On day eight, head to Tikal National Park. It’s about an eight-hour drive from Semuc Champey to the park, and you’ll want to make sure you arrive at the park in time to check-in, settle into your accommodation, and go on either a sunset or moonlighting tour of the jungle and ruins.

For the sunset tour, you’ll hike into the jungle when it’s daylight, explore some of the ruins, climb up a temple to watch the sunset, then walk back in the dark. The moonlighting tour only happens during a full moon. But if the timing works out, this specialty tour about Maya Cosmology is fascinating.

I strongly recommend procuring lodging inside the national park. This is the only way you’ll be able to do the evening and morning excursions. The park is only accessible from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm unless you’re staying in the park.

Start day nine by sleeping in since you’ll have been up late in the park and take a day trip to the island town of Flores.

On day ten, plan for a very very early morning for a sunrise tour. With this tour, you’ll trek into the jungle when it’s still dark. Then you’ll climb up a temple where you’re actually above the rainforest canopy to watch the sunrise and hike back once it’s daylight. This is one of my favorite experiences I’ve ever done!

You can then catch a flight from the nearby Mundo Maya International Airport back to Guatemala City or to Belize City to head home or to your next destination.