What should I wear to Tikal?

[love1999]

What did you wear? We are doing the day trip from Belize and I am trying to decide if I need to plunk down $50-$75 on hiking pants or if I can get away with my $15 Old Navy shorts and lots of bug lotion. I will say that Mosquitos LOVE me but it is probably also going to be very hot there when we are there. I don't have any other lightweight pants I could wear other than like workout capris. I wasn't sure how much hiking was involved once you reach the site. Thanks!

[sergey]

I was just there in March and the bugs were pretty bad so I'd recommend covering up and using bug spray. I wore lightweight hiking pants (I already owned several pairs) but maybe you can find a cheap pair of full length workout/yoga pants at Target. The walk from the front gate to the ruins takes a while but it's not strenuous and after that how much hiking you do really depends on how much you want to see. For reference we were there for one full day staying at a hotel right outside the gate, did a sunrise tour, walked around the park during the day and went back in at sunset, saw everything and climbed everything and logged about 10 miles.

[Deleted]

I would wear long quick-dry pants. We were there in December and it was very wet and buggy. I wore very lightweight quick-dry hiking pants and sturdy Chaco hiking sandals. The first day we were there, it was warm and sunny and I wore capris and my ankles and lower legs were covered in bug bites. The second day we were there, we did the sunrise hike and it rained buckets and I was really glad to have my quick-dry pants. I know this makes it sound awful, but we had a great time and loved our hike there!

Check our Sierra Trading Post. I just got a pair of nice Mountain Hardwear hiking pants for about 30 bucks.

[sunshinedaydreams]

I'm not sure that I'd spend all that money on a pair of hiking pants unless you'll get good use of them outside of just Tikal. But I would recommend wearing long pants and socks/shoes.

I wore a sundress and sandals for our sunset tour in September because it was HOT and muggy. Even with tons of bug spray, I got eaten alive.

And, in case you weren't aware, there is a small risk of malaria in that area of Guatemala. Not enough that I'd take prophylaxis, but I would cover up and prevent bites in any way possible.

[love1999]

We already have anti-malaria pills that we will be taking but I know there are a couple of other mosquito borne illnesses that have cropped up there that there are no preventative medicines for so you just have to try not to get bitten.