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Lago Petén Itzá

Lake Petén Itzá – located 9 hours (519 km) north of the capital, this lake is located
within the northern Petén department of the country (which makes it closer to the Belize
border). It’s also the second largest lake in the country. Why come here? There are
some 27 Mayan sites around the lake, including the ruins of Tayazal, which are set near
the town of Flores. Much of the surrounding land is covered with tropical rainforests or
farms raising sugarcane, cacao, grains, and tropical fruit. Visitors can sign up for boat
tours that go up and down the lake.

Lago de Atitlán

Lake Atitlán – located three hours (156 km) west of the capital, Lake Atitlán is world-
renowned as one of most beautiful lakes on the planet. The lake is in a magical,
mystical setting, surrounded by volcanoes and green-clad mountains. Atitlán has a
surface area of over 50 square miles and is the deepest lake in Central America.
Many guidebooks treat Lake Atitlan as one destination, but dozens of towns and
villages are within that area (each one with its own unique characteristics and
attractions. Atitlán deserves plenty of attention. The area offers more sights and
experiences than any other part of Guatemala.

The main town is Panajachel, the tourist hub of the region. Other towns include San
Pedro with its backpacking and party scene; San Marcos, a pure hippy town where you
can get your chakras realigned; Santa Cruz, a typical Mayan town built into steep hills;
and Jaibalito, a tiny town only accessible by water or by foot where everyone has the
last word on authenticity.

Lago Lachuá

Lachuá Lake (Carretera de la Franja Transversal del Norte, Chisec 16026) –
located nearly 7 hours (364 km) north of the capital, this is a karstic lake found in the
middle of a national park covered with tropical rain forest, northwest of Cobán, near the
border between the departments of Alta Verapaz and El Quiché. Karst terrain is usually
characterized by barren, rocky ground, caves, sinkholes, underground rivers and the
absence of surface streams & lakes. This is another worthy destination for eco-tourists
in search of diverse eco-destinations apart from volcanos. This place is also ideal for
campers, since there are camp sites by the lake.

La Aurora Zoo

La Aurora Zoo (5A Calle, Ciudad de Guatemala 01013) – this is a zoological park
that’s located within one of the largest gardens of the capital. The zoo has three
different areas, where animals from Asia, The Americas and Africa can be seen, even
penguins. It also has a section of animals from Guatemalan jungles & forests.
There are good places to eat at the zoo, including a Domino’s Pizza and Pollo
Campero, as well as cheaper and more Guatemalan style foods. It also features games
for children and a small theater. It is a very good way to spend the day with children.
Admission: Q33 (adults and teens), Q21 (seniors), Q16 children (ages 2-12). Hours:
9:00 am – 4:00 pm (Tuesday – Sunday), closed on Mondays. More info at:
www.aurorazoo.org.gt

Huehuetenango (ciudad)

Huehuetenango (city) — located at the foot of the Cuchumatanes Mountains in
Guatemala’s Western Highlands, the departmental capital town of Huehuetenango lies
adjacent to the ruins of Zaculeu. It has a relaxed atmosphere, despite the fact that it’s a
hub for trade and transport in northwest Guatemala. Known locally as “Huehue”, the
town lies in a valley ringed by mountains. As a departmental capital, the city is busy with
coffee farmers, traders, and travelers heading to or from the western border with
Mexico. Its location makes it a great place to begin trips into the deeper portions of the
Huehuetenango department.

Fuentes Georginas (spa termal)

Fuentes Georginas (thermal spa) – located nearly 4 hours (214 km.) west of the
capital, these are naturally heated swimming baths, complete with a bar and restaurant,
situated 2,500 meters up the beautiful Zunil Volcano. The seven baths, heated naturally
by the volcano, are engulfed in lush forests and often a rolling mist that give the site an
incredibly mystical feel.
For a spectacular night experience, rent a cabaña for a night. You’ll almost certainly
have the pools to yourselves once it gets late enough. The cabañas are come with
stocked fireplaces and BBQs ready to be fired up. Bring lots of food and drink and enjoy
an intimate volcanic experience under the stars. Admission: Q50 (foreigners), Q25
(nationals). Hours: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (daily). More info on their website:
www.fuentesgeorginas.com

Flores (pueblo)

Flores (town) — Set on an island in the middle of Lake Peten Itza in Northern
Guatemala, Flores sits on top of the ancient Mayan city of Nojpeten. In fact, the street
system today is the same as the Mayan one. When Nojpeten fell to the Spanish in
1697, it marked the end of independence for the Mayan people.
Today Flores is a peaceful country town and a great place to decompress if you’ve been
on the road. Empty by day—as everyone is at Tikal—and mildly buzzing by night, it’s
worth one or two full days of your time.

Biotopo El Zotz

El Zotz Biotope — The mountains with its steep cliffs and interior cave systems define
two of the most impressive features of El Zotz. This biotope (or habitat) got its name,
due to the number of bats that can be seen in the area because “Zotz” is the name of
this animal in different Mayan languages.
Tours in this area last about an hour long, passing through the archeological site El Zotz
and culminating in another archeological site called the Devil. From these sites, located
in the high parts of the mountains, you can see magnificent views of the Petenera jungle
and even the cresting of the LV Temple of Tikal. We also can find different kinds of
trees like male xate, Cambray, chicozapote and fat pepper; that’s animals of different
species such as Howler monkey, Spider monkey and drum turkey.

Parque Nacional El Mirador

El Mirador National Park – this park is located in a natural environment formed by
Sierra Karst, with an extension of 3,000 km2 in which there are ancient Mayan
monuments. This biological environment is spectacular for its subtropical forest in
which endangered animals and plants inhabit. One can access the park by helicopter
or for the more adventurous, walking on a wonderful three-day route.
El Mirador is a Mayan city in the north-west of Petén, where you can discover
architectural complexes, such as El Tintal, La Florida, la Danta, La Muralla, El Tigre and
La Wakna, between its causeways and monumental structures within the Mayan
Biosphere Reserve. It is worth mentioning “the Great Pyramid of the Danta”, which is
named after the largest animal that exists in the jungle (the “Danta” or Tapir). The
Danta is the largest pyramid in the world in terms of volume, occupying a space of
2,800 cubic meters and its height is the highest in America, with 72 meters.

ChocoMuseo

ChocoMuseo (Paseo Cayala, Zona 16, Ciudad de Guatemala) – this museum
chronicles the history of chocolate in Guatemala, going back to the ancient Aztec and
Mayan civilizations, where the chocolate-producing cacao bean was treated as a form
of currency. You can even sign up for a workshop, and make your own chocolate, right
from the cacao beans. If you want to go even deeper in your knowledge, you’ll be
offered to visit a real cacao plantation, where you’ll meet farmers and share their
passion for chocolate.
There’s also a ChocoMuseo at Antigua (4a Calle Oriente #14, Antigua), and in other
cacao-growing countries (Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Mexico,
Nicaragua, and Peru). Free admission (additional charge for a tour or workshop
session). Hours: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm (daily). See its website for details:
www.chocomuseo.com