A private charter to Flores (FRS) is quoted on request for the whole aircraft, not per passenger. It is the only destination in the catalogue where the price changes depending on whether the flight crosses a border: from Belize it is international, from Guatemala City it is domestic.
Quoted per aircraft, not per seat
The fare covers the entire aircraft and does not vary with passenger count. With 4–12 seats, the cost per person depends on how many travel.
Variable 1: the origin, and whether it crosses a border
| Origin | Distance | Flight type |
|---|---|---|
| Belize City (BZE) | 96.9 NM · 179 km | International (Belize → Guatemala) |
| Belize Municipal (TZA) | 102.4 NM · 190 km | International |
| Guatemala City (GUA) | 145.1 NM · 269 km | Guatemalan domestic |
It is the same counterintuitive pattern as Bocas del Toro: the closer origins are the international ones. Belize is some fifty nautical miles nearer than Guatemala City, but it means immigration and customs at both ends, more booking lead time and less same-day flexibility.
From Guatemala City the flight is domestic, with all the flexibility that implies, even though the distance is greater.
Detail on Belize City to Flores and Flores to Belize City.
We handle the formalities if the flight is international
Variable 2: the airport, which works in your favour
Mundo Maya sits in Santa Elena, city of Flores, Petén Department, at 387 feet elevation. It is Guatemala's second busiest airport — 186,324 passengers in 2022 — and it has the longest runway in the country.
That makes it, technically, one of the most comfortable fields in the whole catalogue despite sitting in the middle of the Petén jungle. It is not a short strip that narrows the aircraft options, like Drake Bay or Playón Chico: here there is room to match the aeroplane to the actual group.
A documentation note: its ICAO identifier changed from MGTK to MGMM in 2012, and references using the old code are still in circulation.
Aircraft assigned on confirmation · 4–12 seats · baggage confirmed at booking by weight and volume
Variable 3: same-day return
A good share of passengers to Flores are not staying: they are based on the Belize cayes, they want to see Tikal, and they want to sleep where they already are.
That pattern doubles the flight and therefore the air component of the budget. And its feasibility does not depend on the flight but on three things we do not control: park hours, the transfer between the airport and Tikal, and departure and entry formalities at both air borders.
Our same-day return policy, with cut-off times: We quote waiting time and aircraft overnights at the destination: tell us whether you return the same day or the aircraft waits, and we include it in the price.
Variable 4: the international formalities
From Belize there is exit and entry with formalities at both ends. Documentation requirements, flight plan filing deadlines, fees and service hours: Departure and entry formalities vary by country and need lead time; we coordinate them with every passenger’s details.
What can be anticipated: more booking lead time, less rescheduling margin, and hours constrained by the customs service.
The road alternative
From Belize, the overland route crosses the Petén to the Melchor de Mencos border with formalities on both sides. It is a full day one way, plus the transfer from Flores to Tikal. It is cheaper and entirely valid if you want to see the Petén; excessive if the objective is the ruins.
Empty legs
When a repositioning sector coincides with your route and date, the fare can drop. On international routes the coincidence is less frequent. We work with empty legs: they arise from operations already confirmed, are listed at short notice and are not guaranteed. Ask us what is available that day.
On confirmed closures: Several fields in the network operate in daylight and visual conditions, and close when the weather does not allow it.
What the fare does not include
It covers the flight. We do not quote third-party services: hotels, Tikal or Yaxhá entry, guides, or the transfer from Santa Elena to the park beyond what we confirm in the booking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a private charter to Flores cost?
Quoted per aircraft on request. The price depends on origin, on whether the flight crosses a border, and on the date.
Is it cheaper from Belize or from Guatemala City?
Belize is some fifty nautical miles nearer, but it is an international flight with formalities at both ends. From Guatemala City it is domestic and more flexible.
Can I go and return the same day to see Tikal?
We quote waiting time and aircraft overnights at the destination: tell us whether you return the same day or the aircraft waits, and we include it in the price. It depends on park hours, the Santa Elena–Tikal transfer and border formalities, not on the flight.
Why is it not more expensive given the jungle location?
Mundo Maya has Guatemala's longest runway and is the country's second busiest airport. It does not narrow the aircraft options the way short strips do.
Why do I see the code MGTK?
The ICAO identifier changed from MGTK to MGMM in 2012. References using the old code are still in circulation.
What does the fare include?
The flight. We do not quote Tikal entry, guides or accommodation, because those are not our services.