Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Aguateca would suffer a similar fate and was abandoned sometime around A.D. 790,
after three defensive moats were built along Petexbatún Lagoon across Punta de Chimino
in a vain attempt to keep the invaders at bay.
Aguateca Cultural Monument
This cultural monument protects the site of Aguateca, situated on the banks of the Pe-
texbatún Lagoon, as well as the wonderfully isolated peninsula of
Punta de Chimino.
Aguateca sits at the southern edge of the lake on a high outcrop. The site is being excav-
ated and restored after its rediscovery in 1957. A dramatic natural chasm splits the site in
two and features exuberant vegetation. Two lookout points with wonderful lake views add
to the site's sublime atmosphere. The two main groups of ruins being restored include the
Palace Group
and the
Main Plaza,
connected to one another by a causeway. You'll find
some wonderful replicas beside the original, fallen over stelae in the Main Plaza.
The rangers here will let you camp for free. It's always a good idea to bring in some
extra food as a token of your appreciation. They can also provide walking sticks for the
potentially hazardous, slippery trails found throughout the site.
Explore
(4a Calle and 7a
Avenida Zona 1 in Santa Elena, tel. 7926-2375,
www.exploreguate.com
)
,
Martsam
(Calle
30 de Junio, tel. 7926-0346,
www.martsam.com
), and
Tikal Connection
(Calle 15 de Sep-
tiembre, tel. 7924-8664,
www.tikalcnx.com
)
all offer trips to Aguateca and you can camp
herewiththemuponrequest.
Posada Caribe
(tel.5304-1745,
www.posadacaribe.com
)
and
Chiminos Island Lodge
(tel.2335-3506or5750-8628,
www.chiminosisland.com
)
alsoof-
fer guided trips.
Farther north about four kilometers is
Punta de Chimino,
the peninsula that served as
the last stand for the local Mayan population in its attempt to repel its northern invaders.
A citadel complete with ramparts and trenches once crossed the peninsula's narrow neck.
You won't see any of this in evidence today, but the vegetation and lakeside setting make
thisaveryspecial place, asSpanish mossgraces largetrees inajungle unlike anyinPetén.
Today, it is the site of the spectacular and highly recommended Chiminos Island Lodge.
Dos Pilas Cultural Monument
InadditiontothesiteofDosPilas,you'llfindthesmallerneighboringsitesof
Tamarindito
and
Arroyo de Piedra
within the confines of this protected area. Though the site's well-
documented history is almost epic in proportion, its remains are much less astounding,
mostly because of the circumstances under which its reign came to an end. Still, there are
some well-carved stelae and some rare hieroglyphic staircases surrounding the main plaza.
A palace and a temple can also be seen here, with a tomb having been discovered under-
neath the latter. The jungle vegetation here is also well preserved.
Dos Pilas is accessible by boat from Sayaxché via the Arroyo Petexbatún. A trailhead
lies just before the Posada Caribe at a place known as
Paso Caribe,
from where it's a
