Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
LAGUNA YAXHÁ
5
Campamento El Sombrero
Laguna Yaxhá
T
926
5229,
W
ecosombreroinicio.tripod.com.
Solar-powered
lodge
on the south side of the lake, with rooms in thatched
wooden
cabañas
- seven share bathrooms, six are en suite -
plus a campsite. The restaurant and lounge overlooking the
lake, outfitted with low couches and hammocks, makes a
peaceful spot to stop for lunch even if you're not staying.
The Italian-born owner is a great source of information
about Yaxhá, and can arrange boat trips on the lake and
horseback trips to other sites; she'll pic
k yo
u up fro
m the
bus stop if you call in advance. Camping
Q40
, rooms
Q280
El Remate
The small, friendly village of
EL REMATE
, a mile north of the junction where the road
to Tikal branches off the main road between Belize and Flores, has become an
increasingly popular base for visitors. While El Remate may not quite count as being
on Tikal's doorstep - the site is another twenty miles north - it occupies a lovely spot
at the northeast corner of Lago Petén Itzá, which allows its excellent crop of well-
priced hotels and restaurants to enjoy lake views. For the moment at least, it remains
pleasantly rural, so visitors can enjoy good walking and birdwatching. The best spot to
swim in the lake is the little
beach
(Q5) across from the entrance to the Cerro Cahuí
nature reserve.
Biotopo Cerro Cahuí
1 mile west of El Remate village centre • Daily 7am-4pm • Q35
The paved road that branches west from the centre of El Remate along the north
shore of Lago Petén Itzá leads past several scattered hotels and restaurants before
reaching the
Biotopo Cerro Cahuí
. This 2.5-square-mile wildlife conservation area
stretches back up the hillside from the lake, and contains some of the least disturbed
tropical forest in Petén. There are two potential hiking routes; the full three-hour
trail climbs to the hilltop, passing a couple of small, unexcavated Maya sites as well
as two thatched
miradores
overlooking the lake, while the shorter (1hr 30min)
version doubles back a little earlier, and only offers long-range views of the Maya
ruins. The best time to visit the park is in the cool of the early morning, when the
wildlife is most active.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
EL REMATE
By bus and microbus
Every bus and microbus to Tikal
passes through the village, and the village hotels can also
arrange transfers to and from Tikal and Flores. To reach El
Remate by bus from the Belize border, get off at the Ixlú
junction, a mile south, and either walk or wait for a ride to
El Remate. No public transport runs along the northern
lakeshore road.
Destinations
Flores (around 15 daily; 45 min); Tikal
(around 15 daily; 40min).
ACCOMMODATION
★
La Casa de Don David
Village centre
T
5306 2190,
W
lacasadedondavid.com.
E
ciently run mid-range
guesthouse, owned by a welcoming Guatemalan-American
family, offering spotless, comfortable en-suite wooden
bungalows and rooms, most with a/c. The huge garden
extends down towards the lakeshore, and holds a display of
indigenous plants that centres on a mighty
ceiba
tree. The
popular restaurant serves
guatemalteca
home-cooking,
with meals served either in the main inn, or on an elevated
lake-view deck at the foot of the garden, where drinks are
served via a hilarious cable-car system. There's excellent
independent travel advice, and staff can arrange trips and
transport to Tikal, Flores, Belize and other
sites.
Rates
incl
ude a
meal (breakfast or dinner). Rooms
US$46
, with
a/c
US$56
Casa de Doña Tonita
800yd west of the centre,
towards Cerro Cahuí
T
5701 7114.
This basic place has
four clapboard rooms, built above the lake, with great
views, plus a reasonable six-bed dorm. There's tasty
budget-friendly food in the
comedor
and the owners look
after
thei
r guest
s we
ll. The lakeside location is superb.
Dorm
Q30
, room
Q70
