Exploring Petén: An 11-Day Maya Archaeological Tour of Northern Guatemala
- Ko'ox Maya Tours
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
January 20–30, 2027 | 11 Days, 10 Nights
Northern Guatemala's Petén region is home to some of the most extraordinary archaeological sites in the Maya world. On this 11-day journey, we'll explore ancient cities that once played major roles in the political, cultural, and economic world of the Classic Maya.
Along the way, we'll travel by boat into the Petexbatún region, spend a full day exploring Tikal, venture by 4x4 to remote archaeological sites, cross Lake Yaxhá to Topoxté, and stay in lodges surrounded by the landscapes of northern Guatemala.
This is a journey for travelers who want to go deeper into Maya archaeology, visiting famous cities such as Tikal alongside seldom-visited sites including Aguateca, Dos Pilas, Naranjo, Nakum, Ucanal, and La Blanca.
Highlights of the Trip
Spend two nights in Isla Flores, located on beautiful Lake Petén Itzá.
Travel by boat into the Petexbatún region to visit Aguateca, a fortified Maya city dramatically situated among deep ravines and natural defenses.
Spend a night at Chiminos Island Lodge on Lake Petexbatún.
Explore Dos Pilas, founded in AD 629 by a branch of Tikal's ruling dynasty and later aligned with Tikal's great rival, Calakmul.
Spend a full day at Tikal, one of the greatest cities of the ancient Maya world.
Visit Uaxactún, known for its important place in Maya history and its Group E architectural complex.
Travel by 4x4 to Naranjo, one of the major Classic Maya kingdoms of northeastern Petén.
Spend four nights at El Sombrero Eco-Lodge near Lake Yaxhá.
Take another 4x4 expedition to Nakum and, if road conditions permit, continue to Holmul, where tunnels provide access to magnificent stucco friezes preserved within the pyramid.
Explore Yaxhá before taking a boat across Lake Yaxhá to visit Topoxté.
Discover two seldom-visited Maya sites, Ucanal and La Blanca.
Travel with a professional Guatemalan guide who will accompany us throughout the tour.
Deep into the Maya World of Petén
What makes this journey remarkable is the opportunity to see how the ancient cities of Petén were connected.
Tikal, Dos Pilas, Naranjo, Ucanal, Seibal, Yaxhá, and the other cities we will visit did not exist in isolation. Their histories were shaped by powerful dynasties, alliances, warfare, trade, and shifting political relationships.
Some became allies. Others became rivals. Cities rose to power, fell under the control of their neighbors, and sometimes emerged again generations later.
Over 11 days, we'll explore these ancient cities in the landscape where their histories unfolded, accompanied by a guide from the Petén region whose knowledge will help us better understand what we are seeing and why these sites were important.
As Dan's tour operator, friend, and guide in Guatemala told him while they were planning the trip: "I think this is a great tour deep into archaeological sites in Petén. I will be happy to be with you for this tour."
Our Tour Day by Day
Day 1: Arrival in Guatemala City. Overnight at Hotel Barceló.
Day 2: Take an early morning flight to Flores on Lake Petén Itzá. Just across the lake, we'll visit the Regional Archaeology Museum in San Miguel, followed by the nearby Maya site of Tayasal, an ancient settlement with a long history extending into the period of Spanish contact. Sleep in Isla Flores.
Day 3: Early morning departure through Sayaxché before traveling by boat into the Petexbatún region to Aguateca. This remarkable fortified city was built on a natural escarpment surrounded by deep ravines that provided excellent natural defenses. Aguateca became an important center associated with the rulers of Dos Pilas. Sleep at Chiminos Island Lodge on Lake Petexbatún.
Day 4: Visit Seibal in the morning followed by Dos Pilas. In just two days, we'll have explored three of the most important archaeological sites in the Petexbatún region. Return to Isla Flores.
Day 5: Early departure for Tikal, one of the grandest cities of the ancient Maya world. We'll have the entire day to explore the site with our guide. Sleep in Tikal.
Day 6: Visit Uaxactún, another important ancient Maya city in the Tikal region. Uaxactún is associated with the fourth-century events often called "The Entrada" and is also known for its Group E architectural complex, which has played an important role in the study of Maya astronomy and architecture. Sleep in Tikal.
Day 7: Today we switch to 4x4 pickups for our expedition to Naranjo, an important Classic Maya city with a fascinating history of dynastic rivalry, warfare, and political alliances. Sleep at El Sombrero Eco-Lodge, located on Lake Yaxhá near the entrance to the archaeological site.
Day 8: Another 4x4 adventure takes us to Nakum, one of the three major sites forming the Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo Cultural Triangle. Nakum offers outstanding architecture and plenty to explore. If road conditions are favorable, we may also visit Holmul, located much deeper in the Maya Biosphere Reserve. At Holmul, tunnels allow visitors to see magnificent stucco friezes preserved within the pyramid.
Road conditions in this region vary dramatically. Sometimes the route is dry; at other times, deep mud can turn the journey into a true expedition. Whether we can reach Holmul will be determined by conditions on the day of our visit. Sleep at El Sombrero.
Day 9: Explore Yaxhá, a magnificent Maya city overlooking Lake Yaxhá that was closely connected to the political world of the region. The same day, we'll travel by boat across the lake to visit Topoxté, an archaeological site located on islands in Lake Yaxhá. Sleep at El Sombrero.
Day 10: Visit Ucanal, located within a bend of the Mopan River about 82 kilometers from Tikal. Its strategic location placed it within the complex political world of cities including Tikal, Naranjo, Caracol, and Seibal.
Ucanal had strong ties with Tikal and later Caracol. It was attacked by Lady Six Sky, the powerful ruler of Naranjo, in 693, and its ruler was later captured. More than a century later, Ucanal again emerged as an important regional power.
Other than Caracol, located in present-day Belize, we will have visited many of the cities whose histories intersected with Ucanal, giving us a fascinating opportunity to see how these powerful Maya centers were connected.
We'll finish the day at La Blanca, a smaller archaeological site that may have served as a subsidiary center, frontier post, or trading center connected to one of the larger cities in the region. La Blanca is also known for fascinating graffiti carved into its stucco walls.
Sleep at El Sombrero.
Day 11: Early departure for Flores airport and our short flight back to Guatemala City for connections home.
A Landscape in Transition
"The jungles in some of these areas are rapidly disappearing, especially in the Petexbatún region where Aguateca and Dos Pilas are located. The forest is being replaced with palm oil operations. Our time is expiring to see these incredible sites as they were for centuries before now."
For travelers who want to experience these remarkable Maya cities in their original jungle setting, this tour offers a rare opportunity to witness a landscape that is changing before our eyes.
Book this tour now, before the opportunity to experience these remarkable sites in their natural setting is gone.
Almost Everything Is Included
As with our group tours, we take care of almost everything so you can concentrate on experiencing Petén and its extraordinary Maya sites.
Included: transportation during the tour, lodging, professional guides, meals, entrance fees, and tips.
Not included: airfare to and from Guatemala City, airport transportation, flights between Guatemala City and Flores, alcoholic beverages, souvenirs, and personal expenses. Dan can assist with arranging the Flores flights if needed.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Join Us in Petén
January 20–30, 2027 | 11 Days, 10 Nights
Explore Tikal and the ancient Maya cities of northern Guatemala, journey by boat into the Petexbatún, venture into remote archaeological sites by 4x4, and discover how the great kingdoms of Petén were connected.
For pricing, availability, and more information, contact Dan Griffin at xtobodos@hotmail.com.
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