Belize City >> Flores OR El Remate (the efficient way)

There is direct bus service from Belize City to Flores for $25USD. You can buy your ticket at the water taxi stations, and the buses leave at 9:00am, 1 pm and 2:30pm. The bus company gets you across the border and into Flores with little to no hassle. Depending on how you feel, it might be worth the $15USD price difference to go straight through. You can also get off at El Cruce to head to El Remate, though there is no price difference between doing that and heading all the way to Flores.

Belize City >> El Remate (the cheaper way, via Benque, Melchor de Mencos, and El Cruce)

If you’re coming from Belize to El Remate, you follow almost the same route you would as if you were going to Flores or Tikal. El Remate is located on the road around the lake to the ruins at Tikal.

From the Belize City bus terminal catch the bus to “Benque”, the Belizean town closest to the border with Guatemala. It should cost $8BZD to get to San Ignacio and another $1.50BZD to go on to Benque. Once you arrive in Benque, the bus will drop you about 5 km from the actual border crossing. You have two options: Grab a taxi for no more than $6usd (12BZD) or start hitching. We were able to catch a (air-conditioned) ride after about 15 minutes of walking — and free too.

The most convenient and reliable option is to take a taxi directly from San Ignacio to the border crossing, which costs $10usd (20BZE) — about the same price you’d pay for a group of four to take the bus from San Ignacio and then split a cab once you arrive in Benque.
Leaving Belize will cost you a $15usd (30BZE) departure fee plus a $3.75usd (7.50BZE) environmental tax. You should not have to pay anything to enter into Guatemala, although the guards may tell you differently.

(HINT: If you leave Belize by boat you can bypass the $15 USD departure fee–you pay only the $3.75 USD environmental tax.)

Guatemalan border >> Ixlú/El Cruce >> El Remate

Once at the border, watch for small tour buses. Most colectivos stop just across the bridge to the right. They will take you to Puente Ixlú (commonly known as El Cruce) for $25GTQ ($3.50USD). In February of 2013, the prices quoted for Santa Elena and Flores were $35GTQ ($5USD) and $40GTQ ($5.75), respectively.

From El Cruce, it is about a 2km journey to El Remate. When I arrived I started walking and was in town in about 20 minutes. There are also colectivos along the road going to Tikal and you can grab one into town, which might be a good investment depending on where you’re thinking of staying. If you’re staying at Casa Roja or Mon Ami, that adds another 10 minutes of walking from the main road where the colectivos would drop you off. If you are going to Tikal from Puente Ixlu/El Cruce or El Remate, it should cost no more than $25GTQ ($3USD).

Santa Elena/Flores >> El Remate

Because El Remate still does not have an ATM that accepts international cards (though one is advertised, and may arrive soon), a trip to Santa Elena may be necessary to withdraw quetzales.You can change US dollars at Casa de Don David or at Restaurante El Muelle, but the trip to Santa Elena can be fruitful if you’re in the mood for souvenir shopping or if you’d like to check out Flores.

From the main bus terminal in Santa Elena there are colectivos going to El Remate. The official price is $20GTQ, and some in Santa Elena may point to a sign that quotes that price, but with a little haggling you can get it down to 10GTQ. Remember, the difference in price to Santa Elena vs. El Remate from Melchor de Mencos is $10GTQ, so hold your ground and you should be able to find someone willing to take you for $10GTQ.

If you’re coming from El Remate, there are two options for withdrawing cash in Santa Elena. The first is to stop at the Mundo Maya mall and head to the ATM inside. To get back to El Remate, there is a bus stop in front of the mall. If you’re interested in more than just cash, the colectivo will drop you off on the other side of the market from the bus terminal. For an ATM, head through the market until you reach the street on the other side. To your right, there will be a BanRural ATM. To get back to El Remate, cross the street to the main bus terminal and look for the colectivos advertising “Ixlu” and/or Tikal.

El Remate >> Tikal

To get to Tikal from El Remate, you can catch a colectivo at pretty much any point along the main road. It should cost no more than $25GTQ ($3USD) one-way.

Take me to SLEEPING: EL REMATE

Take me back to EL REMATE // Take me back to GUATEMALA // Take me HOME