El Petén - Guatemala - page 474

Among the numerous options for bedding down here are palapas (thatched palm-leaf
shelters) for hanging hammocks, bungalows (single/double Q175/300) and 'treehouses'
(single/double Q80/120) - most of which are actually cabins on stilts. The large, grassy
camping area (per person Q30) has good bathrooms and plenty of shade. Assorted other
accommodations include a couple of dormitories (Q40) and rooms with shared (single/
double Q80/120) and private (single/double Q175/300) bathroom, all with fan, mosquito
nets and screened windows.
Meals are excellent, including an eat-all-you-like buffet dinner. Finca Ixobel has its
own bakery, grows its own salad ingredients and produces its own eggs. You can cook in
the campground if you bring your own supplies. After dinner many people move to the
poolside bar for reasonably priced cocktails and other drinks. Everything at Finca Ixobel
works on the honor system: guests keep an account of what they eat and drink and the ser-
vices they use.
There are often volunteer opportunities for fluent English and Spanish speakers in ex-
change for room and board. If the finca (farm) suits your style and you want to help/hang
out for six weeks minimum, ask about volunteering.
Getting There & Away
The finca is 5km south of the regional commercial center of Poptún, from where you can
take a taxi (Q30) or a tuk-tuk (three-wheeled motor taxi), which will cost Q20. Otherwise,
any bus or minibus along Hwy 13 can drop you at the turnoff, from which it's a 15-minute
walk to the finca . When leaving Finca Ixobel, most buses will stop on the highway to
pick you up, but not after dark. The finca also offers shuttles to/from Flores for Q50.
Bus departures from Poptún include the following:
Flores/Santa Elena (two hours, 113km) Línea Dorada offers 1st-class service at 4am,
4:30am and 5pm among the sleepy passengers coming from Guatemala City. The best op-
tion is to take a minibus (Q30, every 10 minutes, 6am to 6pm).
Guatemala City (seven hours, 387km) First-class buses by Línea Dorada (Q150 to Q190)
depart at 11:30am and 11pm. Fuente del Norte buses (Q80) pass through approximately
every hour from 5:30am to midnight.
Río Dulce (Q50, two hours, 99km) All Guatemala City-bound buses make a stop in Río
Dulce.
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