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| > practical information : travel in Guatemala | el peten | tikal | |||||||||
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HOW TO GET THERE
Most major U.S., Canadian and European airlines have regular flights to Cancun (Mexico), Guatemala City and Belize City (Belize). Continental Airlines has recently inaugurated twice-weekly flights betweeen Houston and Flores (Tikal), with connections to major cities in the U.S. and Canada.
There are daily flights to Flores from Guatemala City, Belize City and Cancun. There is also good bus service between these cities. Transportation between Flores, San José, San Andrés and other nearby towns is available by bus, mini-bus and boat. There are several car rental agencies in the Flores/Santa Elena area.VISA
Travellers from the U.S., Canada and most European countries do not need visas for Guatemala, Mexico or Belize. Tourist permits of up to 90 days are provided upon arrival. If in doubt, consult the nearest Guatemalan embassy or consulate. Visitors in transit to Guatemala via Mexico and Belize must pay exit taxes. In Mexico, the tax is 210 pesos ; in Belize, it is US$35 (by air) and US$15 (by land).
CLIMATE
The climate in the Petén is tropical and generally humid. As a result of climate change, the rainy season has become unpredictable. Normally the rainiest months are from June to November; on average, storms last between a half hour and 2 hours, as opposed to the torrential storms in certain other tropical countries that can last several days. During the rest of the year, sunny weather prevails, and the average daytime temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius. The hottest months are March to July.
NATURAL DISASTERS
There are no volcanoes in the Petén region, nor are there earthquakes (very rarely there have been slight, almost imperceptible tremors). As for hurricanes, the region is several hundred kilometres from the Caribbean coast, and the occasional hurricanes that hit Belize and Honduras lose their force as they touch land; the Maya Mountains along the border between Belize and the Petén also protect the region against these phenomena. Hurricane Stan (October 2005), which caused considerable damage in the Mexican states of Veracruz, Oaxaca and Chiapas, as well as the south and southwest of Guatemala (Pacific coast), had no impact at all on the Petén.
VACCINATION, HEALTH
Consult your doctor or travel clinic for recommended vaccinations.
Private andas public clinics and hospitals, as well as competent dentists and optometrists are available in Flores/Santa Elena. Basic public clinics exist in San José and San Andrés. It is recommended that travellers obtain an adequate health insurance policy prior to departure.CURRENCIES, BANKS
The Quetzal is Guatemala's national currency. The exchange rate as of mid-2005 is 7.5 quetzales per US$.
Certain banks in the Flores/Santa Elena area change travellers cheques (US$, Euros), and some provide cash advances on major credit cards. As of the summer of 2005, there is a Banrural branch in San José. Some hotels and restaurants in Flores/Santa Elena accept credit cards.COMMUNICATION
There are approximately a dozen internet cafés in Flores and Santa Elena ; rates average slightly over US$1 per hour.
All towns have public telephones, and call cards as well as pre-paid cell phones are available. It is possible to make collect calls to North America and most European countries.page update on January 4th, 2008 / © Placements Casa Américas, inc.