Carmelita

Carmelita is a small village in Guatemala located due to the current adherence to the Tintal-Mirador causeway just 63 kilometers from El Mirador and 65 from Nakbé.

Buses leave Carmelita for Flores and vice versa (in Santa Elena FROM THE MARKET) at 1 PM and 5 AM. It takes about 4.5 hours to arrive.

Bring a book and reading light.

There are two comedors in town, one on each side of the old airstrip. Don't expect anything of a food nature but beans and eggs unless you bring it yourself, and you will not be disappointed.

Thanks to solar energy, there are cold beers at the comedors and at some tiendas in town.

The comedor nearest the Cooperativa has two basic dorm rooms with four double beds each right behind it. Make sure that a comfortable bed is available before paying. Make sure you know exacly where the outhouse is before dark.

There is presumably a cantina somewhere in town, but I didn't go looking for it.

• If you want a real adventure and untouched mayan ruins.. take a chicken bus from Flores to Carmelita and hire a guide to take you to El Mirador. It is a 70km hike out to the site through dense jungle with a few stops on the way. Most people split the hike into two days but you can opt to do it in … • Aj