Flores Overview

By Christopher Minster

The twin cities of Flores and Santa Elena are the most common launching point for excursions into Guatemala’s Petén region. Flores itself is the smaller city on an island in Lago Petén Itzá: Santa Elena is larger and on the shore. The two are linked by a causeway. Both town are often collectively referred to as Flores, although the airport is in Santa Elena.

The town of Flores is one of Guatemala’s oldest. It was originally the site of a small Mayan settlement called Nojpeten, which meant “Big Island.” Spanish reports describe the island as early as 1525. Because the island was so remote and well-protected by its location on a lake, Nojpeten was the last Mayan holdout to fall to the Spanish in 1697.  The city of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios y San Pablo de los Iztaes was founded on its ruins. The city was renamed in 1831 to honor Guatemalan president Cirilo Flores.

Flores is the closest city to the ruins of Tikal, the most important tourist attraction in the region.