Tikal SUNRISE, Archeological focus and Wildlife Spotting Tour (North and West)
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
Premium tour visiting the best spots to photograph the monuments.
Guaranteed departure, we operate only with 1 guest with no extre charge.
Extensive tour, Sunrise and Archaeological (two in one) with enough time and flexibility, excellent for photographers.
Hassle free entry fees, those are not included because price varies according to nationality and age, but available in advance, we pay those for you, then you reimburse our guide during the service.
Excellent English-Spanish bilingual guide with deep knowledge of local history, flora and fauna and with service attitude to give a meaning to each monument visited.
We will walk approximately 6 to 8 kilometers during this tour, but not consecutively. The longest walk between two stops is approximately 20 minutes.
Bring your camera! We love taking photos, we will show you the best spots.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Seat belts available
If you are the only adult in your group and you pick a small group option and at least one more adult reserves for that same schedule, we’ll include the cost of the entry fees for you, which reduces the price for USD34.
Bring the best walking shoes
Bring a raincoat just in case
Bring the best clothes for hot weather
Bring a flashlight (or you can use your phone's flashlight)
Bring a canteen or bottle to refill water
If you have a Guatemalan local ID (DPI) send us a picture of it, in this event your entry fees will be only USD7
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Tikal National Park
The activity begins when we pick you up at your hotel, when booking, please choose the time according to the location of your hotel. In case you don't know the location of your hotel yet, just book the cheapest tour option, later you let us know your hotel location and if there is a price difference, you can pay it to our guide. The walking tour begins at Gate 2 of Tikal National Park at: From March 22 to September 21: at 4:00 am From September 22 to March 21: at 4:30 am DURATION OF EACH WAY OF TRANSFER BY LOCATION WHERE WE PICK YOU UP a. Tikal: 00h: 05m b. El Remate: 01h: 00m c. San Jose, Peten: 01h:20m d. San Benito, Santa Elena Flores or Flores Island: 01h: 30m e. San Andres: 02h: 00m Tikal has two titles of UNESCO, it's cultural and natural heritage of humanity, that's why we'll spend more than six hours exploring different archeological monuments and to go from monument to monument, we'll use nature trails with a high chance of spotting some species of wildlife.
Temple IV
First thing, we will climb this temple with you to wait for sunrise from the top, enjoying the most wonderful view and the sounds of the waking up wildlife, then we will have breakfast up there. We developed the sunrise tour because our guests deserve to see Tikal first thing in the morning to appreciate wildlife when it is more active as well as at the end of the day. The main attraction of this tour is the awakening of the jungle with the noise of birds and howler monkeys, the sunrise is seen only 20% of the time, as it is usually cloudy or foggy. The official name of this temple is Temple of the Double Headed Serpent, as when the temple was discovered, it had a wooden carved lintel with the sacred double headed serpent carved on it, now this wooden carving is in a famous museum. The nickname of this temple is Temple of Star Wars as back in 1977 the movie director George Lucas came to Tikal to film part of the original Star Wars Movie, Episode IV "A New Hope"
What‘s Included
Mosquito Repellent Application
Tikal Map
Air-conditioned vehicle
Breakfast to go: an apple, a banana, a guatemalan champurrada (thin round cookie), a tayuyo (corn tortilla with refried beans inside), coffee and water refill
Lunch at Jaguar Inn Restaurant, 5 options (gluten-free and vegan options)
Water refill in the vehicle
Professional Excellent English-Spanish Speaking tour guide
Foreigners, Sunrise and Park Entry fees to Tikal only payable for guests 10 year old and on.
Guatemalans with local ID, Sunrise and Park Entry fees to Tikal, only payable for guests 10 year old and on.
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
From San Andres Peten, Private
The guide will be just for you: From Hotels and Airbnbs in San Andres Peten (Bolontiku, Nitun, G Boutique Hotel, etc.)
Pickup included
F/ Flores surrounding, S Group
No more than 9 guests: From Flores, Santa Elena and San Benito hotels and Airbnbs. Guests at San Miguel must come to Raices Restaurant in Flores.
Pickup included
From San Jose Peten, Private
Private guide for your party: From Hotels and Airbnbs in San Jose Peten (La Lancha Village, Camino Real Tikal, etc.)
Pickup included
F/San Andres Peten Small Group
Maximum 9 participants: From Hotels and Airbnbs in San Andres Peten (Bolontiku, Nitun, G Boutique Hotel, etc.)
Pickup included
From El Remate, Small Group
Less than 9 guests per guide: From hotels and Airbnbs in El Remate (Casa de Don David, Gringo Perdido, Mon Ami, Posada del Cerro, Alice Guest House, etc.)
Pickup included
From Tikal hotels, Private
Private guide: From hotels in Tikal (Jungle Lodge, Jaguar Inn, Tikal Inn and Tikal Campsite)
Pickup included
From Tikal hotels, Small Group
Maximum 9 guests: From hotels in Tikal (Jungle Lodge, Jaguar Inn, Tikal Inn and Tikal Campsite)
Pickup included
F/San Jose Peten, Small Group
Maximum 9 passengers per guide: From Hotels and Airbnbs in San Jose Peten (La Lancha Village, Camino Real Tikal, etc.)
Pickup included
From El Remate, Private
Exclusive guide for your party: From hotels and Airbnbs in El Remate (Casa de Don David, Gringo Perdido, Mon Ami, Posada del Cerro, Alice Guest House, etc.)
Pickup included
F/ Flores surrounding, Private
Private guide for you: From Flores, Santa Elena and San Benito hotels and Airbnbs. Guests at San Miguel must come to Raices Restaurant in Flores.
Pickup included
Reviews
330 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Jose Moreno: great guide
LBrazeau,,Feb 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful sunrise trek with Jose Moreno of Gem Trips. Jose speaks excellent English (he lived in PA as a child). After sunrise at the temple, Jose shared information about the Tikal complex and answered questions. He is knowledgeable and aims to give his guests a wonderful experience. Note: you must enjoy climbing stairs for this tour!
Spectacular experience
15gelif,,Feb 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Unique experience!!! The jungle awakening, the sunrise - spectacular!! The guide José very friendly and very well prepared. The organization super well and punctual. Highly recommended!!!
They are the best!
E9913CSlynnl,,Feb 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did both the Sunset tour and the sunrise tour and both were great. Alberto was our guide for both tours and he is fabulous. We were interested in birdwatching along with the buildings and Alberto was unbelievably good at knowing all the birds and finding them! He was funny, kind and knowledgeable about everything. We also had them pick us up and take us back to the border. Lucio was our driver and he helped us through the border crossing. Although it was very simple. I highly recommend Gem Trips!
Fantastic From Start To Finish
garygP8363WS,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00One of the best things you'll ever do. With respectful others, sitting at the heights of a Mayan temple as the dewi lifts like wraiths in the glare of the sun, and the inky blacks and greys give way to the paradoxically pleasant cacophony of birds and spider and howler monkeys, that's living, that's being alive. I had Jose as a guide all on my own. He was friendly, personable, great at spotting wildlife like an orange-bellied falcon, howler monkey and agouti and emotionally intelligent. The perfect guide. Cannot recommend Gem highly enough. Such a difference to the sunrise Xaxha tour the day before, so generic and "throughput" Do this if you want to feel something and understand something at Tikal. One of the best tours I have ever had.
Fantastic experience
tomthacker,,Jan 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Booked a small group sunrise tour of Tikal as a solo traveler. Marlon (the proprietor) was in touch over WhatsApp to provide me with all the details and let me know beforehand what I should bring with me. He also picked me up directly from my hotel in Flores to take me to Tikal. My guide, José, was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and super personable. I can’t think of a single complaint I had, and I would happily recommend to anyone wanting to do a sunrise tour of Tikal to use Gem Trips. Had a really great time - thanks, fellas
Amazing experience with a wonderful guide
dutchpirate107,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tikal was amazing. The guide knew a lot about the Maya and answered all our questions. He also knew a lot about nature; we saw many birds and other animals. The sunrise tour was great, although it was too foggy to see the sun, we still saw several temples. All in all, it was a great experience and I would definitely recommend it.
Sunrise Tour 2026
502laceyk,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This experience was absolutely perfect. Our guide Jose really took the time to walk us through the park and explain everything while also spotting wild life. I highly recommend booking the sunrise tour, there is nothing like being in the jungle as it wakes up. You would be silly not to book with this company, everything was wonderful!
A fantastic tour!
Discover09343728386,,Jan 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic time on the sunrise Tikal tour! Our guide Jose was really knowledgeable about all the ruins and amazing at identifying the wildlife. We saw lots of spider monkeys and toucans! We were picked up and dropped off at our hotel and the whole experience was really seamless. Would recommend this tour to anyone! Thanks Marlon and Jose.
Unmissable in Tikal
Maria I,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Fernando was an excellent guide. He knows a lot about the flora and fauna of the place (especially birds). He also explained with great propriety aspects of history and archaeology. We went in January and it was cold at dawn. We recommend wearing windbreakers or a light coat.
Amazing personal experience
martijnvL2976FN,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was easily one of the best tours I’ve ever been on. Our guide Marlon provided a deeply personalized experience, even tailoring the hike to my parents’ love for birdwatching, animals and plants. Marlon’s knowledge was staggering; from Latin and Mayan names of plants to deep insights into Mayan architecture and history. The logistics were superior; everything well planned with nice meals. A major highlight was eating breakfast right at the Maya temple after other groups had left, giving us the entire viewpoint to ourselves. It is a memory we will never forget.
From US$98.00
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Operated by Gem Trips