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Back to Dolores

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Voykit pocket guide · Guatemala

Dolores

Half a day to see the Maya ruins and museum, then continue to Flores or Río Dulce. Not a base.

Dolores is a small town in southern Petén, on the main road between Guatemala City and Flores. Its draw is the unrestored Maya site Ixkún (tallest stela in Petén) and the Museo Regional del Surest de Petén. Most travellers pass through on the way to Tikal or Río Dulce.

AlmolongaCantelCarmelitaChichicastenangoChimaltenangoChiquimulaCobánEl ParedónEl RemateEscuintlaEsquipulasFloresGuatemala CityHuehuetenangoDolores100 kmdots: other places in this guide
Sketch, not to navigate by: shapes follow this guide’s areas and places, not official boundaries. North is up.
Country
Guatemala
Best months
Nov–Apr
Avoid
May–Oct (rainy season, roads can be muddy)
Stay
0 nights

Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.

Essentials

Currency
GTQ
Money
Currency is the Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ, Q). Cards work in Antigua hotels and restaurants; markets, lake villages and shuttles often need cash.
Daily spend
Budget Q150–250 excl. bed · Mid Q250–400 excl. bed · High Q400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
SIM and data
Tigo and Claro sell SIMs at the airport and shops; bring your passport.
Emergency
Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 122 · Tourist assistance 1500
Plugs
Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; power cuts in storms.
Tipping
Restaurants: 10% — check if 'propina' is already on the bill.; Guides (Tikal, volcanoes): Q50–100 per person per day.; Shuttle drivers: Q10–20.
Water
Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations in Antigua and lake hotels.
Toilets
Paper in the bin; public toilets charge Q1–5.

What things cost

ItemPrice
Bus Dolores → FloresQ25–35
Tuk-tuk within townQ10–20
Simple meal (comida corriente)Q30–50
Bottled water (1.5 L)Q8–12

Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.

Get in

By air

FRS · Mundo Maya International Airport (Flores)
About 1 h north by car or bus

Typical fares

Bus Dolores → Flores
about Q30, 1 h (check)
Tuk-tuk to Ixkún
about Q100 round trip with waiting (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card

Get around

Walkable centre. For Ixkún and El Chal, take a tuk-tuk or taxi from the main road.

See and do

Known for

  • Ixkún Maya ruins
  • Museo Regional del Surest de Petén
  • El Chal ruins

Day trips

WhereHowTime
FloresBus from the main road, about 1 h north1 h
Río DulceBus south on the main road, about 1.5 h1.5 h
El RemateBus or shuttle north, about 45 min45 min

Sleep

Town centre
A few basic hotels and guesthouses near the main road.

Phrase card

EnglishSay or show
HelloHolaOH-lah
Thank youGraciasGRAH-see-ahs
How much?¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWES-tah
Where is the bus stop?¿Dónde está la parada de autobús?DOHN-deh es-TAH lah pah-RAH-dah deh ow-toh-BOOS

Etiquette, safety and scams

Etiquette

  • Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; in villages a softer handshake; avoid: Rushing straight to business
  • Photography: Ask first and accept a no; avoid: Photographing children
  • Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Flash during ceremonies
  • Bargaining: Smile, make an offer, walk away politely; avoid: Haggling over a few quetzales with weavers

Scams and watch-outs

  • Ixkún and El Chal are unrestored: wear sturdy shoes, bring water and insect repellent.
  • Buses pass the town entrance, not the centre; ask the driver to stop at the turn-off.
  • Rainy season (May–Oct) can make dirt tracks to ruins muddy.

Petén is generally safe, but take standard precautions: don't walk alone after dark on unlit roads, keep valuables out of sight. The main risk is traffic on the highway.

One and two days

No timed day plan for Dolores yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.

  • Ixkún Maya ruins
  • Museo Regional del Surest de Petén
  • El Chal ruins

Sources

Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.

Pocket card

Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.

Dolores

Lléveme al centro de Dolores, por favor

Take me to the centre of Dolores, please

My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)

  • Police110
  • Fire and ambulance122
  • Tourist assistance1500

Spanish is the main language; some Q'eqchi' spoken in rural areas.

Voykit · checked 2026-09

Printed from Voykit (/dolores-guatemala). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.