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
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 Tikal hotels, Private
Private guide: From hotels in Tikal (Jungle Lodge, Jaguar Inn, Tikal Inn and Tikal Campsite)
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
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
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 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
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
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 Tikal hotels, Small Group
Maximum 9 guests: From hotels in Tikal (Jungle Lodge, Jaguar Inn, Tikal Inn and Tikal Campsite)
Pickup included
Reviews
348 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Seamless experience!
mereditha187,Apr 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great guide, Byron. He was so passionate about the Maya people and shared many great facts! A very seamless experience with pick up and drop off too.
Tikal Sunrise Trip
adeb536,Apr 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic tour with our excellent guide José, he was very knowledgeable, spoke perfect English which was great being a couple from the UK, having found many people in our hotel only spoke Spanish and limited English. José appreciated our love for birds and wildlife and pointed out a lot to us during the tour, we would highly recommend Gem Tours and if you are lucky enough to have José as your guide, you will surely have an inciteful day and experience.
Amazing Tikal Experience with and awesome guide
danieltY2324LJ,Apr 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Marlon was an incredible wealth of knowledge not just about the Mayan History but also the flora and fauna of the national park. It was a very early start, picked up directly from our hotel - but worth it to see all the biodiversity and enormous temples and palaces without crowds. Lunch was included and all the options were very good. 100% recommend!
Amazing tour of Tikal
jacobmoon98,Apr 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Amazing tour with Marlon who was so knowledgeable and passionate. Gen trips are a great team.
Superb Guide (José)
Jack C,Apr 12, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00An excellent tour. José was very knowledgeable, kept us away from the crowds so it felt like we had the place to ourselves and was very engaging to listen to. This tour is so much better than doing one of the bigger group tours, I can’t recommend it enough!
5-Star Ruins & Wildlife, 3-Star Guide
Nick I,Apr 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The sunrise over Tikal was absolutely unforgettable — watching the ruins emerge from the jungle while hearing parrots, toucans, and other wildlife was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The guide was very knowledgeable once we got into the tour, sharing great information about both the ruins and the surrounding wildlife. That said, the start of the experience was rough. He arrived late without acknowledgment, didn’t explain basic logistics (like what a line was for or what to say at the ticket window), and walked far ahead of the group in the dark at a fast pace, which made things unnecessarily stressful. There was also little effort to engage or connect with the group early on. Overall, Tikal itself is incredible and well worth visiting. The tour improved significantly after sunrise, but a more organized and considerate start would have made the experience much better.
No rush, take your time and enjoy.
Martin I,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Perfect tour if you want to have more time to explore around or just sit and enjoy the view and the moment without being rushed. We were probably the first people at the park before opening and we avoided all the lines. Jose is a great host. He told us a lot of interesting information about the park, the animals, the Mayan people and their culture. We even had interesting discussions with him, so it's not just like a monologue from him. What i liked the most is that he just gave us as much as we wanted time to explore or enjoy the views. He knew when it's the best time to visit different spots, so we can avoid the crowds. He also helped us to spot and see different kind of animals. This tour is expensive but overall it's worth it.
Privat Tour with Jose - 11/10
Viviane S,Apr 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had the pleasure of taking a private tour with Jose, and we would absolutely choose this option again without hesitation. Having a private guide allowed us to ask all our questions and explore everything at our own pace, which made the experience especially enjoyable. Jose was truly exceptional—he shared a wealth of knowledge not only about Tikal but also about Guatemala in general. He provided us with many helpful recommendations and was incredibly supportive in every possible way. Tikal itself is truly impressive, and we highly recommend the sunrise tour. Experiencing the jungle come alive at dawn, as the sun rises, is nothing short of magical.
Incredible guide for an incredible experience
1234claire r,Mar 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an amazing tour and experience. The whole company is perfectly organised with WhatsApp communication and clear instructions and advice on what you’ll need on the day. José my guide was brilliant. So knowledgable about the history, culture and wildlife. I learned a lot and got to enjoy the stunning views of Tikal.
Fantastic tour!
Angela G,Mar 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an excellent tour! Jose was the perfect guide! He was extremely knowledgeable, had a good sense of humor, and took time to answer all our questions. He also made sure that we had a good spot for the sunrise. The depth of his knowledge was impressive. He shared a lot of interesting lesser known facts. This was a small group tour, and I appreciated the size, especially as we passed other groups with 20 or 30 people. We were also treated to breakfast cookies and coffee, a delicious traditional, hot breakfast in the park, and lunch after the tour. We weren’t able to see the actual sunrise due to the cloudy morning, but it was still a very cool experience to hear the jungle wake up. I highly recommend this tour!
From US$98.00
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Operated by Gem Trips