Stay on Isla de Flores to be among its restaurants and bars, in Santa Elena for a hotel that prints its rates near the airport, or in San Miguel across the water, which its hotel calls a quieter side of the lake, a 2-minute boat ride away.
In short: Casona de la Isla, on the island, lists a free airport transfer and puts Mundo Maya airport 3 km away; Hotel Isla de Flores runs its own airport buses but warns that island parking is very limited. Hotel del Patio in Santa Elena prints rates from Q400 to Q475. Hotel San Miguel sits across the lake, 2 minutes by boat from the island, with private parking. Casona del Lago, on the shore facing the island, lists 46 rooms, free parking and an included airport transfer.
The three areas in one table
The table shows what each hotel publishes on its own page about the things that change by area: getting from the airport, parking and getting to the island.
| Area | Hotel | Airport | Parking | Rate printed on its page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Isla de Flores | Casona de la Isla | 3 km; free airport transfer | Not stated | None |
| Isla de Flores | Hotel Isla de Flores | Its own buses from the airport; contact for schedules | Very limited on the island; small public lot opposite, valet nearby | None on its services page |
| Lakeshore facing the island | Casona del Lago | 15 minutes; transfer included | Free parking | None |
| Santa Elena | Hotel del Patio | Minutes from the airport; no transfer stated | Not stated | Q400–Q475 offers (below) |
| San Miguel, across the lake | Hotel San Miguel | Not stated | Private parking | None |
Sources: Casona de la Isla and Casona del Lago (Hoteles de Petén), Hotel Isla de Flores services, Hotel del Patio, Hotel San Miguel, all read 10 November 2026.
Isla de Flores: airport rides and the parking problem
Casona de la Isla, run by the Hoteles de Petén group, says it sits on Isla de Flores directly on the lakeshore. It lists an outdoor pool, 24-hour reception, free Wi-Fi, its own Restaurante Isla Bonita and a bar, with more restaurants and bars around it. All rooms have air conditioning and look onto the patio, the lake or the pool; standard rooms come as single, double or triple. It lists laundry, tourist information and a free airport transfer, and puts Mundo Maya International Airport 3 km away and Tikal National Park 1 h 30 min. Check-in is 15:00 and check-out 12:00.
Hotel Isla de Flores describes a rooftop pool and three room types (Premium Room, Jr. Suite and Suite 207). Its shuttle page says its fleet of buses takes guests from the airport to its two properties, the Flores hotel and its sister Jungle Lodge inside Tikal National Park, and asks guests to contact it for schedules or reservations, so the service is arranged rather than automatic.
The same page is the clearest warning about driving to the island: it says the island is small, with very limited space for public or private parking, a small public parking area opposite the hotel subject to availability, and valet parking at a nearby facility arranged through the hotel. If you are arriving by car, ask any island hotel where the car will go before you book.
Santa Elena: published rates near the airport
Hotel del Patio gives its address as 2a calle y 8a avenida esquina, zona 1, Santa Elena, and describes itself as minutes from the airport, Flores island and Lake Petén Itzá. It is part of the Camino Real group. Its rooms are singles and doubles with air conditioning, private bathroom, safe, cable TV and complimentary internet; room service runs 7:00 to 16:00 and the pool 5:00 to 21:00.
It is the only property in this comparison that prints room prices on its page, read 10 November 2026:
| Hotel del Patio offer | Price as printed | Condition printed with it |
|---|---|---|
| Adventurer (rate) | From Q475 | Breakfast included |
| Stay 3 nights and save (package) | Q410 per night | Single or double room |
| Enjoy Petén | Q400 per night | Rate for Guatemalan citizens; restrictions apply |
The Adventurer line does not say whether the Q475 is per night or for how many guests, and the nationality condition belongs only to the Enjoy Petén price. The hotel also sells a daily Tikal tour that starts with a transfer from the hotel and involves about four hours of walking with rest stops; no tour price is printed. The page shows no airport transfer, so being minutes from the airport does not mean a ride is included.
San Miguel: across the water
Hotel San Miguel gives its address as Club Paraiso, San Miguel, Flores, and says it is on the shore of Lake Petén Itzá, a 2-minute boat ride from Isla de Flores, in an archaeological zone. It says every room has a private balcony overlooking the lake or the town, and lists complimentary Wi-Fi and private parking. It puts itself 15 minutes from the Mirador del Rey Canek and El Chechenal beach.
Its homepage does not print a boat fare, the hours boats run or an airport pickup. Ask the hotel how guests cross to the island in the evening and how you get there from the airport. Two other boat trips from the island, to the Petencito wildlife centre and the Santa Bárbara islet museum, have their own guides.
On the lakeshore facing the island
Casona del Lago, also a Hoteles de Petén property, describes itself as on the shore of Lake Petén Itzá facing Flores island. It lists 46 single, double and triple rooms with private bathroom, air conditioning, safe, Wi-Fi and TV, a pool and jacuzzi, free parking, breakfast included, an elevator, a generator and an included airport transfer. Its description puts the airport 15 minutes away (its points-of-interest list says 10 min) and Tikal about an hour and a half by car. It also has six event halls for 20 to 400 people, so ask whether an event is booked for your dates if quiet matters.
Choose by what you will do each day
For Tikal, Casona de la Isla and Casona del Lago both put the park about 1 h 30 min away. For the drive and tour options, see Flores to Tikal; to sleep next to the ruins instead, see where to stay near Tikal. For the island itself, start with the Flores guide and things to do in Flores. For what the UK and Canadian travel advice says about Petén, the Tikal road and the border crossings, see is Tikal safe?.
Sources
All hotel descriptions, prices and services above are published by the hotels or their operating group.
- Hotel del Patio, homepage: https://hoteldelpatio.com.gt/en/ — read 10 November 2026.
- Hotel San Miguel, homepage: https://hotelsanmiguel.mydirectstay.com/ — read 10 November 2026.
- Hoteles de Petén, Hotel Casona de la Isla: https://www.hotelesdepeten.com/hotels/casona-de-la-isla — read 10 November 2026.
- Hoteles de Petén, Hotel Casona del Lago: https://www.hotelesdepeten.com/hotels/casona-del-lago — read 10 November 2026.
- Hotel Isla de Flores, services: https://www.hotelisladeflores.com/en/services/ — read 10 November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which area of Flores, Guatemala should I stay in: the island, Santa Elena, or across the lake?
Stay on Isla de Flores if you want restaurants and bars around you and a hotel that publishes an airport transfer (Casona de la Isla); in Santa Elena if you want a hotel that prints its rates (Hotel del Patio, Q400-Q475); or in San Miguel, which Hotel San Miguel calls a quieter side of the lake, 2 minutes by boat from the island (hotel pages read 10 November 2026).
Do Flores island hotels offer an airport transfer?
Some say so. Casona de la Isla lists a free airport transfer and puts Mundo Maya International Airport 3 km away. Hotel Isla de Flores says its buses run from the airport to the hotel and asks guests to contact it for schedules or reservations. Casona del Lago, on the shore facing the island, lists the airport transfer as included.
What room rates does Hotel del Patio in Santa Elena publish?
Its homepage, read 10 November 2026, lists an Adventurer rate from Q475 with breakfast included, a stay-3-nights package at Q410 per night for a single or double room, and an Enjoy Petén price of Q400 per night for Guatemalan citizens, with restrictions.
How do I reach Hotel San Miguel from Flores island?
The hotel describes itself as on the shore of Lake Petén Itzá in San Miguel, a 2-minute boat ride from Isla de Flores. Its homepage does not give a boat fare or an airport pickup, so ask the hotel how arriving guests cross.
Can I park a car on Flores island?
Space is tight. Hotel Isla de Flores says the island has very limited public or private parking, with a small public lot opposite the hotel subject to availability and valet parking at a nearby facility. Casona del Lago on the lakeshore and Hotel San Miguel list parking.
