Top Things to do in Peten Department
Top 10 Things to do Good for Adrenaline Seekers in Peten Department, Peten Department
Discover the best top things to do in Peten Department, Guatemala including Temple IV, Great Plaza, Temple I, Temple II, Yaxha, Tikal, Tikal Canopy Tour, El Mirador, Ixpanpajul Nature Park, Jorge's Rope Swing.
Restaurants in Peten Department
1. Temple IV
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 788 reviews
If you're up for an energetic climb, ascend the wooden stairs to the top of this 212-foot structure, the highest in Tikal, for a magnificent view of the jungle below.
Reviewed By 73valh
We went here with a tour group. We had a guided tour at this place and it was very insightful. We were able to climb a couple of the temples. They have made their own wooden steps to get to ALMOST the top. The views are incredible.
2. Great Plaza
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 493 reviews
Once the ceremonial, religious and social center of Tikal, this plaza is surrounded by huge temples, a palace, sculpted altars and a ball court.
Reviewed By RobertAleksandrowicz - San Jose, United States
The space littered with stelae and altars between Temples I and II on the east-west axis and between the North Acropolis and the place complex on the north-south axis is the Great Plaza, or the new downtown of Tikal because it was built relatively late in its history. What most visitors don't realize is that this plaza is built on a platform that's at least 4 meters high, and from this platform rise the temples and palaces around. The Great Plaza is a must-see for anyone visiting Tikal. Make sure to check the acoustics, but don't just clap. Stand in the middle of the plaza and face directly at the temple I, then the North Acropolis, then Temple 2. Each one will echo your clap.
3. Temple I
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 294 reviews
Reviewed By PandaHouston - Houston, United States
Temples I and II are in a complex. If you climb on Temple II, you get great views of the complex and you can see Temple I. This area is the highlight of Tikal and you definitely want to spend a little bit of time here exploring the area. Unfortunately our guide only gave us 30 minutes here.
4. Temple II
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 173 reviews
Reviewed By RobertAleksandrowicz - San Jose, United States
This is Tikal's Taj Mahal, a temple built by a king to honor his beloved queen. At 138 feet it is the shortest of all the "numbered" pyramids yet still it is 40 feet taller than El Castillo of Chichen Itza. It's a massive looking three-tier pyramid that has been meticulously restored and can be climbed by a wooden staircase accessed behind the monument. If you're with a friend climb the pyramid and have your friend stand in the middle of the plaza and check the acoustics. You can talk to each other in a normal voice and hear each other perfectly. make sure to take look at the roof comb which is very ornate and some of the sculpture is still recognizable after 1400+ years.
5. Yaxha
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 379 reviews
Reviewed By 312darshanh - Columbus, United States
On our last free day in Flores, we took a sunset tour to Yaxha National Park with the help of our guide Francisco Florián Escobar. Until our trip we didn’t know Yaxha was the third largest Mayan ruin and was situated in the heart of the rainforest of Guatemala. Francisco was very entertaining and very knowledgeable. He even showed us spider monkeys and grey haired fox. He was also telling us about how Mayan cities were built and how they varied from region to region due to the location of stars. At the end of the trip, we did enjoy a beautiful sunset on top of the Mayan temple.
6. Tikal
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,011 reviews
Reviewed By trvlwannab - Charlotte, United States
First, please allow me to promote Tikal Go, a tour company that provides standard and custom tours of Tikal. They did a great job for us & we highly recommend them. The ruins are among the best in the world. We’ve been to several of the more famous ones in Mexico, Peru, the UK, Italy, etc. If you appreciate historic archeological structures, find a way to go to Tikal….you won’t be disappointed. The sheer number of structures is amazing. They are in various stages of the way they were originally found to fully restored. I believe there are 6 major “pyramids”. We climbed to the top of 4 of them. In fact, you can explore inside & climb on almost all the structures. It is an awesome site from the top of the tallest pyramid, looking out over the top of the tree canopy to see the tops of 4 other pyramids peeking out from the canopy. Restrooms and small huts selling cold drinks are scattered through the expansive property. We especially enjoyed the opportunity to walk thru the mostly shady terrain as we explored. There is a main entrance building that has a restaurant, bathrooms & vendors. Other than that, there may be 1 or 2 more vendors as you start out on the path, but we appreciated not having a large number of vendors in the ruins area. We had brought umbrellas to protect us from the sun or potential rain, but never opened them. We did apply ample bug-spray and were never bothered. Near the end of our tour (not at the entrance/exit, but still in the jungle) we ate at a nice restaurant that was a much-needed break after our long walking tour. They had a nice lunch and refreshing cold water towels to put on the back of our necks. While it takes a little time to get to Tikal, it is worth the effort. I think they have a small local airport, but we drove in from the Belize/Guatemala border near San Ignacio. It is about 1 & ½ drive to the ruins. Since we were staying in Belize City the day before, we elected to spend the night in Isla de Flores. It is a wonderful little island, with many nice hotels and restaurants about an hour from Tikal.
7. Tikal Canopy Tour
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 98 reviews
Here we rely on the CANOPY TOUR TIKAL, horseback riding between ancient and dense forest, as well as restaurant and links to archaeological sites in the Maya area and populations of tourist concentration. With respect to the canopy, we can assure you that this is one of the best ecological tours because it is a journey into the jungle, Tarzan-style, 30 meters in height and an average speed of 60 kilometers per hour.
8. El Mirador
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 139 reviews
This ancient Mayan city flourished from 200 BCE to 150 CE, but is largely unseen due to its inaccessibility in the jungle.
Reviewed By HaleyR51 - Colorado, United States
We booked the private 5-day jungle trek to El Mirador, in the heart of the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, with the Cooperativa Carmelita Tour Operator in the small community of Carmelita. We had a fantastic time visiting the archaeological sites of El Tintal, El Mirador, and La Florida. Our local guide, Juan Carlos, was exceptional! He was very knowledgable about Mayan culture and history and also about the flora and fauna we saw along the way (howler and spider monkeys, wild turkeys, coatimundis, grey foxes, jaguar and tapir footprints, and birds galore). We also took along an English speaking guide and friend of ours, Elmer Alvarado (with Tikal VIP Tours), and we highly recommend him as well.
9. Ixpanpajul Nature Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 132 reviews
Reviewed By Kencor66
There is a fantastic canopy walk, six suspension bridges. Zip line through the canopy. Shuttle available from Flores. Staff all amazingly friendly and helpful. A bit pricey, but well worth it!!
10. Jorge's Rope Swing
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 102 reviews
Reviewed By IsabelleWestra - Utrecht, The Netherlands
We spent a great and fun afternoon here! Took a lancha over there from Flores for 40 quetzales (return per person). The entrance is 10 quetzales and they sell drinks and nacho and even pasta. There's a jumping platform and a couple of rope swings, very fun to play around with. Bear in mind that the Los Amigos party boat arrives around 15:15 - 15:30. If you want to enjoy the quietness, make sure you get there before that time.
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