Departamento del Petén Off The Beaten Path

  Yaxha Ball court
by JessieLang
 
  • Yaxha Ball court
      Yaxha Ball court
    by JessieLang
  • Yaxha - Palace
      Yaxha - Palace
    by JessieLang
  • Yaxha - View from the palace
      Yaxha - View from the palace
    by JessieLang
  •   Off The Beaten Path
    by gfinesilver
  • One of the pyramids in Complex Q
      One of the pyramids in Complex Q
    by Paul2001
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

La Florida

by canuckmike

La Florida is a minor Maya site that if you do the El Mirador trek, you will probably see. It's located about halfway between Carmelita and Tintal. It's close to the station where you check in and register when you do the El Mirador trek. There really isn't too much to see here, but it's nice to visit some small remote Mayan sites besides the big major ones. Most of the appeal about visiting here is the fact that it is a site in the jungle that you can just walk up to, no real signs, guards, entrance and so on.

Tip Photo
Bethel

by canuckmike

Bethel is a rather unremarkable town and the only reason people come here because it is a point of entry into Guatemala from Chiapas. You stamp out on the Mexican side and you board a wooden boat and ride down the Usumacinta River for a little less than 5 miles. You get off on the Guatemalan side and you wait for a bus to eventually come around. It takes you to the port of entry and if you bought your ticket in Palenque, it will take you to Flores from there. I think there is a hotel somewhere here if you get stuck but too much of anything else.

Tip Photo
Tintal

by canuckmike

Tintal is a Mayan pyramid that is roughly located almost half way between Carmelita and El Mirador. For the most part it is a rather unremarkable pyramid and at first I didn't even realize it was a pyramid. I thought it was a hill with trees at first. On your hike to El Mirador, chances are this is the place you will spend the night on the way to and on your way back. There is a campsite here where you can cook food and hang some hammocks under a little shelter as well as an outhouse is located here. The pyramid is almost entirely covered in trees except for a partial path and on the top. Oh, and lots of ticks make their home on Tintal. There is no reason to make a trip here on it's own but it's a decent stop on your way to El Mirador.

Tip Photo
Carmelita

by canuckmike

For the majority of travellers to Peten, there is no need to come to this little village about 2 hours north of Flores by car. Although, if you decide to do the El Mirador trek, it is almost guaranteed that you will start your walk from here. Here you can grab a meal as I had a breakfast and a lunch and there is place you can grab a cold beer after your trek. This is were the horses are packed up for the trip before you walk into the jungle only to emerge 5 days later after the hike. Once the trek is done, there is no need to linger in this village after everything is put away.

Tip Photo
Yaxha

by euzkadi

Ruins surrounded by a lake, full of animals, and NO TOURISTS

Tip Photo
Unique Places in Departamento del Petén

Top 3 Hotels in Departamento del Petén

Jungle Lodge  Parque Nacional Tikal

 4 Reviews and 149 Opinions  We stayed two nights here, choosing it because of its nearness to the ruins. The plan was to be able... 

 Hotels in Parque Nacional Tikal

La Lancha Lodge  Flores

 97 Opinions

 Hotels in Flores

Camino Real Hotel  Tikal

 0 Opinions

 Hotels in Tikal

9 Hotels in Departamento del Petén
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of Departamento del Petén attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Departamento del Petén sightseeing.

Experience Departamento del Petén
Off The Beaten Path: Cities in Departamento del Petén
  1. Parque Nacional Tikal Off The Beaten Path
  2. Flores Off The Beaten Path
  3. El Remate Off The Beaten Path
  4. Mirador Off The Beaten Path

More Cities in Departamento del Petén

 

Questions and Answers

libscostello profile photo

Q:  My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Guatemala and Belize this May. While we're visiting Tikal/Flores for 3 days, we're... 

atufft profile photo

A: You know, I did a VT query for La Lancha and couldn't find it. This must be some kind of resort in the jungle? Frankly, your boyfriend and you will likely prefer... 

Read 5 Replies

postQuestion_button