Vast, sparsely populated, and jungle-covered, Guatemala's largest and northernmost department is a wonderland of exploration. Whether it's the spectacular architectural achievements of the Classic Maya, the bounty of the forest, or the chance to lounge lakeside that inspires you, it's all here in abundance.

Activities Lucía & Matt Recommend

Tikal Day Tour

In the heart of the jungle, surrounded by lush vegetation, lies one of the major sites of Mayan civilization, inhabited from the 6th century B.C. to the 10th century A.D. The ceremonial centre contains superb temples and palaces, and public squares accessed by means of ramps. Remains of dwellings are scattered throughout the surrounding countryside.

Flores

Flores Island in Guatemala is located in Peten, one hour south of Tikal. It is surrounded by the third biggest lake in Guatemala, Lake Peten Itza. The picturesque town of Flores Guatemala offers you the chance to enjoy stunning landscapes, cultural activities, plus, it is the gateway to most of the archaeological Mayan parks around the area.

This quiet island is one of the 25 most colourful places in the world. It hosts a big concentration of restaurants, cafés, and pubs to keep you busy during your stay. Flores is the perfect place to relax for a couple of days, combining it with awesome things to do like exiting excursions to the Crib of the Mayas, one of the biggest civilizations in the history of the world.

Yaxhá

The Classic Maya sites of Yaxhá, Nakum, and El Naranjo form a triangle that is the basis for a national park covering more than 37,000 hectares and bordering the Parque Nacional Tikal to the west. Yaxhá, the most visited of the trio, stands on a hill between two sizeable lakes, Lago Yaxhá, and Lago Sacnab.

The setting, the sheer size of the site, the number of excellently restored buildings, and the abundant jungle flora and fauna all make it particularly worth visiting.

During its heyday, in the 8th century, it was home to a population of 20,000. Its 400-plus structures included five acropolises, two astronomical observatories and three ball courts.

It takes at least a couple of hours to look around the main groups of ruins. The high point (literally), towering above all else, is Structure 216 in the Acrópolis Este (East Acropolis), which affords magnificent views in every direction. On an island near the south shore of Laguna Yaxhá is a separate, postclassic archaeological site, Topoxté.

The site is 11 km north of the Puente Ixlú–Melchor de Mencos road, accessed via unpaved road from a turnoff 32 km from Puente Ixlú and 33 km from Melchor de Mencos.

El M

irador

Buried within the furthest reaches of the Petén jungle, just 7 km south of the Mexican border, the Late Preclassic metropolis at El Mirador contains one of the largest clusters of buildings of any single Maya site, among them the biggest pyramid ever built in the Maya world. Ongoing excavations have only scratched the surface, so many are still hidden beneath the jungle.

El Mirador (The Lookout), the name given to the site by "chicleros" (chicle harvesters) before its 'discovery' by archaeologists, is due to the excellent views provided by some of the pyramids. La Danta (the Tapir) looms some 70m above the forest floor. Another pyramid, El Tigre, measures 55m high and its base covers 18,000 sq meters – six times the area of Tikal's biggest structure, Templo IV. La Danta, El Tigre and the other temples erected here display the unusual 'triadic' style, in which three pyramids crown a large platform, with the one in the middle dominating the other two, which face each other at a lower level. The facades of these buildings were once embellished with carved masks.

Cra

ter Azul

This stunning spring-fed tributary lies just a 90-minute boat ride from Sayaxché, during which you pass birdlife and a mix of farms, fields, and forests. The last few hundred meters are too shallow for the engine, and your guide will row the rest of the way. At the source, the water clarity is unsurpassed, allowing for stunning underwater photography and swimming. A small dock is the only facility, so you will need to bring all sunscreen, food and beverages, and carry out your trash.