Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Site Practicalities
»
Admission to sites costs between nothing (rare) and Q150 (also rare and generally reserved for top sites such as Tikal
and Copán). Most sites charge around Q80.
»
Protect yourself against the sun and, at jungle sites, mosquitoes.
»
Sites like Tikal and Copán have restaurants, bookstores, toilets and authorized guides.
»
Little-visited sites may have no food or water available.
»
Guided tours to many sites are usually available from nearby towns, but many (but not all) are accessible independently.
ANCIENT MAYA SITES
REGION
SITE
DESCRIPTION
HIGHLIGHTS
LOCATION
TRANSPORTATION
Most famous of all
Guatemalan Maya
sites
Towering temples,
including the 65m-
high Templo IV
60km northeast
of Flores
public transport or
tour
El Petén
Late Preclassic site
with largest cluster
of buildings in
Maya world
La Danta, the largest
Maya pyramid yet
discovered
7km south of
Mexican bor-
der
82km by bus plus
two days walking (or
direct helicopter)
El Mirador
(
Click here
)
El Petén
Over 100 struc-
tures in 1 sq km
'discovered' in
2003 after looters
began sacking the
site
Features one of the
best-preserved Maya
murals with a depic-
tion of the creation
myth from the Popol
Vuh
Approximately
40km northeast
of Uaxactún
San Bartolo
(
Click here
)
Tours from Uaxactún
or Flores
El Petén
One of Guatem-
ala's most extens-
ive, least-access-
ible sites
Impressive carvings
and a sizable acro-
polis complex
40km down-
stream from
Yaxhilán
Piedras Negras
(
Click here
)
Tours from Flores or
Bethel
El Petén
Late Classic Peri-
od trading center
with impressively
preserved walls
Tours from
Flores or Mel-
chor de Men-
cos.
On the Río Mopan
near the Belize bor-
der
La Blanca
(
Click here
)
El Petén
A sprawling,
largely unexcav-
ated site occupying
its own
biotopo
abutting Parque
Nacional Tikal
Climb the Pirámide
del Diablo for views
all the way to Tikal
25km west of
Uaxactún
Tours from Uaxactún
or Flores.
El Petén
