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Added by Jopie, at 07 February 2017
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6 Reviews
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20 March 2018
Carmelita Cooperative was the perfect organization for our 5-day jungle trek to El Mirador.Total mileage was about 75 over 5 days.
CC picked us up in their van the morning of the tour at 5am in Flores for the 3.5 hour drive to Carmelita where the trek begins. Return transportation from Carmelita to Flores at the end of the trip was also included. Mules to carry all gear, gallons of water, and personal belongings were also included. We only had to carry a small daypack with water for the day, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, etc. bring a water bottle and hydration bladder. I easily went through 6L of water by mid afternoon. The mules carried all other items including our bags with our clothing for the 5 days.
We trekked during the day from one camp location to the next, and spent one full day exploring Mirador. Each morning and evening, we trekked to see the sunrise or sunset. It was magical and so worth the early mornings. We had plenty of time at both Tintal and Mirador to explore. Each trek to sunrise, sunset, and to explore the ruins was guided. Days were long, 7-8 hours of trekking. Get started between 7 & 7:30am so you have adequate time without sprinting through the jungle.
The staff was great. Very attentive and safety oriented. There were several small injuries throughout our trip (blisters, sore ankles, upset stomachs, the usual for long treks) and guides and support staff took very good care to make sure we were looked after.
Vegiterian meals were very good, and there was always enough to go around. I definitely recommend bringing protein bars and high calorie snacks to supplement throughput the day.
Camping was comfortable but very rustic. CC provided all tents, sheets, and blankets. At both Tintal & Mirador, tents were located in covered areas, which will be critical during the rainy season. Toilets and both locations were stinky and in rough condition. Plan on bringing your own toilet paper.
Unheated showers were available at Tintal, and a shower/bucket system available at Mirador for 10Q/person. Bring a quick dry towel! In the hot & dry season, the showers were extremely refreshing. If you can, bring biodegradable soap. There is a laundry washing station available at Mirador as well if you need to wash your undergarments.
Our guides were good. We lucked out and had an English speaking guide! Our English speaking guide was added as no charge because our group size was 6. Usually an additional 1000Q extra. The only downside to our experience was our English speaking guide could have been more professional in some instances. Lots of swearing and personal stories which did detract from the serene experience. We looked to the guide to set the day's timetable, and that didn't happen which caused us to get too late of a start the first 2 mornings. This led us to sprinting to our next campsite towards the end of the day to make it before dark. After that, we decided as a group that we'd get started by 7 every morning.
There was also some personal conflict between our English and Spanish speaking guides, which put us as guests in an uncomfortable position. It certainly did not ruin the trip by any stretch, but it shouldn't have happened in front of us.
Overall, a very rewarding experience. I highly highly highly recommend this adventure. Do it within the next few years before excavation is finished and it becomes more easily accessible.response / report this review -
31 January 2018
Con una seguridad del 100% recomendarÃa hacer el tour a El Mirador con la cooperativa Carmelita. Esto lo digo después de haber pasado 5 dÃas en la selva con ellos. La información en la oficina de Flores y página web nos transmitieron seguridad y confianza antes de hacer una excursión de 5 dÃas que requiere de una buena logÃstica, de otra manera todo serÃa mucho más complicado.
Nos recogieron puntuales en la oficina y nos llevaron a Carmelita, donde nos incluyeron ya todo los servicios hasta el último momento.
El menú vegetariano fue muy variado y abundante, y la cocinera siempre estuvo atenta a nosotros. El guÃa siempre tenÃa un tema de conversación, haciendo los trayectos muy amenos, porque a veces el barro y la lluvia eran muy pesados. Y nuestro arriero fue muy amable y rápido con su trato y trabajo.response / report this review -
26 December 2017
A pesar de que el tour contratado por el Parque Nacional Tikal fue una experiencia agradable, me cambiaron de un grupo en español (servicio que contraté) a uno en inglés.
Además, es un aspecto positivo que brinden la facilidad de recoger a los pasajeros en la estación de buses en Santa Elena, sin embargo, yo como turista fue quien debió buscarlos en lugar de que ellos como agentes de viajes me localizaran y me recibieran.response / report this review -
18 November 2017
Excelente experiencia
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04 May 2017
Great guides
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14 February 2017
Best place to book your El Mirador trip directly with the Cooperativa Carmelita. If you don't speak Spanish, ask for Oscar, he will help you with everything.
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