Mayan Ruins Guatemala

El Mirador is located within the furthest reaches of the Peten jungle, just 4 miles (7 km) south of the Mexican border. It was one of the first large cities in the Americas and contains the largest structure ever constructed by the ancient Maya.

Flores is the capital city of the Petén department. The old part of the city is located on an island on Lake Peten Itza, connected to the mainland by a short causeway. In Pre-Columbian times, Flores was the Maya city of Tayasal.

Situated in the heart of the jungle of northern Guatemala, Tikal once dominated much of the Maya world politically, economically, and militarily for centuries. Today, the many ruins are still covered by jungle, while the impressive temples lie scattered around the area. This creates a mysterious atmosphere that few other Mayan ruins possess.

One of the largest Maya ruins in Guatemala, Yaxha is spread out over nine plazas with over 500 structures and several pyramid temples. Yaxha is one of the few Maya cities to retain its traditional Maya name, which translates as “green waters”.

Located in the highlands of western Guatemala, Zaculeu was the capital of the Mam, one of the principal highland tribes before the Spanish conquest. The site contains several large temples, plazas and a ball court, but unfortunately it has been restored with a shocking lack of refinement and accuracy. Still Zaculeu has a peculiar atmosphere and is definitely worth a visit.