Flores, El Peten

Flores is the capital of the Peten department. The old town is located on an island, on Lake Peten Itza, and it is connected to its sister town of Santa Elena (on the mainland) by a causeway. The island of Flores has XIX and early XX century architecture with Moorish, English Victorian and Caribbean influence. It is occupied since the Pre-classic Mayan Period, and was founded by the Itzá Mayan group in 1420 led by Ajaw Kan Ek’. Don Martin de Urzua Arismendi y Aguirre took over the island on March 13, 1697 and named it Villa de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios y San Pablo del Petén Itza. It was the last Mayan bastion taken by the Spaniards. In May 1830 the city changes its name to Flores City as a homage to the Guatemalan ex vice chief of state Cirilo Flores. In 2003 it was declared Historic Complex by the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

Discover Flores
History tells that the island was named Tayazal by the Itza people before it was named City of Flores. Different situations have made Flores Island has a modern city which offers a natural environment full of beauty that provides the visitor the necessary conditions to stay and enjoy the place for several days.

Flores is also a perfect meeting point, where you can make special events both cultural and socials, for business or tourism due to its infrastructure.

Between the places of interest to visit in Flores you will find the central park, the cathedral, municipal theater, the Arismendi castle, and the esplanade. Near Flores you can find the Actun Can caves.

In order to get to Flores you have to go through Santa Elena to find the causeway across and you will be on the island. There you will find restaurants, bars, souvenir shops and several hotels.

The tourist office has free maps, bus information and bilingual staff.

Tourist Office Guatemala: http://www.visitguatemala.com/en/discover.com
Peten: Mundo Maya International Airport, arrivals building, info-mundomaya@inguat.gob.gt
Tourist assistance phone number: 1500

Public Transportation
There are some buses going through San Benito, Santa Elena and Flores, the three cities which are next to each other but have grown together. There are also Tuk Tuks (three wheeled mototaxi) you can hire if you do not feel like walking.

Highlights
Flores is a small island! You can walk around it in 10 minutes (walking slowly). You can visit the cathedral, central park and view the sunset from the viewpoint next to the park. And visit the theater and the cathedral. Near Flores you can find the Actun Can caves, located at just 4 kilometers away. If you like walking you can walk or just take a taxi or a tuk tuk there. Bring your own flashlight or rent one at the entrance. Also from Flores you can plan your visits to the different Mayan sites located in Peten area, like Tikal, Yaxha and Topoxte, Ceibal, Aguateca, El Mirador, etc. Other places you can visit from Flores are Cuevas Naj Tunich, Cerro Cahuí biotope, Tayasal Peninsula (there is a viewpoint where you can see the island), and the zoo.

The essentials of Flores:

1) Tikal
2) Aguateca
3) Yaxha
4) El Mirador
5) Naj Tunich caves
6) Cerro Cahuí biotope

Tikal
Tikal National Park is one of the most important Mayan sites in Guatemala, located in the Peten department it was created in May 1955. In 1979 it was declared Cultural and Natural World Heritage by UNESCO. Inside the park you will find Tikal Archeological Site. There are several squares in Tikal. Between the most important squares you will find are: Gran Plaza (Grand Square), this is the main plaza and is the center of the entire archeological site (we suggest to visit this square at the end of your visit so you go first to the less important temples and end with the best of them); Square of the great pyramid or Lost World, Square of the Seven Temples; East Square; West Square.

Aguateca Park
Aguateca means blazing mountain, it is located in the shores of Petexbatun lagoon and is part of the Guatemala System of Protected Areas. It is one of the most important parks in the municipality of Sayaxché. It is reach only by boat through La Pasion River and Petexbatun Lagoon. Aguateca had 4,500 inhabitants and was one of the smaller cities occupied in the year 100 AC. It was an important communication center and commercial and cultural exchange point with other archeological sites in La Pasion River, Dos Pilas, Tamarindito, Arroyo de Piedra, Punta Chimino, Ceival and Cancuen.

Yaxha-Makum-Naranjo Park
Located between the municipalities of Flores and Melchor de Mencos even though it had strong bond with Tikal, Caracol in Belize and Calajumin Mexico it was the capital of an extensive territory that dominated the north east part of Peten. It possesses monumental archeological ensemble with pyramid temples, acropolis, twin pyramid complex, commemorative complex, Ballcourt, palaces and residential domestic complexes. It was declared as reserve area by the Institute of Anthropology and History in 1974 and in 2003 it was declared National Park by the National Board of Protected Areas (CONAP) and the General Management of Cultural and Natural Patrimony of the Culture and Sports Ministry (MCD).

El Mirador-Rio Azul National Park
Located in the North-east part of Peten, is the biggest Mayan city in Guatemala discovered until this date, its occupation corresponds to the Late Pre-classic period. There are two large archeological complexes that stand out: The Tigre Complex, with 18 platforms that reach 60 meters of height and occupies a base of 5.80 square kilometers and a pyramid which stands out flanked by two other pyramids of a smaller size. And the Danta Complex, a75 meters high structure, located to the east and easily seen since it rises over a hill. There are other sites like El Tintal, La Florida, La Muralla and Wakna.

Naj Tunich caves
Known as The Stone House it has the biggest known collection of Mayan rock art and inscriptions. It is a hieroglyph chamber with ceremonial drawings and human figures. At present there is an exhibition of rock art replicas from the original cave.

Cerro Cahuí
The Cahui Hill is located in a multiple uses zone in the Mayan Reserve Biosphere. It possesses more than 640 hectares of tropical forest, with trails to observe the flora and fauna that lives there. From the hill top there is an impressive panoramic view of Lake Petén Itza.

Full-day excursions

Tours to the National Parks
From Flores you can take one day tours to Tikal, Yaxha, Aguateca, El Mirador (in helicopter), Ceibal, Uaxactun, etc. The tour starts and ends in your hotel and includes transportation, guide, entrance fees and lunch. Group tours available only for Tikal.

Ixpanpajul Tour
Ixpanpajul is a park, located at only 20 minutes from Flores, there you can enjoy hiking and walking in the hanging bridges, canopy, horseback riding, and other activities.

Boat tour
Enjoy a boat tour around the island, go the Tayasal peninsula and hike to the view point where you will have great views of Flores Island and part of the lake.

Entertainment in Flores
You will find bars and restaurants all around Flores. The main bars are located in the entrance of the island and you can find local food in the esplanade.

Events in Flores
Between August 21st and September the 1st there is a festivity in honor to Our Lady of Remedies and San Pablo del Itza, period in which it is celebrated the cultural festival with samples of the gastronomy, art and traditions. There island celebrate also the fest in honor to the Immaculate Conception. The main festival in the island is celebrated in January in honor to the Black Jesus of Esquipulas (Esquipulas is another region of Guatemala). Here it is also important the Holy Week with different activities, mainly in the cathedral.