52 Travel Destinations That Are Perfect for People Who Hate Crowds

49. Flores, Guatemala: Island Stillness and Mayan Echoes

Set on a tiny island in Lake Petén Itzá, Flores offers tranquility with a pulse. Cobbled streets, candy-colored houses, and gentle breezes make it easy to linger. But it’s also a base for reaching the lost world of Tikal—where Mayan temples rise from rainforest in near silence if you arrive early enough. Unlike overrun ruins elsewhere, Tikal retains its reverence. And back in Flores, nights are for lake reflections, local music, and long conversations. It’s history, held gently.