Where We Be
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| Flores, Guatemala |
Flores was our rest break between adventures
in Semuc Champey and Tikal (plus two very long
travel days). Our room on the top floor of Casa
Amelia offered just the ticket with its heavenly
AC, fast wifi, rooftop terrace, and sunset views
of the lake. Flores is situated on its own little
island in the middle of Lake Peten Itza. It's
connected by a narrow causeway to the main-
land. The cobblestone streets and haphazard
buildings make for a picturesque little town.
The island itself is tiny -- we made a circuit of it
in about twenty minutes. But that's part of its
charm. If you're looking for a pause from inten-
sive sightseeing, Flores offers an easy answer.
It has plenty of good restaurants, lodges, and
gift shops -- and not much else. If you hang
around during the day, the town empties out as
folks head off on day tours to Tikal. Tikal is only
about an hour away, so Flores is often called
the Gateway to Tikal.
in Semuc Champey and Tikal (plus two very long
travel days). Our room on the top floor of Casa
Amelia offered just the ticket with its heavenly
AC, fast wifi, rooftop terrace, and sunset views
of the lake. Flores is situated on its own little
island in the middle of Lake Peten Itza. It's
connected by a narrow causeway to the main-
land. The cobblestone streets and haphazard
buildings make for a picturesque little town.
The island itself is tiny -- we made a circuit of it
in about twenty minutes. But that's part of its
charm. If you're looking for a pause from inten-
sive sightseeing, Flores offers an easy answer.
It has plenty of good restaurants, lodges, and
gift shops -- and not much else. If you hang
around during the day, the town empties out as
folks head off on day tours to Tikal. Tikal is only
about an hour away, so Flores is often called
the Gateway to Tikal.
| And there it is -- a little hazy but still beautiful. The islet adds a touch of charm to the view. |
| Lake Peten Itza is huge as you can tell from this map, so from Flores we're only seeing a small part of it |
| On the north and east sides of the island we were surprised to discover flooded waterfront promenades. A local told us it's been this way for two or three years now. |
| Casa Amelia offered the amenities we needed to recharge our batteries between adventures |
| There's not much to do here other than shop and eat. Here we're enjoying a leisurely breakfast of wonderful Guatemalan coffee, a mango smoothie, and a plate of "huevos divorciados" -- divorced eggs, with green and red salsa on top. Most Guatemalan breakfasts also include fried plantains, refried beans, and a generous slice of cheese. |
| A twenty-minute circuit around the island will take you past amusing signs, T-shirts with funny slogans, and small boats waiting to take you out on a pleasure cruise if you so desire |
| This was the view from our hotel window. Many of the old colonial buildings have red roofs, and the whole town feels charming in a shabby sort of way. |
| Our favorite side of the island was the west side. Here we're having a little dinner and waiting for the sunset. |
| We enjoyed the rooftop terrace at Casa Amelia -- it faces west so you get to enjoy the sunset over Lake Peten Itza |
| During the day the town empties out as tourists head to Tikal -- so if you stay put you'll have the place mostly to yourself |
| Just outside the hotel are quaint streets and colorful buildings |
| This stock photo shows how pretty Flores looks from above. The causeway connecting it to the mainland is clearly visible. |
| Read, relax, recharge -- that's what Flores is all about |
