19°Dry, hotMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh35°Low21°Hot, dryAprilPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 38 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh35°Low22°HottestMayPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Rains startJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 210 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JulyRain17 rainy daysHigh33°Low22°ShowersJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- AugustRain20 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low22°ShowersAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 154 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Showers
- SeptemberRain25 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Heavy rainSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 203 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heavy rain
- OctoberRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°RainyOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 210 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- NovemberRain16 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°Rain easingNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 136 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain easing
- DecemberRain14 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Dry, coolerDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler
Average daily high and low in Tikal, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Tikal National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
32
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 42%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 39%
Tikal National Park
03:14 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today31°21°39%Monday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 39%.
- Tue31°21°27%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 27%.
- Wed32°21°43%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Thu31°21°41%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Fri32°21°35%Friday: Fog. High 32°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Sat31°21°45%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Sun31°21°53%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 53%.
Updated 11:14 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 7.656 GTQ
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Tikal National Park
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Tikal National Park, checked
- Stay on marked trails. Several venomous snakes live in the park, including the terciopelo (Bothrops asper), so watch where you step.
- Carry your own drinking water. The park sits on limestone, so surface water is scarce.
- Tikal is a protected area, so do not damage the ruins or the wildlife.
- Check current entry fees, opening hours and visitor rules with the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Guatemala before you travel.
Plan around Tikal National Park
Regions, entry rules, safety and money
Read the guideSan Ignacio, BelizeCross the border for the Cayo district
Read the guideGuatemala CityWhere the flights to Flores start
Read the guideAntigua GuatemalaThe colonial base near Guatemala City
Read the guideEntry rules for GuatemalaCheck borders if you arrive from Belize
Read the guideInsurance for GuatemalaCover for jungle heat and remote travel
Read the guideTikal National Park FAQ
How do I get to Tikal?
Fly from Guatemala City to Flores in about an hour, then drive about 1–1.5 hours. From Belize, cross at Benque Viejo via San Ignacio.
Is the Tikal sunrise tour worth it?
For wildlife and the jungle waking up, yes. The sunrise itself is often hidden by mist, so go for the sounds as much as the view.
How long do I need at Tikal?
A full day covers the main plazas and temples. Stay a night near the park or in El Remate to be there at opening.
Is Tikal better than Chichén Itzá?
They are different. Tikal is a forest city of tall temples and wildlife in a quiet national park; Chichén Itzá is a single famous pyramid and reached as a long day trip from Cancún. Choose Tikal for jungle atmosphere.
Where should I stay for Tikal?
Flores is a lake island town with restaurants and easy flights from Guatemala City. El Remate is closer to the park and quieter; lodges inside the park give the earliest start but cost more.