4-Day Maya Trek To 3 Archeological Sites From Flores: Uaxactún + Tikal + El Zotz
In the era where the ancient Mayans lived and ruled the lands of Petén, there were different kingdoms. Each with its own kings, policies, and peoples under their power. The cities of Uaxactún, El Zotz, and Tikal were independent of one another, but in the Classic Period, Tikal had its peak of power and conquered the other two cities. For many centuries the Mayans inhabited this region before its collapse at the end of the Classic period due to the abuse of their natural resources, caused by the cutting and burning of the forests to create large buildings such as the pyramids and palaces that we see nowadays.
To visit these ancient Mayan cities walking through the jungle, you will need the help of the locals and an agency who takes care of all the details for you.
Please make sure to book this experience at least 7 days before the day of traveling as we need to prepare and organize everything for your visit. We want to make this time as pleasant and unique as possible.
ItineraryDay 1: Walk in the Jungle and camp at El Zotz Archeological SiteStop At: Flores, Flores, Peten Department
We will start this adventure by picking you up at the lobby of your hotel in Flores. We will drive for around 1.5 hours, so sit back and enjoy the beautiful scenery all the way. Some parts of the road are not paved, but it is just the beginning of an amazing jungle full of life. We will arrive at the community of Cruce Dos Aguadas and start walking from there.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Cruce Dos Aguadas, Guatemala
A delicious breakfast will be waiting for you upon your arrival at the community of Cruce Dos Aguadas. We'll meet our local guides before we set off on our tour. To make your tour memorable, they will offer you a safety talk and instructions.
Although the community and the guides will be available to you, we nevertheless ask that you take some precautions of your own. For instance, you can bring medication for various illnesses that may arise along the route, such as headaches, indigestion, nausea, etc. Additionally, we advise you to regularly monitor the weather for the travel dates since you might need rubber boots if the ground is muddy. These are perfect for walking in muddy terrain.
Don't forget to bring comfortable clothing, a long-sleeved shirt, repellent, sun protection, and additional items as you'll be spending four days in Peten's wilderness.
We will spend the first day walking in the jungle towards the first campsite.
Duration: 5 hours
Stop At: Peten Department, Peten Department
Upon arrival at our campsite, relax, appreciate the stars, the jungle, and the wildlife. We will have dinner and rest to be ready for the day´s 2 adventures.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: We will camp in the middle of the jungle at a campsite. All the equipment will be given to you by the local community
Day 2: The archeological site of El Zotz is waiting for us!Stop At: El Zotz tours/ Comunitario, Cruce Dos Aguadas, 532G+JCV, Guatemala
After enjoying a delicious breakfast, we will explore the archeological site of El Zotz.
El Zotz was a major center during the Late Classic period (600-900 AD) of Maya civilization and is known for its well-preserved hieroglyphic inscriptions and painted murals. The site is situated in a strategically important location on a hilltop overlooking the Pasion River valley, and it played a significant role in the politics and trade of the region. El Zotz was a center of the Kaan Kingdom, a political entity that controlled a large area of what is now Guatemala and parts of Mexico and Belize. The site is also known for its pyramids, palaces, and other monumental architecture, as well as several carved stelae and altars depicting historical events and rulers. The site is currently being excavated and studied by archaeologists.
This archeological region is called "El Zotz" since it means "Bat" in many Mayan languages.
The word Zotz can be seen in one of the emblem glyphs of the city.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: El Zotz tours/ Comunitario, Cruce Dos Aguadas, 532G+JCV, Guatemala
The tallest construction here is called "El Diablo" 45 m high (148 ft) where at the top you can see the jungle and some structures from Tikal. This construction is called that way because an ancient Mayan mask was found here and resembles the shape of a Devil.
Lunch will be served by the locals who offer traditional Guatemalan dishes made with organic ingredients produced in the nearby farms.
We will walk in the jungle until we get El Yesal, our next campsite. At the end of the day, rest in our camping area, have dinner and recover some energy for day #3.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: We will camp at El Yesal
Day 3: Admire the great Maya City of TikalStop At: Peten Department, Peten Department
El Yesal: We will start the day by taking a delicious breakfast and getting ready for the adventure. Tikal will be waiting for us on day 3, with its monumental constructions, pyramids, and acropolis. We will walk for a few hours until getting there. Admire the monkeys and other wild animals that we might find during our journey.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Tikal, Guatemala
Once we arrive in Tikal, a local expert tour guide will be waiting for you.
Tikal was one of the most important political, economic, and cultural centers of the Maya civilization, and it played a key role in the region's history for more than 1,500 years. It was first settled around the 4th century BC, and it reached its peak of power and influence between the 7th and 10th centuries AD. The city was known for its impressive architecture, which included several large pyramids, palaces, and other monumental buildings. Tikal was also a center of trade and commerce, and it was home to a complex network of roads and causeways that linked it to other Maya cities in the region. The city's hieroglyphic inscriptions provide a wealth of information about Maya history, politics, and culture, and they have been studied extensively by archaeologists and other researchers. Tikal was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, and it is now a major tourist attraction.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Ruinas de Uaxactun, Al Norte de Tikal 23 km, Flores 17001 Guatemala
After the tour in Tikal, we will continue our adventure to Uaxactun, another impressive Maya City.
The original Maya name for this city was "Siaan Ka'an" which means "Born From Heaven". But the name Uaxactun was given after the first dated inscription was found (in archeological research) saying "Uaxac-tún".
"Uaxac" means "stone" and "Tun" means "Eight" = Uaxactún: Stone Eight.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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Accommodation included: We will camp at Uaxactun
Day 4: Uaxactun and the last day of the tourStop At: Ruinas de Uaxactun, Al Norte de Tikal 23 km, Flores 17001 Guatemala
Uaxactun was considered the oldest Mayan city found until the discovery of Nakbé and El Mirador which are older.
It was founded in 1916 by Sylvanus Morley, an American archeologist noted for his contributions to the study of Mayan cities. It was in this Mayan city where the bases for the investigation of other Mayan centers were established.
This city holds the longest occupation period among Mayan cities: from the middle Preclassic, 900 b.C until 900 a.C.
Interestingly the city consists of eight architectural groups scattered over five natural elevations, surrounded by numerous residential complexes.
The architectural groups are classified from A to H. The Complex "E" are constructions for astronomical observation. Since this is the first construction of this type ever found, buildings for astronomical observation in other Mayan cities are called "Complex E".
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Selva Tropical 100 Flores, Departamento de El Petén, Tikal National Park 17013 Guatemala
We will have lunch and later we will finish the tour. We will take you back to your hotel in Flores.
We hope that you enjoy the jungle, spending some nights under the stars, learning about ancient Mayan civilizations, and the whole experience. Thank you for choosing us and supporting the local communities through tours like this!
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
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No accommodation included on this day.
Informacion Adicional
"Not wheelchair accessible"
"Not recommended for travelers with back problems"
"Not recommended for pregnant travelers"
"No heart problems or other serious medical conditions"
"Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level"
"Bring cascade explorer-type pants"
"Trekking shoes or comfortable shoes are recommended"
"Mosquito repellent and sun protection like sun glasses, hat, sun screen"
"Waterproof jacket"
"Medicines you may need"
"Cash to tip the service personnel that will assit you the 4 days of the tour"
"Personal Hygiene Products"
"A current valid passport is required on the day of travel"
"This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate"
"Confirmation will be received at time of booking"
Hora de Inicio:
06:00 AM
Duración: 4 Days
Lugar de comienzo: Traveler pickup is offered
We pick up all travelers at the lobby of their hotel in Flores or Santa Elena in the Peten Department
Cancelaciones y devoluciones:
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
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