When arriving by air. There are collective minibuses for($2.50) They go collective almost hourly, more before noon. It's about a  20 min. ride  to El Remate. Contact Fermin Cante in the airport. Tel. 5480-0269 Their small car will bring you to La Casa De Don David for $20 - $25 (up to 4 people,)  (in minibus $20 and additional person $4) Also for minibus service send E mail: mailto: martsam@guate.net Tel/fax 7926-3205 also contact on arrival in the airport. Or the hotel will send a taxi for about the same if you request. If not traveling with much luggage, you can catch local busses or old shuttle on the main road in front of the airport. (about one hundred yards.)

The public buses leave from Santa Elena (on the mainland side at Flores) several times each day (cost $1.00).  Public buses run  at approx.  11: 00 am, 12:00 noon, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. There is not a formal bus station. Wait in the pickup area or along the main street. After 4:00 pm there are no public buses to El Remate. If you get a bus going to the Belize border, you may be dropped off in El Cruce “Ixlu”. There you must get another bus, taxi or walk 2 kms. to El Remate. The hotel will send a taxi for $20 if you request. To El Remate from the airport or Flores area- There are taxis ($20 - $25), collective minibuses ($2.50) They go collective almost hourly, more before noon. It's about a  20 min. ride  to El Remate. If you are not traveling with much luggage, you can catch local buses on the main road in front of the airport (about one hundred yards).

           In Flores Rental cars are also available, try Tabarini Rent-a-car, Hertz or others. Very near the airport. Or Koka Rental in Santa Elena.

Rental cars in Chetumal México contact to José Torres, Perico's Tours e-mail pericos_tours@hotmail.com They permit theirs cars to cross Belize and Guatemala borders.

BY EXPRESS BUS...  From Chetumal, Mexico & Belize City you can take the Linea Dorada or the San Juan buses.  From Chetumal the bus leaves at 6:30 am  daily for about $27.  From Belize the bus leaves at 10:00  am daily for about $20. This is your best deal as these buses bring  you right to the hotel door in El Remate. Expect to pay about $18 in exit fees from Belize, even if you are in transit. Save your receipt as it may help on the exit fee at the airport when you leave Belize or Guatemala if you leave or plan to return within a month.

From Palenque take the (Minibus-Boat-Minibus) trip for about $30 to $35 (6 to 7 hours) to Flores and then a taxi, local bus, or collective minibus to El Remate.   

From Guatemala City, take first-class bus at 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM (check schedule) for 7 to 8 hour trip. The best is ADN www.adnautobusesdelnorte.com e-mail info@adnautobusesdelnorte.com  and Linea Dorada http://tikalmayanworld.com and second choice is Fuente Del Norte.  Expect to pay $20-28 for comfortable service. 

BY LOCAL BUS….. Everyday bus service to and from Guatemala City, Antigua, Chetumal, Palenque, Cancun Mexico; Belize City, San Ignacio, Belize. For comfort its best to get a first class bus when available.  Many times road conditions aren't the best and the trip is almost always somewhat slower than in more developed countries. (check schedules)  Easiest is to take the Linea Dorada/Mundo Maya or San Juan  express bus companies that cover the entire area and  are generally OK. They often arrive directly to your hotel or very close by. There are also several other bus companies serving the area. If coming from Coban contact Casa D' Acuña Hotel..Tel.7951-0484 for dependable shuttle direct from Coban to El Remate or El Remate Coban. Also local buses are available. 

To El  Remate from San Ignacio or the Belize border you can get local buses in route to the border from Flores that run about every hour. You must walk or take a taxi to the cruce (crossroads) to get this buses.  If you take a local bus after 4 pm, they may drop you off at the crossroad at Ixlu/El Cruce. There you will need to get another bus, taxi, or walk 2 km to El Remate. Or take a collective minibus.

Arriving from San Ignacio... There are no scheduled that goes from San Ignacio to Flores or el Remate. Most people arrive by mini bus or local bus to the Ixlu cruce (cross roads).

You can take the 9 mile ride to the border from San Ignacio by taxi or local bus. Cross the border and go by local bus or take a mini bus. Mini good minibuses go for $40 for 2 persons, $60 for 4 persons or $80 up to 8 persons.  If you take a local bus you will arrive at the cross road in Ixlu and need to get another bus or taxi for the 3 km ride to our hotel.

Local bus service generally takes much more time than an express bus.

BY CAR... Driving to the Hotel: Vehicle Permits. From Flores or Santa Elena, follow the signs to Tikal. About 30 km. from Flores or one mile past the intersection (Ixlu/El Cruce) withthe road to the Belize border, you will enter the wood carving village of El Remate. La Casa De Don David is on the left, about 500 yards after passing the craft shops. The shops are the first buildings on the left as you enter El Remate.  From Belize: You may have to pay a  $10 US fee for exiting Belize in addition to the $3.75 regular exit fee. Keep your receipt and it will reduce your final departure tax at the airport if returning to Belize. Crossing the border at Benque/Melchor, expect to pay about $6 car permit, and about $2 fee for crossing a small bridge after you cross the border. The road is in the slow process of being paved, so expect a half-hour of rough road and then there may be some potholes in the pavement, depending on the current conditions of the road. Be careful. It is about 60 km (approx. 35 mi.) and takes about 1 hr. by car, slightly more by bus. From the crossroad or junction of the road to Tikal, Flores, and Belize border, the hotel is about 2 km on the way to Tikal on the left in El Remate.

www.crystal-belize.com   is one of the only car rental companies who will let its vehicles cross the border from Belize into Guatemala. They have good vehicles at reasonable prices and will come get you if you should break down. Contact: LUCIO L. LANDERO    mailto: crystal@btl.net

www.crystal-belize.com     Tel: 501-223-1600; Fax 501-223-1900   Belize toll free: 0-800-777-7777

Around Remate: There are sometimes bicycles at the hotel for use (free for guests when available) and there is collective mini bus service to and from Tikal and Flores in front of the hotel for about $5.50 U.S. round trip. There are numerous hiking trails in the area. Bicycles are not permitted to Flores or Tikal.

In case of emergencies: If your family or frends are staying with us you can e-mail us with any messanges you wish to pass to them. 

• Hotel Cellular Phone: 502-5306-2190
  

 

Telephone: 502-5306-2190
or visit David at his website: http://www.lacasadedondavid.com

If you are visiting the TIKAL and surrounding areas, you will find El  Remate a pleasant alternative to the congested Flores/Santa Elena area. The village of EL REMATE is just beginning to grow into an attractive tourist area.  A police sub station has recently been added to the village for additional security. You will see police officers (POLITUR), who are trained to assist and help tourists. Most phones are cellular and not always reliable. Beginning in mid 2003 the area is expected to have full telephone service with internet access. (Remate has about 100 beds costing from $6 to $80 dbl.) Most hotels accept travel checks or U.S. cash. (Be sure to shop for a good exchange rate.)