Jungle Lodge Tikal Hostal

Perfect site for visiting Tikal and enjoying the jungle. Perfect for two nights. Food was lovely and we enjoyed relaxing in the lobby during the heat of the afternoon. Room was surprisingly modern given the remote location. Felt safe and peaceful. Just note that the monkeys are LOUD and can keep you up at night.

Booked eight months ahead then, a week prior, was told my room was ‘unavailable’ and no alternative possible inside the archaeological park. Fortunately I was able to secure another hotel in the park, but had this not been possible, it would have prevented me visiting during the quiet, cool sunset and sunrise periods, instead commuting an hour or more back and forwards to the nearest town.

On the plus side the location is absolutely great for enjoying Tikal as you can easily walk into the site as well as the two small museums close by. Set in quite attractive grounds, we had a junior suite which was quite spacious and comfortable and the daily housekeeping was good. What spoilt the experience was how dour and unwelcoming the staff were. We travelled as a couple and guessed that perhaps priority was given to the groups. While the cocktails in the bar were good, the food and service in the restaurant were very poor but we had no choice but to eat there in the evenings.

Although trip advisor calls it hostel we stayed in hotel part. Room was spacious and well appointed. Staff in hotel were variable in terms of helpfulness. Food in restaurant was OK. Easy Access to the park. Our tour was organised from Hotel by Fernando who was brought up inn the ruins area. He was very knowledgeable about birds and ruins. Pleasant couple of days.

My experience here has been very negative. At almost $300 a night I expected much more. The communication about transportation to the hotel was haphazard and imprecise. Jade didn’t answer my questions over email nor did they respond via WhatsApp. I wasn’t sure where or how to meet the shuttle and despite about twenty email exchanges I never got a straight answer. I just showed up to their sister hotel, Hotel Isla Del Flores, in Flores and they were able to organize transportation. I’m glad I wasn’t stranded. But, the disappointments continue to accumulate. I had to wait around for hours to take a shower and use the hot tub in my room. At first the hot water in the shower wasn’t working. And after an hour or so of waiting and constant requests to get it fixed, I finally spoke with the general manager who flipped the switch to turn on the hot water. But, by the time I got out of the shower they’d turned off the electricity off and the hot tub wouldn’t work. They only have full electricity here for a few hours a day because it’s so remote. Again more conflict and frustration while they started the electricity. After that, we went to the restaurant for dinner where the waiter managed to simultaneously screw up both of our orders. Every interaction with the jungle lodge staff has been missteps, mistakes, and disappointments. I wouldn’t stay here again and wouldn’t recommend this to anyone.

This really gives you the jungle feel, and staying in the park is the only real way to take advantage of the sunrise and sunset tour. The room is pretty basic, but I appreciated the mosquito net over the bed and all of the shelf space provided. Bathrooms are just a quick walk along the patio area, although be aware that the electricity off at night also applies to the bathrooms! The power situation wasn't too much of an inconvenience aside from having to remember to charge devices during the hours it was on; however, the WORST part was that it means the fan in your room also turns off at night! I could barely sleep from sweating so much. Still, it was worth it for the sunrise tour. I signed up through the hotel, and our guide Fernando used to live in the Mayan village that was once inside of Tikal. He studied anthropology and was so knowledgeable and clearly had a real passion for Mayan history and the ruins. He kept stopping us on the walk there to look at the stars, show us a cool tree, or find animals like frogs with his flashlight. We then waited in silence on a temple to listen to the jungle wake up which was such an experience, and afterwards he took us throughout the whole park and then back on a shortcut path that he said he used to use as a kid. Great guy! We used the hotel shuttle to get to and from Flores, and that was comfy and convenient (also really affordable for the round trip). The restaurant onsite was nothing to write home about but did the job. They also provided coffee at 3:30 AM before the sunrise tour. There's a pool which is nice to cool off in after your Tikal hike. Additionally, the hotel was great about contacting us to organize things in advance, such as asking if we needed a shuttle, providing the timetables, and booking tours. Staying here is worthwhile for the overall experience!