Mayan cities
The hidden cities of the Maya
Mayan culture is a fascinating pre-Columbian civilisation that emerged around 2000 BC and reached its peak between 250 and 900 AD. A captivating civilisation that built magnificent cities in the dense jungle. In Guatemala, you can visit the famous Mayan city of Tikal, as well as lesser-known sites such as Uaxactún and Yaxha.
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Guatemala’s most famous Mayan city
Deep within the dense jungle of Petén in northern Guatemala lies the vast Mayan city of Tikal. At its peak, 90,000 people lived here, and more than 3,000 structures have been mapped, including many temples. Tikal has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
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A unique camping experience
The remarkable Mayan city of Uaxactún is still largely undiscovered and lies 19 km from Tikal. Here you can spend the night in luxury tents amongst the temples, whilst our highly knowledgeable guide Carlos, who grew up in this community, tells you more about this unique place.
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Recent discoveries in the world of the Maya
In 2013, archaeologist and National Geographic Explorer Francisco Estrada-Belli discovered a huge frieze (artistic relief) measuring 2 by 8 metres in a hidden pyramid near the town of Holmul. In our Gente Mágica interview, Johan spoke to him about this discovery. Read more on our blog or watch or listen to the interview online.
- Read the blog
- Listen to the podcast on Spotify or iTunes
- Watch on YouTube
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Dine next to the most important Mayan monument
During your stay in Uaxactún, you’ll enjoy one special experience after another: “The hospitality in Uaxactún, where we were served a delicious dinner by the light of dozens of candles next to the most important Mayan monument, is unforgettable,” said one of our travellers.
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Sunset at Yaxha
This third-largest Mayan city in Guatemala lies on Lake Yaxha and is surrounded by tropical rainforest. From the largest temple, you can enjoy a breathtakingly beautiful sunset.
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Four-day trek to El Mirador
El Mirador is the largest pyramid in the world, situated in the heart of a Mayan city. At its peak, it was as large as present-day Los Angeles. Yet it attracts hardly any visitors. Why? Because the city lies deep in the jungle and can only be reached by helicopter or via a four-day trek.
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Accommodation in La Lancha
This unique lodge, comprising seven cottages, is situated in the rainforest and overlooks Lake Peten. It is the perfect base for visiting the Mayan cities of Tikal and Yaxha. The lodge is owned by Francis Ford Coppola, a well-known American director and film producer.
The remarkable Mayan civilisation
The ancient Maya civilisation is one of the best-known and most complex pre-Columbian civilisations that the Latin American continent has ever known. Its heyday was between 250 and 900 AD. The Maya were highly skilled architects and astronomers. Using the positions of the sun and the stars, they determined their agricultural cycles and built vast cities with magnificent temples. The Mayan cities lie deep within the dense jungle, and some of them, such as El Mirador, are now very difficult to reach, even though many thousands – and in some cities even millions – of people must have lived there at the time.
Much about the Maya remains a mystery, and researchers say they have only scratched the surface. With the right guides, we’ll unravel the secrets of this fascinating culture for you and take you not only to the better-known sites, but also to temples and palaces that are rarely visited by anyone.
Fancy a trip of Guatemala?
Would you like to organise your own trip of Guatemala and are you curious about the options? Then do have a look at the tours we’ve put together for inspiration. You can book these tours directly, but we’d also be happy to put together a personalised itinerary based on your wishes and ideas.
Do you have a question? Please feel free to contact us. Call +31 73 610 62 04 or send an email to info@sapapanatravel.nl. We’ll be happy to help.