What To Do In The Petn, Guatemala
- Image via Wikipedia
If you are in Guatemala this is the first place you should see. Or maybe Antigua but you should not miss this one. It is home to some the most impressive and mightiest ancient Mayan ceremonial cities . Tikal National Park is a compound of ruins located in a tropical forest part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, full of wildlife and exotic birds. It was the first National Park declared in Guatemala. But Tikal isn't the only thing there is to see in Petn. It is also home to the Yaxha & El Mirador Mayan cities. There is also the colorful island town of Flores located on Lake Petn Itz.
Where it is
Petn is the northernmost and largest department of Guatemala.
Weather
The weather here is hot and humid year round.
Where to Go
Flores
This is a cute town built entirely on a tiny island in the middle of Lake Petn Itz that looks almost as a perfect circle from the sky. Here you will find colorful, pastel, colonial style buildings with cobblestone streets and great restaurants with amazing lake views. It is enough to stroll around by foot.
Can't Miss This
* Lakeview restaurants
* Walking tour of the colorful city
* Visit Arcas Animal Rescue Center
* Boat tour of Lake Petn Itz
El Remate
This small town is located on the shores of Lake Petn Itz and is called El Remate. In the last few years it has quickly become a hot spot before hitting Tikal and other nearby ruins. As you can imagine this town is filled with hotels and tasty restaurants. There are also some beautiful lake views.
Can't Miss This
* Biotopo Cerro Cahu
* Kayaking or canoeing on Lake Petn Itz
* Swim in Lake Petn Itz
Tikal
The whole point of visiting Petn is to visit this ancient Mayan city. In fact this is one of the largest Mayan cities to be excavated out of all the Mayan ceremonial sites from Honduras to Mexico. As you walk among temples you will almost always see monkeys, coatimundis, deer, toucans, and many more wild and exotic animals.
Can't Miss This
* The two museums: Museo Ltico and Museo Tikal
* Take a tour to get the most of your Tikal experience
* Stay for the sunrise or the sunset
Marina K. Villatoro, the Travel Experta, lives in Central America - Costa Rica and Guatemala for the past decade. She's traveled these parts extensively and now loves to organize vacations to these amazing parts of the world. Having first hand experience of all the places with her family, she can recommend the best options for you. Contact her for advice and to plan your perfect trip!
