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The Petén
The rugged, densely forested northeastern appendage of Guatemala, the Petén borders both Belize and Mexico. Although the Petén was once home to hundreds of thousands of inhabitants during the reign of the Maya, is sparsely populated now, and its people live off of basic agriculture, logging and tourism. A vast region, the Petén makes up roughly one-third of Guatemala’s total landmass.
The Petén is primarily of interest to nature lovers and history buffs. The timeless rain forests are home to thousands of species of mammals, reptiles, birds and insects, and the plant life is abundant to say the least. Some of the more interesting ecosystems are protected, but unfortunately the Petén is in danger of losing much of its biodiversity to logging and development.
The Petén’s greatest attraction is, without a doubt, the ruins of the mighty Mayan city of Tikal. One of the most important Mayan sites, Tikal is a sprawling complex containing hundreds of structures, including some of the most spectacular temples in the Americas. In the remote northern part of the Petén, the site of El Mirador is even more impressive, but very difficult to reach. Other important Mayan sites in the Petén include Uaxactun, Yaxha, Seibal and Piedras Negras.
Most visitors to the Petén will use the picturesque town of Flores as their base of operations.
Things to do in The Petén
Tikal
Once home to 100,000 Maya, Tikal was one of the most important cities in the Maya empire. It was abandoned when the empire collapsed and re-discovered relatively recently. Today it is one of the most
...Guatemala
Acrópolis Central
This maze of residential palaces and small temples is found on the south side of Gran Plaza. Believed to be where the royal family and their relatives lived, some chambers still have remnants of low
...Guatemala
Acrópolis del Sur & Templo V
South of Gran Plaza is Acrópolis del Sur, which is a massive area yet to be restored. This two-hectare mass of stonework is still covered by vines and trees. The palaces atop the masonry date back
...Guatemala
Plaza de los Siete Templos
Next to the Acrópolis del Sur is the complex comprised of seven little temples built in a row. Although the temples were assembled during the late Classic period, there are other structures in the
...Guatemala
El Mundo Perdido (The Lost World)
This sizable complex consists of 38 structures oriented in a traditional Mayan pattern serving as an astronomy observatory. The ancient Mayans observed solstices, equinoxes and planetary cycles with
...Guatemala
Templo IV & Complejo N
The largest pyramid at Tikal, Templo IV is the second tallest surviving Mayan structure, reaching a height of 65m. The only taller Mayan pyramid is located at the ruins of El Mirador. Famed for the
...Guatemala
Birdwatching
The best place to go bird watching is Biotopo Cerro Cahui. It’s best go early in the morning when the birds start flying around. La Casa de Don David offers bird watching tours with knowledgeable
...El Remate, Guatemala
Northern Complexes
These complexes are found one kilometer away from the Gran Plaza via the isolated Maudslay Causeway; all of them are late-Classic twin pyramid complexes that are erected to honor the end of a katun.
...Guatemala
Ixlu
The turnoff for the road heading to Belize is known as “El Cruce.” Just 200 kilometers off the road are the ruins of Ixlu on the shores of Laguna Salpeten. There are small mounds, trails and a
...El Remate, Guatemala
Museum Tikal / Museum Cerámico
Situated right behind the park ticket stand, the entrance of Museum Cerámico is flanked by beautiful orchids and thick plants. It has more exhibits of valuable items discovered in the temple’s
...Guatemala
Biotopo Cerro Cahui
Two kilometers west of El Remate and along the shore of Lake Peten Itza, Biotopo Cerro Cahui is a rainforest reserve of six hundred hectares. It is one of the most accessible wildlife reserves in
...El Remate, Guatemala
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