PETÉN - Guatemala - page 494

Highly recommended, The Mayan Adventure ( www.the-mayan-adventure.com/go/in-
dex.html ) is run by the owners of Café Yaxhá, who are very knowledgeable about the
region. Trip options include the usual sites such as Tikal and Yaxhá, but also some
lesser-known communities they work with. They can also organize trips to El Mirador,
which is no easy task. Tikal Connection (Calle 15 de Septiembre, tel. [phone],
www.tikalcnx.com ) works with local communities to involve them in the business of sus-
tainable tourism in and around several of Petén's protected areas. Tikal Connection offers
multiday treks from the site of El Zotz to Tikal, rigorous journeys to El Mirador, and the
“Scarlet Macaw Trail,” in Laguna del Tigre National Park near the Mayan site of Waka'-
Perú.
Martsam Tours and Travel (Calle 30 de Junio in the lobby of Capitán Tortuga restaur-
ant, tel. [phone], www.martsam.com ) has an excellent reputation and offers a variety of
trips throughout Petén. In addition to El Zotz- Tikal, Waka'-Perú, and El Mirador, it offers
day trips to Tikal and multiday adventures involving hikes from Tikal to Yaxhá, stopping
in Nakum along the way. There are also daily departures from Flores to Yaxhá for $20 per
person (minimum of two).
Conservation Tours Tikal (Calle 15 de Septiembre, inside Hotel Mirador del Lago, tel.
7926-0670 or 5592-9509, www.cct@intel-nett. com) is run by locals Nery Medrano and
Héctor Aldana. A spinoff of the environmental group Rare ( www.rareconservation.org ) ,
the company offers some unique options, including a jungle survival course, kayaking on
Lake Petén Itzá, and mountain biking from Tikal to Uaxactún. Five percent of proceeds go
directly toward the protection of the parks they work in.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Under $10
Among the first places you'll come upon after crossing the causeway leading into Flores
is Hotel La Canoa (tel. [phone]), where 10 rooms, all but one with private bath, go for
$11d.Theroomwithsharedbathgoesfor$4perperson.Allroomshavefirmbeds,though
the fluorescent lighting can be somewhat dreary. A bar directly underneath the rooms can
make things noisy. Farther down the same street is Hotel Playa Sur (tel. [phone], $7
d). Its 10 clean rooms feature firm beds, fan, and make a stab at decor. Another option in
this part of town is Hotel El Faisán (tel. [phone], $11 d), with ceiling fan, cable TV,
and acceptably firm beds. The electric hot-water heaters, however, look a bit scary. Hotel
Mirador del Lago (Calle 15 de Septiembre south of Avenida Flores, tel. [phone]) is
a good value at $11 d in somewhat plain rooms with firm beds and fan. Its 32 rooms are
spread between two buildings on opposite sides of the street. Two rooms on the top floor
with lake views go for $16. The eight rooms at Posada de Don José (Calle Fraternidad,