Continuing my journey back to Mexico City, I took the Fuente del Norte bus from Rio Dulce to Flores
Fuente del Norte run the only service (that I found) to Santa Elena, from where it is a 2 km hike or a 20Q tuk-tuk ride across the causeway to Flores. The buses do not go all the way to Flores!
The bus is coming through from Guatemala City, so it arrives sometime after 8 am. Mine turned up at 9.45 am. 150Q. Yup, it’s a steep price for 200km. A monopoly! Before the completion of the Puente de Rio Dulce, the road north was dirt, and the trip took up to 14 hours in the rainy season. Kinda glad it’s paved these days.
Another day at the office, a few police checkpoints, where at one, two without ID were going to be ejected, but a bribe was paid and we continued. And them another near the turnoff to Coban.
Arrival in Santa Elena at the main bus terminal on 6a Avenida was at 2.30 pm, so 4 hours and 45 minutes for the trip.
I hiked the short distance to Flores and the Hotel Posada Tayazal, where I’d arranged to stay. A small room for just 50Q. Better than the Amigos Hostel, where a dorm costs 100Q and has an on-site discotheque.
Flores is the jumping-off point for visiting the ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal National Park.
Or if you prefer, take the Rio Dulce to Flores shuttle.