Petén

El Peten, Guatemala’s largest and northernmost department, is a world into itself, with more than 2,000 archeological sites left by the enigmatic Maya, and huge expanses of pristine tropical forest. The Maya Biosphere Reserve, which contains the largest tropical forest in Central America, encompasses five national parks and three wildlife reserves, or biotopes, in the Peten. The Biosphere’s forest and wetlands are home to 333 species of birds and 54 mammals. Visitors will see lots of spider and howler nibkeysm toucans, parrots, and many other tropical animals as they explore the region’s archaeological sites and parks. Flights to Peten take about an hour from Guatemala City. Roads to the area are quite good, and Flores can be reached in about seven hours by car from the capital.

Flores and Lake Petén-Itzá

Flores, the departmental capital of Peten, sits on a small island once occupied by the Maya-Itza, in Guatemala’s second largest lake of Peten-Itza. The lake covers 99 square kilometers, and many of Peten’s inhabitants live in small towns around its shores.

The largest of these towns is Santa Elena, connected to Flores by a causeway.

Las Verapaces

A land of lush vegetation, gorgeous waterfalls, enormous caves, abundant wildlife, fascinating traditions and friendly people. Las Verapaces has something to offer every traveler. At its upper elevations, a light rain, known as chipi.chipi, frequently falls, nourishing the mosses, ferns, orchids and bromeliads that grow in the area`s cloud forest reserves. The Verapaces consist of Guatemala’s Alta Verapaz and Baja Verapaz departments. In the 16th century. Father Bartolome de las Casas set out to peacefully conquer the region’s inhabitants, after Spanish military campaigns had failed. To commemorate his successful efforts, the region was named Verapaz, which means “true peace” in Spanish. In the 19th century, the Verapaces became an important center for coffee production in Guatemala, when a number of German immigrants settled around Coban. The Verapaces are home to Guatemala’s national bird, the Resplendent Quetzal, and its national flower, the Monja Blanca orchid. Visitors can choose from eight convenient routes designed for weekend visit, or make up their own itinerary for exploring Las Verapaces.

North East

The most famous attraction in the Peten is Tikal, a beautiful Maya City set in the lush tropical forest of a national park covering 550 square kilometers. Toucans, monkeys, coatis, Ocellated Turkeys and many other tropical animals are commonly seen by visitors to the park, Temple 4, the tallest structure in the Maya World, towers 65 meters above the plazas of Tikal, and can be seen above the forest canopy from far away. More than 3,000 structures have been discovered in the 16 square kilometers of Tikal`s center, including temples, palaces, ballcourst and even a sauna. Human settlement at Tikal dates from at least 600 BC. But is golden age occurred during the six hundred years of the Classic period, from 300 to 900 AD. The heart of the city was the Great Plaza, where Temple ( “Temple of the Giant Jaguar”), Temple 2 and numerous stelae are found.

Uaxactún

Just 23 kilometers from Tikal, is a small, forested ruin a beautiful observatory, temples and palaces, and many other structures organized into eight groups. The temples and observatory of Group E are arranged to mark points where the sun rises on the summer and winter solstices. A large temple in Group A offers fine views of the surrounding countryside. About 600 people live near the ruins, and children in the community make some beautiful dolls from tusa, or corn husks.

Yaxhá and Topoxté

About an hour from Flores, just off the road leading to Belize, are found Lake Yaxha and the Yaxha and Topoxte archaeological sites. Yaxha is a lake surrounded by forest teeming with bird life. Boat tours are available to visit the islands of Topoxte, Paxte and Cantè in the lake, and to explore swamps at the lake`s far end, where crocodiles, Jabiru storks and Roseate Spoonbills are frequently seen. Topoxte is the only restored, Post-Classic site in the Peten, with columns and other architectural features similar to those found at Yucatan sites such as Chichen-Itza and Mayapan.

Biotopo Cerra Cahui

Visitors may start their exploration of Peten`s forest right on Lake Peten-Itza, at the Biotopo Cerro Cahui, a wildlife reserve covering 650 hectares found just 3 kilometers from the town of Remate. Two trails wind through the reserve, and the names of several trees are identified by small signs. On the longer, 6.6 km trail, visitors climb to a lookout point with a keys relaxing high in the trees.

North Central, El Mirador National Park

Located in the very northern part of the Peten near the Mexican border, El Mirador National Park contains 416 square kilometers with primary forest and the Mirador, Kakbe, Muralla and Tintal archaeological sites. El Mirador was a huge, pre-Classic city covering more than 16 square kilometers.

Punta de Chimino

Found on a peninsula of Lake Petexbatùn. Punta de Chimino was a heavily-fortified Maya city with three walls and defensive trenches. The city with three walls and defensive trenches. The city underwent a burst of construction from 830 to 850, at the end of the Classic era, when several building and stelae were erected. Sometime between 900 and 950 AD, the city was abandoned for unknown reasons.