Flores

There are only two things to do in Flores: laze around or go to Tikal. Since I explain the second option in this post (https://999millas.net/2025/02/01/como-visitar-tikal/ ) Let's start with the first one.

THINGS TO DO IN FLORES: THE TOUR

Flores is a small peninsula on Lake Peten Itzá, connected to the mainland by a narrow bridge

The town is tiny, and you can see it all in a morning. The central part has been developed for tourism, and there are many craft shops and small hotels overlooking the lake, all still at affordable prices.

It's hard to believe that so many unique things could come together in such a small place as this.

To start with, here’s something that has ultimately turned out to be a common trend in many Guatemalan towns: they build sports fields right in the Plaza Mayor, next to the church and other important buildings (the same is true near Antigua, in the town of Comalapa).

Flores is small but steep. As soon as you step off the sidewalk that runs around the lake, you have to “climb” up, with the Plaza Mayor at the very top (so that the church can be seen from anywhere in the surrounding area). In any case, in this sleepy little square there were a couple of slushie and ice cream stands to help you recover from the “ascent” to the summit.

The outer part of the island (the part closest to the lake) is full of rooftop restaurants where you can enjoy the views at prices that are still affordable (you can eat well for €11–15); near the bridge connecting Flores to the mainland, there’s a small, family-run Mexican restaurant that serves amazing tacos and quesadillas for next to nothing.

To pass the time on hot mornings, you can rent a boat and take a tour of the lake. On the southern part of the island, there’s a boat that offers tours of varying lengths around the lake (minimum 4 people) at prices that vary depending on the tour’s duration (40’ for 150 Q, if I recall correctly).

The second peculiarity is truly striking: when high tide comes in… !! the entire sidewalk next to the lake floods !!. This leads to some comical situations (you have to walk along the barrier separating the lake from the sidewalk—which, being high, stays above the rising water—or hop from puddle to puddle).

As evening falls, people flock to the piers—which have become “islands” cut off from the sidewalk—and stay there to sunbathe or go for a swim…

There isn't much to do at night. You can go to the bridge to watch the sunset…

…and enjoy the atmosphere: it fills up with locals near the popcorn stands, where seagulls come to scrounge or sit and enjoy the cool air.

Just past the bridge, there's a shopping center with a movie theater.

THINGS TO DO IN FLORES: DAY TRIPS

In addition to enjoying breathtaking sunsets, there are a couple of fun day trips you can take near Flores: the San Miguel Lookout and El Chechenal Beach

San Miguel

a.- The Viewpoint

If you feel like stretching your legs north of Flores, you'll come across the village of San Miguel, which you can reach by boat for 10 Q (boats depart from various points north of Flores)

Once you disembark in San Miguel, head up the mountain (there are a few signs, but if you don't have a map, it's easy to get lost) until you reach the lookout point, which offers a great view of the Flores Peninsula

El Chechenal Beach

On the other side of the lookout, down the mountain, is the beach.

It's supposed to be a “private” beach where you have to pay to get in, but when I arrived, it was almost deserted, and the booth where the gatekeeper should have been was dilapidated and empty. There are no bars or restaurants (and hardly anyone around, thankfully), so you have to bring your own food… but it's very clean (since there aren't many people, of course) and it's a pleasure to be here

It's not the Iron Throne from the show, but it's really cool 🙂

El Remate

On your way to Tikal, you can spend an afternoon in this lakeside town. 

It’s basically a row of houses and hotels built along the road leading to Tikal. There isn’t much to do here except take a walk around the lake (there’s hardly anyone there, either) and enjoy the sunset… as long as you bring some good mosquito repellent.

From Flores, with no set schedule, you can take a van to get here (about 45 minutes); then you just wait on the road heading in the opposite direction, and you’ll always find someone to give you a ride back 🙂

Well, that's all there is to know about what to do in Flores, Guatemala's little paradise

If you liked this post or have more information to add, let me know in the comments!

If you'd like more information about Flores: https://visitguatemala.gt/ciudades/isla-flores/

And to learn more about Guatemala: https://999millas.net/category/paises/guatemala/

Texto y fotos: Mike !