Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PARKS & PROTECTED AREAS
BEST
TIME
TO
VISIT
PROTECTED
AREA
FEATURES
ACTIVITIES
large Caribbean wetland re-
serve; beaches, mangroves, la-
goons, birds, crocodiles, pos-
sible manatee sightings
Área de Protección
Especial Punta de
Manabique
boat trips, wildlife observation, fishing, beach
any
forest reserve beside Lago de
Petén Itzá; Petén wildlife in-
cluding monkeys
Biotopo Cerro
Cahuí
walking trails
any
Biotopo del Quetzal
(Biotopo Mario
Dary Rivera)
easy-access cloud forest re-
serve; howler monkeys, birds
nature trails, bird-watching, possible quetzal
sightings
any
within Reserva de Biosfera
Maya, adjoins Parque Nacional
Tikal; dense Petén forest with
millions of bats
Biotopo San Miguel
La Palotada
jungle walks, visits to El Zotz archaeological
site and bat caves
any, drier
Nov-May
Parque Nacional
Grutas de Lanquín
large cave system 61km from
Cobán
bat-watching; observation of the nearby Semuc
Champey lagoons and waterfalls
any
remote, large park within
Reserva de Biosfera Maya;
freshwater wetlands, Petén
flora and fauna
wildlife-spotting, including scarlet macaws,
monkeys, crocodiles; visiting El Perú archae-
ological site; volunteer opportunities at Las
Guacamayas biological station
Parque Nacional La-
guna del Tigre
any, drier
Nov-May
circular, jungle-surrounded,
turquoise lake, 220m deep;
many fish, occasional jaguars
and tapir
Parque Nacional La-
guna Lachuá
camping, swimming
any
national park within Reserva
de Biosfera Maya; Petén flora
and fauna
Parque Nacional
Mirador-Río Azul
any, drier
Nov-May
jungle treks to El Mirador archaeological site
beautiful jungle-lined lower
Río Dulce between Lago de
Izabal and the Caribbean;
manatee refuge
Parque Nacional
Río Dulce
boat trips
any
diverse jungle wildlife among
Guatemala's most magnificent
Maya ruins
Parque Nacional
Tikal
any, drier
Nov-May
wildlife-spotting, seeing spectacular Maya city
Refugio de Bocas
del Polochic
delta of Río Polochic at west-
ern end of Lago de Izabal;
bird-watching (more than 300 species), howler
monkey observation
any
