El Zotz-Tikal trail takes you through the jungle into El Zotz Biotopo (natural reserve)under the administration of the Center for Conservation Studies of the national University of San Carlos, and Tikal National Park home of world reknown Tikal. El Zotz reserve is for the protection and conservation of local flora and fauna including the bats nests of the area. Millions of bats live in this area and are an important component of the life of the tropical forest and also the archaeological site of El Zotz is located here. Zotz means bat in Maya.
Operated by the Maya Ke'kchí community of Cruce Dos Aguadas, located 62 Km. North of Flores, This trail passes through the Bat Biotope known as El Zotz Biotope, famous for its pristine forest and bat caves, treks through the jungle and comes out into finishing at the backdoor of Tikal National Park! Wildlife, archaeology and jungle exploration come together in this magical experience.
The trip starts in Flores and departure time is set at 6:00 in the morning.
Itinerary:
Day 1
Early rising in Flores. Land transfer tol Cruce Dos Aguadas where our journey begins. A local assistant will prepare the pack horses. If requested ahead of time, you can also hire ride the horses. The 5-hour trail to El Zotz is quite a windy road, with dense foliage and lively spider monkeys. Along the way to El Zotz, we will stop for a box lunch.
Upon arrival to the site, camp is set up near the rangers' station. In the evening, we walk to the base of a bat cliff (about 500 meters from the camp) and set up to watch the hundreds of thousands of bats that leave their cave dwellings in the cliff for a night of foraging in the jungle. Bat falcons can also be seen, diving at a high speed into the streams of bats as they hunt for their prey.
Bats are one of the most important elements in the reproduction of the rainforest. In one single night, a fruit bat can disperse the seeds of a tree along many square kilometers; nectar-eating bats also help the pollination of many other plant species. The bats make for an incredible and exciting experience, fully charged with the vitality of nature. Of course, if you don't like bats, you might want to wait in the camp. Later in the evening, a hearty meal - including fresh, hot tortillas - is prepared by your guide over a wood fire. Friendly conversation with the members of the expedition and the always helpful staff of the station get you ready for a night in the jungle.
Day 2
After breakfast, explore the nearby archaeological site, surveying its plazas and jungle-covered mounds. Climbing the tallest mound, the Devil's Pyramid, provides a glimpse of the summits of the temples of Tikal, 23 Km. to the East.
Afterwards, trek to El Yesal, a small jungle camp located deep in the forest, about halfway between Zotz and Tikal; it takes about 4 hours to get there, and we make a stop on the trail for lunch. After camp is set, we climb the hill just above the camp, for a view of the endless forest and the temples of Tikal in on the horizon.
El Yesal camp is composed of thatched roofs to hang hammocks and mosquito nets, and a latrine. After dinner, we set up for the night in this remote camp and listen to the sounds of the jungle. We have even heard jaguars howling in the distance.
Day 3
After breakfast, we break camp and head for the final leg of our journey toward Tikal National Park, through rolling terrain covered by tall primary forest. Pack horses are not allowed in the Park, so passengers have to carry their own packs during this segment. At some point along this trail, we stop for a lunch break.
After about a three hour walk, we arrive at the outskirts of Tikal, having passed dozens of jungle covered mounds. Approximately two hours later, we arrive at Temple IV on the West of the restored area of the site. If you wish to spend the night in Tikal, arrangements can be made through our office for reservations in a hotel in the park and a minibus back to Flores the next day. If you would like to return to Flores in the evening, we can also arrange for a minibus to pick you up from Tikal.
Traveler letters:
""At Zotz [the bats] are all around you and you can feel the wind from their wings as they fly by on millimeters away, sometimes, while walking we would even brush into them. We slept in hammocks, the food was excellent, and the guide were so fun and understanding. Seeing ruins that haven't been excavated yet is so interesting, we crawled through a small hole on our stomachs to get inside one of the temples. From the top of one temple, you can see Tikal in the distance-barely, but it's there. Zotz was definitely one the highlights of my entire trip, I strongly recommend you check it out... After the bats, we sat around camp at night, talking, stargazing, sipping pimienta tea made from leaves we'd picked that day while walking through the rainforest... It's great."
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price includes, land transportation to the community, pack horses, all meals, purified water, local guide in Spanish and assistant(s), entrance fees to the sites, camping equipment, land transportation from Tikal to Flores.
Prices are per three days
2 trekkers $190.00 p/person
3 trekkers $175.00 p/person
4 trekkers $160.00 p/person
5 trekkers or more $145.00 p/person
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Guatemala
Hiking & Trekking
Archeology/History
|
