Flores was founded around the mid 15th century on a Peten (island) by the Itaes, who came south into Guatemala after being expelled from Chichen Itza on the Mexican Yucatan. The now modern town is built on ruins and foundations of the centuries old Maya Tayasal kingdom.

The island city of Flores is idyllically located off a 500m causeway surrounded by Lago de Peten Itza. The lakeside towns of Santa Elena and San Benito are much more commercial with banks and shopping malls – thankfully allowing little Flores to maintain the charm of a small town with homes cascading down from the central plaza to the emerald waters of the beautiful lake.

Flores is great for strolling up - in the town and around the promenade that rings the islet.

After our 1 hour afternoon journey from El Remate, our main aim was to find a ‘sundowners’ spot overlooking the lake. The 3rd floor Sky Bar with its terrace above the lake proved a perfect location, AND we arrived for happy hour drinks and snacks. Sadly it was not a stunning sunset due to too much low cloud – but and photographers amongst us enjoyed the opportunity to capture the vista.

Shortly afternoon sunset and before it got too dark we set off strolling up into the town to the Parque Central. The local kids were playing basketball, whilst a mix of families and oldies were sitting out around the square enjoying the fresh evening air. The Town Hall was still ‘dressed’ from the recent Independence Day celebrations and the imposing twin domed cathedral dominates the central square.

We continued to wander the streets and alleys, passing several small tourist hotels and many bars and restaurants. It is obvious that Flores now lives off the tourists visiting nearby Tikal.

There were just SO many lakeside restaurants to choose from along the Calle Sur and promenade – most looked like tourist joints pitching an international fare to the package tourist crowd. We chose to eat street food from the stalls set up by the local families. We ate well, trying several different plates of enchiladas, tacos etc and local fruit drinks, finally topped off with freshly baked cake. We enjoyed sitting on the plastic chairs and resting our plates on the low lake barrier walls, listening to the one lone local busker and people watching.

A very pleasant evening indeed, before herding back on the bus for our journey back to our base at Casa Don David in the village of El Remate for a night in a proper bed with an ensuite toilet and shower and aircon.