November 17, 2009
Belize City to Tikal, Guatemala

We left the marina early this morning and made our way to the border with Guatemala. First off the landscape changed as we went higher in elevation to cattle grazing and the tropical jungle started to get denser.
The roads in Belize were not as good as in Mexico and so it was slow going. Many potholes and rough to the border. Next came the border.
Well first you must exit Belize. Pay the exit tax, Get the passports stamped, Get the vehicles stamped for exit and then fill out the questionnaire for the tourist bureau. Next proceed to the border checkpoint and have them look at all your paperwork.
Now you may pass on to Guatemala. First have the vehicle sprayed with insecticide in what appears to be a carwash. Now pay for having it sprayed but first you must change some money to quezalles (?). Got ripped off on that one only 7 quezalles to the dollar. Should have gotten 8. Now go into the immigration station and have our passports stamped. Now to customs to have the vehicle permits issued. Get that paperwork done and then pay the permit fee. Go back and now have them inspect the vehicles and then they will issue the vehicle stamps. Next go to the border point and have them check the stickers and your passport stamps. Now you cross the bridge into Guatemala and you pay a fee for the bridge toll. Well you have finally arrived.
The first 10 miles of road were just a dirt-gravel road and the craters and potholes really pretty severe. We were told this and I was prepared. After that it was a really nice new paved road and even better than Belize. Then a stretch where it was paved and then 100 yards of rough and then paved and so on and so on.
We finally reached the turnoff for Tikal and I was worried because this was on the map as a secondary road. We asked a policeman and he said that we would have no problem with the road so off I went.
He was right the road was really pretty good with no potholes and we only had to go about 25 miles. So we entered the Tikal National Park and had to fill out a form but did not have to pay there. Then you go about another 20 miles and you come to the entry area for the ruins. They check your permit here and he mentioned that I made good time in coming from the entrance to the park. I wonder if you are fined for making too good a time.
The park is huge much like Yellowstone and there are many things to do here but most people come for the ruins which I must say are some of the best I have seen so far.