Guatemala · Petén department

Petén.

Tikal and Uaxactún, Yaxhá, the Sayaxché sites, El Mirador and Cerro Cahuí.

7 places
1 open
6 unconfirmed
checked Oct 2026
14 sources

Before you go,
understand the place.

Tikal, the Maya city run by the Ministry of Culture, is the heart of Petén; the Uaxactún entry, 23 km away on a dirt road, is bought as an extra service on top of the Tikal entry.

Best time to go: According to the United Kingdom, the rainy season normally runs from May to November, with frequent flooding and landslides; poorly maintained roads and bridges have been known to collapse.
Getting there: This guide does not calculate road routes or travel times. The Ministry of Culture puts Tikal 484 km from the capital and CONAP 527 km; both agree on 63 km from Flores. The Ministry mentions Mundo Maya airport, in Flores, and daily minibuses.

Get your bearings before you set out

Destination map

7 places with their status. Open a pin for details and sources, or use the list.

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Open
Status unconfirmed

Groups: the number in the middle is the total of places; the ring shows their statuses. Open a group to see the breakdown.

The “Open and seasonal” filter covers open (1) and seasonal (0) places. Check dates and conditions on each place.

Map: © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap

Three ways to explore

Themed guides

Places grouped by theme, to plan your day.

2 places
Tikal and Uaxactún
Tikal, with hours and fees from the Ministry of Culture, and Uaxactún, whose entry is added to the Tikal one.
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3 places
Yaxhá and the Sayaxché sites
Yaxhá, in the north-east, and Ceibal and Aguateca, by the Sayaxché rivers; all three have unconfirmed status.
Open the full guide
2 places
El Mirador and Cerro Cahuí
The El Mirador expedition, only with commissions authorised by CONAP, and the Cerro Cahuí biotope, beside Lake Petén Itzá.
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The place, in context

Everything you can do

Closed or restricted places are included and flagged, so you know what to expect.

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Showing 7 of 7 · 6 unconfirmed, flagged

Nature and jungle · 2

AdventureStatus unconfirmed
El Mirador
Northern Petén; CONAP lists three entry routes, including Carmelita–El Mirador. The pin is the site according to Wikidata; it is not Carmelita or any entrance.76.5 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Entry
Not stated
Hours
Not confirmed
Booking
Required
A Maya site in Mirador–Río Azul National Park, in northern Petén. According to CONAP, it can only be entered with the tourism commissions of Carmelita, Uaxactún or others authorised, with booking and authorisation dates.
Status not confirmed: a remote park; CONAP asks you to contact the administration before going. The Carmelita Cooperative says the expedition runs all year.
Source: CONAP – Parque Nacional Mirador–Río Azul y Biotopo Naachtún–Dos Lagunas · 2026 · +1
Practical details and sources
Hours
Monday to Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to CONAP (national park).
Booking
Only with the tourism commissions authorised by CONAP, with booking and authorisation. The Carmelita Cooperative runs the expedition from Flores, with a minimum of 2 people.
Tip: The Carmelita Cooperative recommends December to June, when the trails are dry; from July to November, the rainy season, you have to cross flooded areas.
Sources: CONAP – Parque Nacional Mirador–Río Azul y Biotopo Naachtún–Dos Lagunas · Cooperativa Carmelita – FAQ (consulta oct. 2026)
NatureStatus unconfirmed
Cerro Cahuí Protected Biotope
El Remate, Flores. According to CONAP, the entrance is 2 km from the junction, about 32 km from Flores. The pin is the centre of the protected area in OpenStreetMap; it is not the entrance.12.2 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Entry
Not stated
Hours
Not confirmed
Booking
Not stated
A protected area beside Lake Petén Itzá, in El Remate, run by the University of San Carlos' CECON, according to CONAP, with trails and a viewpoint over the lake.
Status not confirmed with CECON: the hours come from CONAP's listing, with no visible date, and no fee is published in the sources consulted.
Source: CONAP – Biotopo Protegido Cerro Cahuí · 2026
Practical details and sources
Hours
Monday to Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., according to CONAP.
Sources: CONAP – Biotopo Protegido Cerro Cahuí

Living culture · 5

CultureOpen
Tikal National Park
Petén. According to the Ministry of Culture, it is reached by the CA-13 towards Melchor de Mencos, turning at Ixlú towards El Remate. The pin is the Maya city according to Wikidata, inside the park; it is not the entrance gate.25 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Entry
Foreign visitor Q150
Hours
Mon–Sun 6:00–18:00
Booking
Not confirmed
A Maya city in Tikal National Park, run by the Ministry of Culture, 63 km from Flores according to the Ministry. The Ministry sells tickets online and at BANTRAB bank branches.
Source: Ministerio de Cultura (CulturaGuate) – Tikal (consulta oct. 2026) · 2026 · +2
Practical details and sources
Entry
Entry: foreign visitors Q150 and Guatemalans Q25; children under 10 do not pay. Optional services are added to the entry (prices for foreign visitors): sunrise or sunset tour Q100, museum Q30, Uaxactún Q50 and camping Q50. International cards carry a 2.30% surcharge (Ministry of Culture).
Hours
Monday to Sunday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunrise tour 4:00 to 6:00 a.m. and sunset tour 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (Ministry of Culture).
Booking
Tickets can be bought online through the Ministry of Culture's system, which sends them as a PDF (Form 63A2), or in cash at the BANTRAB branch at the park's first entrance and at other BANTRAB branches. At the entrance you show the ticket, printed or on your phone, and a valid personal ID. It is valid for up to 30 days from purchase but only on the day it is validated. If you buy a ticket that does not match your nationality, you will not be admitted and will not receive a refund; the Ministry says it gives no refunds in any case. For the sunrise and sunset tours you must hire an authorised guide separately.
Sources: Ministerio de Cultura (CulturaGuate) – Tikal (consulta oct. 2026) · Ministerio de Cultura – Boletos para extranjeros (consulta oct. 2026) · Ministerio de Cultura – Boletos: preguntas frecuentes (consulta oct. 2026)
CultureStatus unconfirmed
Uaxactún
Petén, 23 km of dirt road from the Tikal gate, according to CONAP. The pin is the archaeological site in OpenStreetMap, linked to Wikidata; it is not the village or the entrance.39.6 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Entry
Foreign visitor Q50
Hours
Not stated
Booking
Not stated
A Maya archaeological site north of Tikal. The Ministry of Culture sells its entry as an extra service on top of the Tikal entry.
The sources consulted give no hours of its own for Uaxactún; Tikal's hours do not establish them. CONAP says to pay the Uaxactún entry at the Tikal gate and say there that you are going to Uaxactún. Check before you go.
Source: Ministerio de Cultura – Boletos para extranjeros (consulta oct. 2026) · 2026 · +1
Practical details and sources
Entry
Foreign visitors Q50, on top of the Tikal entry (Q150), according to the Ministry of Culture.
Sources: Ministerio de Cultura – Boletos para extranjeros (consulta oct. 2026) · CONAP – Parque Nacional Tikal y Parque Arqueológico Uaxactún
CultureStatus unconfirmed
Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park
North-east Petén: according to CONAP, 62 km from Flores to La Máquina and 11 km of dirt road. The pin is the Yaxhá archaeological site in OpenStreetMap, linked to Wikidata; it is not the entrance.42.6 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Entry
Not confirmed
Hours
Not confirmed
Booking
Not stated
A national park run by CONAP, with the Maya site of Yaxhá. According to CONAP, local guides are recommended for Nakum, Naranjo is reached by 4x4 via Melchor de Mencos and Topoxté only by boat from the visitor centre.
Status not confirmed: the hours and fee come from CONAP's listing and fee schedule (2021), with no validity date, although Living in Guatemala (September 2026) gives the same figures. Check before you go.
Source: CONAP – Parque Nacional Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo · 2026 · +2
Practical details and sources
Entry
Foreign visitors Q80 and Guatemalans Q40, according to CONAP's fee schedule (2021); Guatemalans on Sundays, children under 5 and school groups with teachers do not pay.
Hours
Monday to Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to CONAP.
Sources: CONAP – Parque Nacional Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo · CONAP – Tarifario Yaxhá (2021) · Living in Guatemala – Yaxhá ruins (24 sep. 2026)
CultureStatus unconfirmed
Ceibal
Sayaxché, Petén. According to CONAP, it is reached by road from Sayaxché or by boat on the La Pasión river (~1 h). The pin is the site in OpenStreetMap; it is not the landing.66.1 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Entry
Not stated
Hours
Not confirmed
Booking
Not stated
A Maya site beside the La Pasión river, in Sayaxché, run by the Ministry of Culture's Directorate-General for Cultural and Natural Heritage, according to CONAP; the visit takes an hour.
Status not confirmed with the Ministry of Culture: the hours come from CONAP's listing, with no visible date, and no fee is published in the sources consulted. CONAP advises checking in the rainy season.
Source: CONAP – Monumento Cultural Ceibal · 2026
Practical details and sources
Hours
Monday to Sunday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to CONAP.
Sources: CONAP – Monumento Cultural Ceibal
CultureStatus unconfirmed
Aguateca
Sayaxché, Petén. According to CONAP, it can only be reached by water from Sayaxché (~16 km, ~1 h) and then a 10-minute walk. The pin is the site in OpenStreetMap, linked to Wikidata; it is not the landing.86.7 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Entry
Not stated
Hours
Not confirmed
Booking
Not stated
A Maya site beside Petexbatún lagoon, in Sayaxché, run by the Ministry of Culture's Directorate-General for Cultural and Natural Heritage, according to CONAP; the visit takes an hour.
Status not confirmed with the Ministry of Culture: the hours come from CONAP's listing, with no visible date, which asks you to contact the administration before going; no fee is published in the sources consulted.
Source: CONAP – Monumento Cultural Aguateca · 2026
Practical details and sources
Hours
Monday to Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to CONAP.
Sources: CONAP – Monumento Cultural Aguateca

Petén · Practical guide

The essentials

Tikal, with a sunrise or sunset tour and an authorised guide
Yaxhá and the boat trip to Topoxté
The El Mirador expedition with the Carmelita Cooperative

Petén · Practical guide

Where to stay

Flores: According to the Ministry of Culture, it is 63 km (1 h) from Tikal and has Mundo Maya airport.
El Remate: Beside Lake Petén Itzá and the Cerro Cahuí biotope, on the turn-off to Tikal, according to CONAP and the Ministry of Culture.

Petén · Practical guide

Practical tips

For the sunrise and sunset tours at Tikal you must hire an authorised guide separately (Ministry of Culture).
The Tikal ticket is only valid on the day it is validated. If you buy a ticket that does not match your nationality, you will not be admitted and will not receive a refund (Ministry of Culture).
For El Mirador, the Carmelita Cooperative recommends December to June, when the trails are dry.

Safety and precautions

According to the United Kingdom (advice current on 3 October 2026), Guatemala has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America, and incidents can also happen in tourist areas.
Spain (update of 8 May 2026) lists among the risk areas to avoid zones 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 18 of Guatemala City, Villa Nueva and Mixco, and the departments of San Marcos, Huehuetenango, Escuintla, Petén and Izabal; it rates the rest of the country as medium risk and warns that there are no completely safe areas.
According to the United Kingdom, take care near the Belize border because of the dispute between the two countries, and use only officially recognised crossings.
The US Department of State advises reconsidering travel to Guatemala because of crime and terrorism (level 3, advisory issued on 12 March 2026). It advises against travel to the departments of San Marcos and Huehuetenango, zone 18 of Guatemala City and Villa Nueva (level 4).
According to the Ministry of the Interior, a 15-day state of prevention came into force on 21 April 2026 in the departments of Guatemala, Escuintla, Izabal, San Marcos and Huehuetenango (Government Decree 6-2026). This guide does not confirm whether one is in force now: check the current situation before you travel.
INGUAT tourist assistance: 1500, free and 24 hours. National Civil Police: 110 and 120.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Tikal?

For foreign visitors, Q150 entry; the sunrise or sunset tour is an extra Q100 service and requires an authorised guide. Children under 10 do not pay (Ministry of Culture).

Can you go to El Mirador on your own?

No: CONAP says it can only be entered with the tourism commissions of Carmelita, Uaxactún or others authorised, with booking and authorisation.

What do you need to enter Tikal?

The ticket (Form 63A2), printed or on your phone, and a valid personal ID. It is valid for up to 30 days from purchase, but once validated only on that day (Ministry of Culture).

Petén · Practical guide

Sources consulted

Information checked in October 2026. Prices, hours and rules change: confirm them with the official source before you travel.

Before you go,understand the place.

Themed guides

Tikal and Uaxactún

Yaxhá and the Sayaxché sites

El Mirador and Cerro Cahuí

Everything you can do

Nature and jungle · 2

El Mirador

Cerro Cahuí Protected Biotope

Living culture · 5

Tikal National Park

Uaxactún

Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park

Ceibal

Aguateca

The essentials

Where to stay

Practical tips

Safety and precautions

Frequently asked questions

Sources consulted

Other destinations

Before you go,
understand the place.