Getaway Travels — Local services in Flores

DO NOT ORDER FROM HERE. I can’t condemn this terrible company enough. It was the worst experience from my entire trip in the continent. I was blackmailed into deleting my previous review condemning this company, because they threatened to take away my tickets I had already bought and PAID for. We ordered through this company to enter from flores to belize and vice versa on the way back. Before paying, we were assured that there aren’t supposed to be any problems crossing because there haven’t been any problems for our country to enter recently, and if there were problems our bus would wait for us to cross the border. This was not the case. Exactly one hour after being caught up at the border, the bus left our entire group WITHOUT letting us know. Getaway travels, if you knew ahead of time there would be problems, why take our money and refuse to give us a refund after leaving us at the border? Why offer to take us knowing we would be caught up in the border and leave us stranded there? But that’s not all. Before leaving belize, we MADE sure that the bus would wait for us this time, of course paying again ahead of time. The company’s woman assured us that upon exit there won’t be any problems and that if there were then the bus would wait this time. WRONG. After two hours, the kind bus driver told us he unfortunately had to leave. Of course with no refund. If we knew there would be problems and that your bus wouldn’t wait for us, we would have NEVER booked with your company. Not only we did not get a refund for the bus to and from belize that did not wait for us, we were stranded at the border by this company that screamed at us on the phone to stop bothering them after begging them for help, we were also refused our ferry tickets once getting to Belize unless I deleted my review because of course all they care about is good views. Therefore I 100% DO NOT recommend this company especially for Israelis looking to travel, if you are held up at the border no matter what country you’re from they will not wait for you and leave with your bags and belongings on or off the bus, they don’t care. They are liars, scammers and cannot be trusted. If you are at all interested in crossing any border in the area, do not do it with this company. They will leave young girls stranded at the border in the middle of the night without a care in the world. ישראלים דיס רציני על החברה הזאת, אל תזמינו מפה בבקשה. הם לא מחכים לך בגבול של בליז ועוזבים בלי להודיע וכמובן בלי החזר כספי. I will not apologize again for this review and refuse to be blackmailed into deleting it again. I read other reviews and noticed this company pulls this trick quite often (ditching tourists at the border) so recommend to close border crossings from other lovely companies in flores, not this one. Added screenshots of the women refusing to give us our ferry tickets because of the review I left AFTER being ditched...

Caye Caulker to Chetumal SCAM!

Unreliable, misinformation, lies instead of sales techniques, not helpfull.

DONT BOOK YOUR TRIP AHEAD WITH THIS AGENCY! We wanted to buy our tickets from Flores to Caye Caulker only. This trip would take us by bus to Belize City and by ferry to Caye Caulker. This was what we wanted. Our plan was to take a ferry to Chetumal when leaving Caye Caulker as this ferry leaves at 7am (we prefer to win time by travelling either early mornings or late evenings). After hearing this, the sales guy of the Flores agency told us these ferries are not running to Chetumal anymore and he referred to his flyer stating that it does not run. Therefore he recommended us to take the return trip from Caye Caulker to Belize City and then travel by bus to Chetumal. To us, its less smooth and it requires us to travel during daytime (we lose a day basically). After asking him many times if he was sure it was not running he kept saying he was sure and, moreover, he was from Belize. One day later we went to Caye Caulker and as soon as I arrived in Belize City harbour I saw the exact same flyer in the Gettravel agency, but it said Caye Caulker to Chetumal runs everyday at 7am. After asking the guy of the Getaway travel Belize City agency since when they are running he said they just run, just like that. When i told him about my booking he said that the Flores agency probably has an old flyer. He was being really vague and tried to get rid of me. To me, such a company that operates in Belize and Guatemala should be aware of whether the ferries run or not. Hence, to me, Getaway travels Flores wants to sell the bus tickets to fill up their busses from Belize City to Chetumal. I mean that is okay, but they should not sell with lies and not even when it does not match the customers' needs. That is really irrational. I have tried to reach out to Gettravels to rebook our trip, but they dont pick up the phone while they have said that we can always reach out to them if there is anything.

If you are planning to visit Bacalar/Chetumal through Bacalar DONT book a return trip Caye Caulker with Getaway travels. Just make sure u book the part that brings u to Caye Caulker directly. You can book ur trip to Mexico easily in Caye Caulker. I have tried to reach out to Getaway travels, but they dont pick up the phone while they have said that we can always reach out to them if there...

We were so lucky to get the recommendation for the tour in Tikal with the Gateway Travels. We knew what we want (morning tour to see the sunrise and daily tour to explore the site), but was searching for the right option. And the recommendation we get from Carlos (Manay Spirit Hotel - you should try this accomodation, too - check other review), was really excelent.

They pick four of us at the agreed time and place. The drive was perfect and easy with the lady owner who drove us safely in both directions. We stop for the lunch at the other side of the lake and came to the Tikal about one and a half hour before the sunset. But, hour tour guide, Samuel, decided to walk with us around and show as a smart portion of what we are going to see next day. We get up early in the morning and walk to the Temple IV from which is the view simply amazing. We spent there more than one hour, enjoying the nature, light and sounds. Later on, we took the breakfest and continue to walk and visit the buildings, temples and pyramides.

Samuel really gave us a lot of information about the history of Maya's culture, beliefs, medicine (we even has a chance to try it after one unknown bite). He showed us animals, spiders, flowers, trees and other details we will probably miss as we are not used to have such sharp eye, while he grow up in this jungle. It was great to hear him talk so passionate about his people and history. There was no single question wihtout answer. He has a sence for humor, so it made several hours of walk very comfortable. Also, she used several trails not so crowded with tourists - as a result we could enjoy jungle noise, not human.

Bottom line, if you are thinking about traveling to Tikal - just do it! This is wonderful place, so different from others. And be sure to book the tour with Gateway Travels and ask for a Samuel as your guide. That is the right choice! They offer some other tours, too - our schedule did not allow to try it, but we will do it next...