Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MEXICAN BORDER (CHIAPAS & TABASCO)
Via Bethel/La Técnica & Frontera Coroza
Regular transportation service reaches the Mexican border at Bethel or La Técnica, on the eastern bank of the Río
Usumacinta, from where there is regular ferry service to Frontera Corozal on the Mexican bank. Guatemalan im-
migration is in Bethel, but the crossing is quicker and much cheaper from La Técnica (Q10 per person). Microbus
drivers will normally stop and wait for you to do the formalities in Bethel before proceeding to La Técnica.
Autotransporte Chamoán vans run hourly from Frontera Corozal
embarcadero
(wharf) to Palenque (M$100,
2½ to three hours), with the last departure at 3pm.
To visit the Maya ruins at Yaxchilán on the Mexican side of the river, Escudo Jaguar runs boats from M$950 to
M$1300 (five to 10 people), round trip, with a two-hour wait at the ruins.
Via El Ceibo/La Palma
Further north, travelers may enter the Mexican state of Tabasco via a recently opened border post by El Ceibo, a
village on the Río San Pedro. Immigration posts operate on both sides of the border from 9am to 6pm. From the
Mexican side, taxis shuttle travelers to the terminal for buses to Tenosique, Tabasco (M$35, one hour, hourly 6am
to 5pm), from where minibuses leave for Palenque (M$50, two hours) until 7pm.
Getting There & Around
El Petén's main tourism node is at the twin towns of Flores and Santa Elena, about 60km
southwest of Tikal. The main roads to Flores (from Río Dulce to the southeast, from
Cobán and Chisec to the southwest, from the Belize border to the east and from the Mex-
ican border to the northwest) are now all paved and in good condition, except for a few
short stretches. Frequent buses and minibuses carry travelers along these routes. Santa
Elena also has the only functioning civil airport in the country aside from Guatemala City.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Sayaxché
POP 13,700 / ELEV 133M
Sayaxché, on the south bank of the Río de la Pasión, 61km southwest of Flores, is the
closest town to around 10 scattered Maya archaeological sites, including Ceibal, Ag-
uateca, Dos Pilas, Tamarindito and Altar de Sacrificios. Besides its strategic position
between Flores and the Cobán area, it has a riverside appeal all its own, with rickety mo-
torboats and funky barges regularly floating passengers and trucks across the broad water-
way till sundown (pedestrian Q2, car Q15).
