Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In the heart of Petén, the twin towns of Flores and Santa Elena are often referred to simply
and collectively as “Flores.” The latter is actually limited to a small island on Lake Petén
Itzá connected to Santa Elena, on the mainland, by a causeway. Flores is a pleasant island
town unlike any other in Guatemala with pastel houses and quiet streets. Santa Elena is a
bit noisier and more chaotic because of its prominence as Petén's main commercial center.
Farther west, Santa Elena runs into the downright ugly town of San Benito.
Flores is the natural starting point for a visit to Petén's wild interior, as it is the region's
transportation and services hub. Many NGOs are based here and the quiet streets are lined
with a variety of shops, restaurants, and comfortable lodgings. While Flores is excellent
from a logistical standpoint and entirely attractive, it has been somewhat displaced in re-
cent years by the emergence of El Remate, a lakeside town on the road to Tikal that is con-
venient for travelers to and from Belize. Still, there are a number of local attractions that
make spending at least one day in the Flores area worthwhile.
History
Flores started out as the Mayan site of
Tayasal,
home to the Itzá people and one of the last
Mayanstrongholds.ItisthoughtthatTayasalwasfoundedbyagroupofdisplacedMayans
from Chichen Itzá, in present-day Mexico, sometime between the 13th and 15th centuries.
The Itzá held out for quite a while in their remote island outpost deep in the Petén jungle.
Spain's relative lack of interest in the hot, steamy lowlands of Petén inevitably allowed
themtocontinuelifelargelyunhinderedbytheSpanish.In1525,HernánCortésstoppedby
on his way to Honduras and had a peaceful meeting with the Itzá King Canek, also leaving
behind a lame horse. A statue of it was made when it died, and Spanish friars visiting the
region in 1618 would find it being worshipped by the Itzá. The friars destroyed the idol,
which probably explains why the next round of visitors, a military expedition in 1622, was
captured and sacrificed.
