Belize City to Tikal and back to San Ignacio

I am planning a trip for a group of three. We will be staying at San Pedro on Ambergris Caye for a week. When we are done there we will be taking the water taxi back to Belize City in the morning.

I would like to go directly from Belize City to Tikal or Flores or El Remate where we can spend the night. We will then spend the next day touring Tikal. That same afternoon I would like to return to San Ignacio where we have a hotel to stay at.

I was wondering if anyone has experience/advice for the cheapest and easiest ways to get to and from Tikal. We have no problems with public transportation and would like to utilize it as much as possible.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

You can book a shuttle to Tikal or Flores at the water taxi terminal before going to San Pedro & should be able to book on the next days return to San Ignacio, ask at the terminal.

If you can arrange a shuttle from the water terminal in Belize City all the way to Flores, much the better. Don't bother with El Remate - stay at either Tikal proper, or in Flores. El Remate is the worst of both worlds - you can't get from there to Tikal early enough for the sunrise, and there's nothing to do at night, like there is in Flores.

If you can't find a shuttle from Flores or Tikal back to Belize, take a taxi. It should be reasonable for a group of three. You'll have to get another one after crossing the border, but San Ignacio is only a few km beyond the border into Belize.

Sorry to disagree Felix but the local El Remate van driver will shake you out of bed if need be and make it first to the gate in the morning. The only way to get in a few minutes earlier is to sleep in Tikal, at one of the three hotels or at the campground.
There is little nightlife to speak of in Flores proper except for evening dinner. The nightlife in on the other side of the causeway in San Benito. And that is a 'hood where wearing a kevlar vest is not overdressing.

I loved El Remate, especially when compared to Flores. I was annoyed by flores as it felt really touristy. I'm sure that is alot more to do there, but I had good, quite times in El Remate.

I stayed in Casa Ernesto, which is next door to one of the hostels in LP. It was super laid back and they reallly knew how to cook there. Get an empanada there, soo tasty. Even if you don't stay at casa ernesto, go get an empanada!