How to get from Flores, Guatemala to Palenque, Mexico using the El Ceibo border crossing
Travelling from Flores, Guatemala to Palenque, Mexico via the El Ceibo border crossing without using the tourist shuttle.
My time in Guatemala comes to an end. Time to cross another border, this time I travel from Flores, Guatemala back into Mexico at the El Ceibo border crossing and further to Palenque.
Flores is the most popular town for travellers to base themselves when visiting the ruins of Tikal where the temples rise majestically out of the jungle:
From the small island (you can walk around it in 15 minutes), of Flores with the town of the same name, to Santa Elena is a 20-minute walk, where I got a direct colectivo to the border post at El Ceibo which was quite a result as I was expecting to need to change at the junction on the Naranjo road 20km short of the border.
Flores is the most popular town for travellers to base themselves when visiting the ruins of Tikal where the temples rise majestically out of the jungle:
From the small island (you can walk around it in 15 minutes), of Flores with the town of the same name, to Santa Elena is a 20-minute walk, where I got a direct colectivo to the border post at El Ceibo which was quite a result as I was expecting to need to change at the junction on the Naranjo road 20km short of the border.
It's a nice ride:
The colectivos stop 200m before Guatemalan immigration. Journey time was 4 hrs 30. Cost was 60Q
Once across the border:
El Ceibo - Mexico to Tenosique colectivos can normally be found a 10-minute walk from Mexican immigration.
I say normally because the day I was travelling there were none.
Why? One of life's little mysteries I guess.
El Ceibo is a nothing town. A few shops and not much else. No ATMs. So change your leftover Quetzals in Flores or at the border on the Guatemalan side.
I was travelling with 4 French travellers.
So in the absence of regular public transport, we stopped a 4x4 pickup and hitched a ride in the back for 50MXN:
El Ceibo - Mexico to Tenosique colectivos can normally be found a 10-minute walk from Mexican immigration.
I say normally because the day I was travelling there were none.
Why? One of life's little mysteries I guess.
El Ceibo is a nothing town. A few shops and not much else. No ATMs. So change your leftover Quetzals in Flores or at the border on the Guatemalan side.
I was travelling with 4 French travellers.
So in the absence of regular public transport, we stopped a 4x4 pickup and hitched a ride in the back for 50MXN:
We arrived in the centre of Tenosique from where it's a 30minute walk to get the colectivo to Palenque on the outskirts of town. They run half-hourly and go via Zapata (which adds about an hour to the journey. Fare is 90MXN and the trip takes 2hrs +:
Border formalities:
Leaving Guatemala: VERY EASY!
Entering Mexico: LONG AND DRAWN OUT. Go in one office for Covid questions. Go to another office and get asked by a non-smiling border officer about the length of your stay.
The rules are, if staying longer than 7 days, you pay 594MXN entry tax. So if this applies to you, you go off to the bank and pay. Yes, you get a receipt. They even take credit cards.
Then it's back to the stazi-like immigration officer who then stamps up your immigration card and passport. This takes about an hour. And Mexico is 1 hour ahead.
I wonder if they like to employ the sourest of Mexicans, who are always a very friendly and smiley bunch?
But, at least this time both the Guatemala guy and Little Miss Unsmiley didn't put the passport stamps on brand new pages!
Border formalities:
Leaving Guatemala: VERY EASY!
Entering Mexico: LONG AND DRAWN OUT. Go in one office for Covid questions. Go to another office and get asked by a non-smiling border officer about the length of your stay.
The rules are, if staying longer than 7 days, you pay 594MXN entry tax. So if this applies to you, you go off to the bank and pay. Yes, you get a receipt. They even take credit cards.
Then it's back to the stazi-like immigration officer who then stamps up your immigration card and passport. This takes about an hour. And Mexico is 1 hour ahead.
I wonder if they like to employ the sourest of Mexicans, who are always a very friendly and smiley bunch?
But, at least this time both the Guatemala guy and Little Miss Unsmiley didn't put the passport stamps on brand new pages!
Total costs using public transportation in 2021: 60Q + 50P + 90P (8 USD + 2.50 USD + 4.50 USD) = 17 USD or 127Q.
The cost of the tourist shuttle in 2021 was 230Q. And even using this requires a change of vehicle at the border.
Tourist shuttles do not cross into Mexico and if they have screwed you by not organising anything on the other side, you will be the sour one here.
And I guarantee you, if you chose the easy option, that your day will still be long so if you are in a hurry, fly.
Verdict: the journey was long and very hot but just another day at the office. 13 hours door to door in tropical weather.
The cost of the tourist shuttle in 2021 was 230Q. And even using this requires a change of vehicle at the border.
Tourist shuttles do not cross into Mexico and if they have screwed you by not organising anything on the other side, you will be the sour one here.
And I guarantee you, if you chose the easy option, that your day will still be long so if you are in a hurry, fly.
Verdict: the journey was long and very hot but just another day at the office. 13 hours door to door in tropical weather.
But in case you prefer the certainty of riding a shuttle between Flores and Palenque check out the deals on Guatego.com:
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