Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP OF CHAPTER
Uaxactún
POP 963 / ELEV 175M
Uaxactún (wah-shahk-
toon
), 23km north of Tikal along an unpaved road through the
jungle, was Tikal's political and military rival in late Preclassic times. It was conquered by
Tikal's Chak Tok Ich'aak I (King Great Jaguar Paw) in the 4th century, and was subservi-
ent to its great sister to the south for centuries thereafter, though it experienced an appar-
ent resurgence during the Terminal Classic, after Tikal went into decline.
Uaxactún village lies either side of a disused airstrip, a remnant of the age when planes
were the only way to reach this inaccessible spot. The strip now serves as pasture and a
football field. Villagers make an income from collecting chicle,
pimienta
(allspice) and
xate
(exported to Holland for floral arrangements) in the surrounding forest. In the
xate
warehouse on the west end of town, women put together bunches of the plants for export.
About halfway along the airstrip, roads go both left and right to the ruins. Village boys
will want to guide you: you don't need a guide to find the ruins, but you might want to let
one or two of them earn a small tip.
Much of the attraction here is the absolute stillness and isolation. Few visitors make it
up this way. Uaxactún is off the power grid; evening church services and TV viewing are
by generator only. At the time of writing there was still just one phone for public use, in
an office on the south side of the airstrip, open till around 6pm. To reach anyone in Uax-
actún call 7783-3931, then wait a few minutes for them to fetch your party. There is
currently no cell-phone coverage. Internet access, via satellite signal, is available Monday
to Friday next to the
phone office
.
