Pana - Flores

This morning we left early for Guatemala City where we caught a flight to Flores, in eastern Guatemala. Along the way to the airport, we stopped first at the infamous Chichi market. Here, we were exposed to a larger version of the Compala market with many more tourists. Though there were some significant cathedrals to also explore, this stop was mostly breathing in the high intensity of the market. Here our guide informed us how to keep our valuables safe (basically by not bringing any) and we were able to purchase a few more souvenirs for the family back home. 

After arriving in Guatemala City, we sorted our bags and left a majority of our things with our local office. From there we took a small bag to Flores as per airline requirements. Upon arrival in Flores, our driver picked us up at the airport and took us to our hotel for the next three nights. Flores is the city closest to Tikal ruins. Many travelers will stay in the park itself, closer to the ruins but we opted to stay in town since the end of our trip would be a more secluded and less accessible few days. Flores, a tiny island on lake Peten is filled with travelers, restaurants, nightclubs, and shops. We indulged in our rooftop bar and prepped for our ancient ruins exploration to come.