El Petén Airport

The primary reasons for closure were environmental conservation and archaeological preservation. The Guatemalan government and international bodies sought to protect Tikal National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, from the noise, pollution, and safety risks associated with air traffic operating directly within the park's boundaries. The development of the larger airport in Flores provided a viable and less intrusive alternative for tourist access.

The site of the former runway is no longer used for aviation. The paved surface is still visible but is largely overgrown with grass and is not maintained for flight operations. It has been repurposed and now serves primarily as an overflow parking lot for tourist buses and private vehicles visiting Tikal National Park. It is also used as a staging area for park operations and events.

This airstrip, officially known as the Tikal Airstrip (Aeródromo del Parque Nacional Tikal), was critically important for the development of Tikal as a major archaeological and tourist destination in the mid-20th century. Before its construction, Tikal was extremely remote and accessible only by arduous overland journeys through the jungle. The airstrip enabled archaeologists, researchers (notably from the University of Pennsylvania's Tikal Project), and tourists to access the site with relative ease. Guatemala's former national airline, Aviateca, operated regular scheduled flights, often using iconic aircraft like the Douglas DC-3, directly from Guatemala City to the heart of the park. This service was the catalyst that effectively opened Tikal to international tourism and research.

There are no known plans or credible prospects for reopening the Tikal airstrip. Given that Tikal is a protected UNESCO World Heritage site, reintroducing air traffic would contradict decades of established conservation policy. The current model of flying into Mundo Maya International Airport (FRS) in Flores and traveling to the park by road (approximately a 60-90 minute drive) is considered the established and sustainable method for managing tourism to the area.