Tikal Sunset, Archeological Focus And Wildlife Spotting Tour (South And East)

We had the most wonderful day. Marlon picked us up at our hotel and took us into the park, answering our questions along the way. This was a sunset tour, so we started with lunch (included) at the very nice and delicious restaurant at the hotel inside the park, with some up close sightings of coatis. Marlon then showed us the map, explained the route, and off we went on what turned out to be six mile hike through the site. Marlon has been doing this for 25 years, taking continuing education courses every year, so he is incredibly knowledgeable about the buildings both uncovered and covered, the rulers, the plants, the animals, and whatever else you might have questions about. In addition to the amazing ruins, we saw howler monkeys, spider monkeys, toucans, leaf cutter ants, lots more coatis, turkeys, other birds I don't recall the names of. We heard about the resident cougar and saw video from another guide who saw the couger that very day! I would highly recommend this tour. Marlon is super personable and will go at your pace. He is a gem!

The sunset tour is the way to go - was able to have the morning to ourselves and still make it home at a reasonable time. Got lucky with just me and my partner, felt like a private tour! Lucio was our driver and he had answers to all the questions my partner asked; once we arrived for lunch Marlon was there to greet us and take our order. Marlon took us ALL over the park and had incredible amounts of knowledge of Tikal. We had such a great time and were able to go at whatever pace we wanted because of group size. Seriously fantastic, wouldn’t have chose anyone else!!!

Marlon was an amazing tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and seems very passionate about everything, including the wildlife.

We had an amazing time on this tour. Convenient pick up at the hotel and delicious, traditional lunch included. The highlight of our tour was definitely our guide, Marlon, who was extremely considerate, kind and very knowledgeable. My partner is a history buff and asked him many questions and he knew the answer to every single one. Be aware that at times this can be slightly strenuous.

Of all the Mayan sites, Tikal was my favorite. The complex is vast with many paths. Our guide, Marlon, was very informative about the history, the wildlife, and the flora. His keen eye found so many animals that we would have missed, and his historical information inspired several book purchases post tour. Of all the sites a guide is needed, Tikal is not one to skip nor go it alone.

José M took us to Tikal for a day trip plus sunset. Everything was wonderful: it all happened on time, we knew exactly what to expect, the communication was great, and José is very knowledgeable and engaging. We learned a lot about the archaeological site as well as the animals. In addition to seeing (and learning about) the beautiful plazas, temples, and pyramids of Tikal, we saw howler monkeys, spider monkeys, many coati, a toucan, and other animals and birds. It was a great day!

Our Tikal sunset tour was amazing! Our guide, Jose, was patient, kind, and knowledgeable. He kept both kids and adults entertained and engaged the entire time. We had lots of animal sightings and learned so much about Mayan culture! Highly recommend!

Our sunset tour with Jose was better than we could have imagined. Jose was knowledgeable, patient, and clearly passionate about his job. He kept our group of adults and kids interested and engaged! We would highly, highly recommend!

There are not enough words to describe how amazing our experience with Gem Trips was. From the very first moment, it was clear that this team truly loves Tikal and the surrounding jungle, and that passion makes all the difference. Our guide’s knowledge of the ancient Maya city and the local wildlife was incredible. They didn’t just recite facts – they spoke about Tikal with genuine excitement, especially whenever we spotted an animal. Gem Trips is an absolute must. This was one of the best tour experiences we ever had!

We did a sunset group tour of Tikal with pick up in Flores and drop off in San Igancio. Even though we booked a group tour it ended up being only the 2 of us! Our tour guide Jose was amazing and had so much knowledge about the history of Tikal as well as all the wildlife. It was really helpful that the tour was in English so we could properly understand all the details. Our driver Carlos was also wonderful and made sure we were safe crossing the Belize border at night. We were initially a bit shocked at the prices, especially for the transport option to be dropped off in Belize, but were happy to have chosen to pay the extra amount. It saved us a lot of stress and was very convenient. Highly highly recommend gem tours to anyone visiting Tikal. The site itself is amazing and well worth investing in an experienced tour guide so you get the most out of your experience.

Amazing trip to Tikal, Lucio is an excellent guide with a lot of knowledge! Highly recommended!!

This was our second Tikal tour, after a 20 year break. Amazing tour and guide, Marlon was extremely passionate about the topic and very knowledgeable. Marlon did an amazing job engaging our daughter and keeping the tour at a good pace.

Amazing tour! Our tour guide Lucio Cunil was amazing!! So knowledgeable and friendly. We learnt so much about the different temples and the sunset at the end was the perfect way to finish. We also got to see so many animals including howler and spider monkeys, coatis, parrots and toucans. Highly recommend.

We loved this tour! Jośe made the entire tour interesting and entertaining! His love for Mayan history is evident and his knowledge is outstanding. I am usually bored with guided tours, but not this time. We learned so much and enjoyed the entire experience. We were picked up promptly (Thank you Lucio)! Lunch was delicious too. I highly recommended this beautiful tour with kind and fun professionals! Tikal is magical, and more so with this tour.

We were very pleased with our entire experience! We were communicated with before the tour, picked up on time and had an amazing experience at Tikal! History tours typically bore me, but with Jose, he made the experience very enjoyable. His knowledge of Mayan history is impressive! The lunch was also delicious. I highly recommend. Thank you Lucio ( our driver) too! We loved our day.

This was one of the reasons we came to Guatemala and it didn't disappoint. Jose , our tour guide is a walking Chat GPT of Mayan culture and wild life.

We really enjoyed this tour - it is called the Sunset Tour but really was most of the day. Our guide Henry was engaging and friendly and we covered a lot of ground. The kids really liked that we took the smaller paths through the woods and saw more wildlife that way - including the monkeys throwing branches at us lol. Communication with the company was very good. We did not book a private tour but ended up being the only ones in the group, which was a bonus. Overall, we found the Sunset Tour was a great option - I think a lot of people opt for the early morning tours and Tikal seemed not terribly busy in the afternoon/early evening. We bought our tickets online in advance which was straightforward.

One of the best tours I have ever been on. The site was amazing and so was our guide. We saw so much wildlife (lots of monkeys) and got to seethe sunset from a beautiful view point. The pacing was great and we leaned a lot about the history of the site. The food/drinks provided before the tour was great, come hungry!

Booking this tour was hands down the best decision I made in Tikal. Juan is truly the best guide I’ve ever had—and I travel a lot. Some guides tell fun stories, but it’s rare to meet someone who genuinely takes pride in and has a deep passion for the history. Juan gives rich context and shares so much knowledge—you can tell he’s learned it through real reading and research. In a place like Tikal National Park, you also need someone who knows the area well. Juan knows the shortcuts, how to avoid the crowds, where to spot wildlife, and even the best angles for photos. And honestly, his English is better than mine. Even though we didn’t get to see the sunrise because of the clouds, we enjoyed every minute of the experience. The lunch was great, our driver Abraham was excellent, and overall the whole tour was amazing.

This Tikal tour was a true bucket list experience! Even though the weather wasn’t ideal, our guide Juan made the day absolutely fantastic. He was friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, and shared so many interesting facts along the way. What impressed me most was how he navigated the changing conditions—knowing all the best shortcuts and scenic stops to make sure we still caught the perfect view of the sunset. His enthusiasm and professionalism turned what could have been a damp day into a truly memorable adventure. Highly recommend this tour and especially Juan if you want an informative, well-organized, and enjoyable experience, no matter the weather!

The tour was fantastic and a highlight of our a trip to Guatemala. Lucio was warm, knowledgeable, and relaxed and it made for a great experience. This trip may be on the more expensive side compared to others but definitely worth it. The lunch was also delicious, an added bonus.

Jose was a very knowledgeable guide, in regards to the site as well as spotting and identifying wildlife, and made everything about the visit worthwhile.

This was such a fascinating tour. Starting with lunch and meeting two other tourists made it fun. Our tour guide was amazing. You can tell he really loved sharing the story and the history behind how Tikal was discovered and unearthed. Much larger than I had expected. I’m glad to have had a tour guide through the area or I would have been lost. He was great to point out the birds and animals as well.

After reading many glowing reviews about Marlon and GemTrips on a Tripadvisor forum — and after my brother also highly recommended him — I decided to book a private sunset tour. It turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip. Marlon picked me up at my hotel near the park and, after a quick lunch nearby, we headed into the ruins. From the very beginning it was clear how passionate and knowledgeable he is about Maya culture, the archaeological site, and the latest research. He has a wonderful way of explaining complex topics so they become easy to understand, and he patiently answered all of my many questions. What made the tour even more memorable was how much more Marlon shared beyond the ruins themselves. As we walked through the site, he pointed out birds and other wildlife I would never have noticed on my own. His deep knowledge of the local flora and fauna added a whole new dimension to the experience. Many times he stopped to pick up trash along the trail, which showed how much he cares about protecting this special place. The sunset location was amazing, and experiencing it with such a knowledgeable guide made it even more meaningful. Communication before and after the tour was excellent, and Marlon even sent me a very interesting link to a documentary on Tikal. If you’re considering a tour, I can wholeheartedly recommend Marlon and GemTrips. It was an experience I truly wouldn’t have wanted to miss.

We had an excellent sunset tour of Tikal with Jose! We started with lunch with a delicious hibiscus juice. We spent a few hours touring the park with plenty of time to explore. Jose was very knowledgeable about the history of the park, the animals that live there, and the best ways to explore the park.

Tikal is spectacular, but you really need a qualified guide to fully experience it. José Moreno was highly knowledgeable, likable, interesting, and a good communicator. His suggestion to start with a tasty noon time meal at the Jaguar Inn (included in the tour price) set us up nicely for five steady hours of walking and step climbing, with breaks whenever we felt like it. He is proud of his Mayan roots; and welcomed our many questions not just about Tikal but also about the Maya culture & Belize in general. We were impressed by his routing to minimize being around other folks, and to be well positioned for the “sunset experience”. He is college degreed in tourism so we had great conversations rather than just listening to a guide, spit out facts in a monotone voice. We had a great Tikal experience and Jose deserves much of the credit.

So cool! We were with Alberto, who knew Tikal like the back of his hand. Was able to tell us exactly what birds were around us just by the sounds they made. Provided us with lots of amazing information about the Mayan culture, history, as well as the specifics in Tikal. As much an ecological tour as it is a tour of the structures. Would highly recommend this tour. We had an amazing time!

Our guide Alberto was fantastic. We really appreciated his insight and knowledge of the history of the site. Sunset did not disappoint. We will try sunrise next time!

Great excursion! Very informative! We saw a ton of monkeys and birds. The sunset and golden hour were beautiful.

Our guide for the Tikal sunset tour, Alberto, was fantastic. During our five-mile, almost five-hour tour, it became clear he loved the land of his native Mayan culture. As a bird watcher himself, Alberto was skilled at finding and identifying all in our midst and his ability to spot other wildlife was keen, also. I'm a history and geography buff. Alberto appreciated this and was not only patient, but eager to answer my far-too-many questions. I cannot recommend Alberto highly enough. He grew up in the area surrounding Tikal just like the young man featured in the book "The Great Kapok Tree" by x. He's grown into the type of guide who embraces his continued love if the land and the culture that makes Guatemala so unique and vibrant. Alberto is the guide you want for your Tikal adventure.

We had an amazing sunset tour of Tikal with Gem Trips. We stayed at a hotel in the park, so we only had to walk over to the monuments. Our guide Milton has literally decades of experience at Tikal, and shared all kinds of fascinating info from memory. He was knowledgeable about not only the history, but also about the wildlife. One member of our party is an avid birder, and Milton was able to answer all her questions. Our tour started at noon, so we had all afternoon to explore, learn the history, and enjoy the birds and animals. At the end of the day, we climbed an ancient pyramid and watched the sunset. We highly recommend Gem Trips.

Jose Morelo was an exceptional guide. He was knowledgeable, warm, and clearly passionate about what he does. He went deep into Maya history, effortlessly recalling archaeologists’ names and complex details while making everything easy to follow and engaging. We had several amazing wildlife spotting moments, and when we realized we hadn’t brought binoculars, he generously shared his own with us. He was punctual, bilingual, and very clear with instructions throughout the day. A highlight was at the top of Temple IV, where he kindly offered to take photos of me and my family. You can truly feel how much he loves guiding. I highly recommend this tour with Jose for nature lovers and history nerds alike.

We were provided a wonderful afternoon and sunset tour with Alberto. He was very knowledgeable about the ruins and the birds and wildlife we saw. He was so friendly and relaxed. We were lucky to have him to ourselves but I think he is likely also great with a group. He really helped bring the site to life compared to the day before when we went on our own. The sunset was awesome and the tour guides helped by asking the crowd to stay quiet so all could enjoy the sounds of the jungle settling down for the night.

Absolute amazing private sunset tour of Tikal with our group of four friends. Marlon was a fantastic guide — incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and passionate, and he ran the tour flawlessly from start to finish. What really stood out was how much Marlon elevated the entire experience with his depth of knowledge and passion about the Mayan history. We saw several large group tours while we were there, and it was clear that our experience was on a completely different level — more personal, relaxed, and immersive. The tour simply would not have been the same without Marlon, and we can’t recommend Gem Trips highly enough!

Great tour! Really knowledgable and very friendly guide. Overall it was a great experience, from pickup till dropoff!

Incredible experience for our family of 6 + our 2 friends. GEM was great to work with and Marlon was a fantastic guide - super knowledgeable, energetic and engaging ... his passion for Mayan history and culture and for Tikal was evident for the entire 8 hours we were with him. And the transportation and lunch arranged was silky smooth. We have kids ages 8, 12, 15 and 17 and they all had a blast - and learned a ton...Marlon answered every question and offered up tons of knowledge. Was also super-cool to see the wildlife - the howling monkeys, spider monkeys, falcons, toucans, tarantulas, etc.

There was 6 of us on the tour and it was great! Our guide was so knowledgeable and shared his love for the culture with us. So happy to go.

We had a wonderful trip. Our guide Jose was very knowledgable. It was filled with wildlife and saw the spider monkeys along with many species of birds. It was very tranquil and so close to nature. I would recommend Gem tours as everything went smoothly

amazing tour, couldn't have been better in any way: service, food, knowledge of the guide. All outstanding, you should definetely go with GEM

Awesome tour, very knowledgeable guide with perfect English. We really enjoyed it. Watching the sunset from the platform was a magical experience. The food at the restaurant was great as well.

Marlon and team are unbelievably amazing. Every part of the experience was expertly run. I don’t usually leave reviews but was so excited by the tour I needed share

I usually don’t leave many reviews, but Marlon and the team were absolutely amazing. The tour was so well organised. We saw so many amazing things. His knowledge of history and nature is genuinely impressive.

Marlon our tour guide was phenomenal. Lots of wildlife spotting along the route include spider and howler monkeys, small lizards, rare birds, and more. Lots of walking and contextual historical facts to understand the connection between the sits. Lots of stops at beautiful views. Highly recommend one of the best hikes of my life!

Visiting the Tikal temples was truly the highlight of our trip. The site itself is breathtaking — walking among the towering pyramids surrounded by the jungle feels like stepping back in time. What made the experience even more special was having a knowledgeable guide with us. Our guide brought the ruins to life with fascinating stories about the Mayan civilization, their culture, and the significance of each temple. He knew the best spots for photos, the hidden paths away from the crowds, and even pointed out wildlife we would have missed on our own — from colorful birds to monkeys in the trees. The tour was perfectly paced, allowing time both for learning and for quietly soaking in the atmosphere. Climbing the temples and seeing the endless jungle canopy stretching to the horizon was unforgettable. If you are planning to visit Tikal, I cannot recommend going with a guide enough — it makes all the difference. This was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience that we will always remember!

Extraordinary tour! This is one of the best in my life. Great experience to know about the Maya civilization, the wild animals. Our tour Guide Marlon Díaz was very knowledgeable, he had an answer to all your questions and tought you about the nature, birds, and mammals from the area. In other words highly highly recommend this tour! Go for 100% guarantee!

Such a wonderful experience! Start to finish - highly recommend! I was picked up in a brand new EV for my ride to the Tikal national park. Very comfortable trip! My guide was a wealth of knowledge & I learnt a lot from him. Thank you for a lovely day!

The sunset tour of Tikal was an un unexpected pleasure. My shuttle from the airport was running late to the Jungle Lodge. Even though I was able to get my park entrance and sunset tour passes online and ahead of time at the recommendation Marlon and Gem Tours, the rest of the folks on the shuttle had to purchase in person which was a good 30 minute detour. Marlon and Jose we kind enough to wait for me to arrive and stow my luggage before starting the tour. Not saying they do this for everyone, but it was very nice of them to do so! My guide Jose was just as personable as he was professional. We were immediately able to bond over lunch at the Jaguar Inn (which is included in the price of the tour) where Jose was able to make some good recommendations on Guatemalan fare sourced locally or from the Highlands. There's nothing like a shared meal to get to know someone and we discovered we had common interests in family, gardening, and hot sauce 😀 The tour was nothing short of a menagerie of various sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and feels. I got to experience everything from the scent of eucalyptus from fresh crushed leaves of local trees to the soft touch of natural blooming tree cotton to the sticky running sap laced with strong traces of incense. Jose was able to point out various plants and wildlife throughout the tour from falcons, parrots, and various monkey species to the slightly more worrisome hornets and scorpions which were still pretty cool to see. Jose is really knowledgeable about the Tikal / Peten area as well as the rest of Guatemala as a result of extensive education and training in tourism science. While from Guatemala, Jose' travels and living abroad lended itself well to his English fluency which I very much appreciated. The pyramid and temple structures were spectacular in their own right which I will leave for you to discover on your own. Honestly temperatures are on the hot side reaching or exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit on May 2, but the temps are quite well balanced with a lot of natural shade and cool breezes (particularly at twighlight) from the jungle that has overgrown much of this lost city. There are some restrooms available, but make sure to bring a bottle of water as beverages are only available for purchase towards the entrance or at the Lost world. I did not need to apply any insect repellent at all though I brought some with me. There's a progressive elevation to be walked as you make your way towards Temple 4 and even steeper stairs or steps for climbing the temples themselves (if you so choose). Finally, the lookout over the the Lost world provided a fantastic view of the sunset. Jose made sure I was able to get there early enough to get a good seat on the platform before many of the other tourists wanting to get the same view. The photos don't do it justice, but I've added a few to get an idea of what you might experience.

Our guide was Jose Moreno and he was absolutely amazing! He was very knowledgeable, friendly and had a great sense of humor. We did the sunset tour for Tikal by accident. We meant to get the day tour, but our group was so glad that we got the sunset tour. We could all tell this was something Jose cared about. He did such an awesome job explaining the history and making it interesting and engaging. He pointed out a lot of wildlife (we saw a toucan, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, a red breasted hawk, and many others). Other guides (from other companies) were not as helpful for their groups, but Jose was very attentive and aware of our group. This tour was well worth the money we spent and we would gladly do it again!!!

This tour was amazing I learned so much about the Mayan culture and got to see so much wild life. Our tour guide Marlon was nice, attentive and knowledgeable. I felt safe at all times and appreciated his passion for the Mayan culture.