Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Grupos B & A
About a 20-minute walk to the northwest of the runway are Grupo B and Grupo A, the lat-
ter featuring the more formidable structures around the city's main square. Palacio V
OFFLINE MAP , on the east side of the square, is considered a model for Tikal's North Acro-
polis. In 1916 the American archaeologist Sylvanus Morley uncovered a stele dating from
the 8th baktun at Grupo A. Thus the site was called Uaxactún, meaning 'eight stone'. Be-
hind Palacio V, along a path back toward the village, is the imposing Palacio A-XVIII
OFFLINE MAP , affording the most panoramic view of the site from its summit.
Stela 5 , at Grupo B, displays Tikal's signature glyph, from which archaeologists deduced
that Uaxactún was under that city's sway by the date inscribed, 358.
Colección Dr Juan Antonio Valdés
Though many of the objects unearthed at Uaxactún ended up in museums around the
world, the Colección Dr Juan Antonio Valdés OFFLINE MAP at the Hotel El Chiclero holds a re-
markable wealth of Maya pottery from Uaxactún, Yaxhá and as far away as Oaxaca, Mex-
ico. There are vases, cups, plates, bowls, incense burners and tall vessels for drinking
chocolate. Caretaker Neria can tell you the history, origin, meaning and use of each one. A
case contains some of the most precious finds: stone earrings, arrowheads and three plates
showing the dance of the corn god.
Activities
A recently installed interpretive nature trail, the Sendero Interpretativo El Wit'z , runs 1.7km
through the jungle, initiating from a point 200m beyond the Comedor Imperial and ending
up at Grupo H of the Uaxactún archaeological site. Moving from cultivated to preserved
sections of the forest, it is meant to demonstrate the effectiveness of conservation in pre-
serving the environment. Chicozapote, ramón and other native trees grow in the protected
part.
Tours
Tours to Uaxactún can be arranged in Flores or at the hotels in El Remate and Tikal.
Hector Aldana Nuñez, from Aldana's Lodge ( Click here ) , is an English-speaking guide
specializing in nature-oriented tours of the region. He leads three-day treks to El Zotz and
Tikal for around Q1300 per person. He also offers survival training (Q350 per day), in
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