Yaxhá

Yaxhá

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Duration: 2-3 hours
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  • Mippie
    Gran Canaria, Spain18 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful remote Mayan complex
    We rented a car in Flores and drove to the park ourselves. The road has many holes and the last 11 km is unpaved, so a 4x4 is not necessary. Then walked in the park for 2 hours without seeing another tourist. Magical experience!
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 18, 2024
  • Cláudia Q
    Rio de Janeiro, RJ911 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unmissable magical place
    One of the most powerful and magnificent places we have visited. We arrived by boat and there were no people, we were greeted by the native monkeys who gave us a warm welcome. Everything about the ruins is magical and reminds us of a truly magnificent civilization. I recommend wearing sneakers, a hat and repellent, as the ruins are located in the jungle.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 2, 2024
  • Grzegorz P
    60 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sunset at Yaxha
    Another great ruins to explore in Guatemala. Located in forrest, gives a chance to see parrots and monkeys. There are many well preserved temples. Especially a plaza surrounded by 3 really big ones is gorgeous. Near the entry is the temple of red hands with viewpoint on the lake and sunset
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 7, 2024
  • Anniek Z
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful yaxha with a great tour guide
    Yaxha was amazing and a special thanks to our enthusiastic tour guide Caesar. As soon as we departed from Flores, we were up for a good tour. We did the sunset tour to Yaxha and Caesar explained us during the bus ride a lot about Flores and the department Petén. In the park he not only gave us lots of information about the calendar, culture and old sacred buildings but also he showed us a lot of wildlife. It was great going to Yaxha, very quiet and calm and the sunset was great. Thanks Caesar for telling us all about the old Maya rituals and the meaning of the buildings. (phone number Caesar also known as the fox: +502 3029-8935 )
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written June 1, 2024
  • Nora M
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    beautiful Yaxha
    We travel from Guatemala city to Peten Itza, Airlines were amazing! then Car service "Alamo" wait for us at the airport. Very professional, great service. We drove to Yaxha, beautiful place. We spend at least 2.30 hours. Walked, have pictures, drink water. (we have our own). Everyone very helpful and was an amazing adventure. We saw the monkeys very closed. I will love to take back my 6 grand kids!..
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written July 7, 2024
  • Miguel Tours Guatemala (Facebook)
    Guatemala City, Guatemala72 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Yaxha Archaeological Site
    Charming site of Yaxha, deep archaeology, huge temples to climb and pyramids. Yaxha is lovely with sunsets. Its two lakes decorate the site, its nature. Yaxha is inside the Mayan Biosphere Reserve in peten Guatemala. Guide Miguel Vasquez has done an excellent job. I recommend it. He's very professional.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 9, 2024
  • omegon
    Bangkok, Thailand293 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best sunset views in the area
    While the ruins are not as grand as Tikal, Yaxha is still a place worth visiting with lots of history and especially a great place to view the sunset. If you are going on a tour from Flores this would almost always be the itinerary. The drive can be somewhat long, and the last 12 KM is on dirt roads. Inside the park there are no restaurants, only vendors selling some drinks and snacks.
    Visited November 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written December 2, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles415 reviews
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Richard B
Edinburgh, UK5,534 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Yaxha is a truly amazing place to see and not something you just 'add-on' because your at Tikal and want something else to do. Yaxha is a big ticket item in its own right and a 'must do' if you've made it to Tikal.

A similar distance from Flores area circa 1 hour and 20. The last part of the road is pretty rubbish but easily passable with care. I was in a budget rental and there were minivans full of tourists easily making the trip.

Once there, the visitor centre overlooks the lake and gives you a taster for what awaits. The archaeological area is spread out around beautiful jungle/country. The lake is a place of peace and tranquility and the area also has credentials as a RAMSAR ornithological site too.

Not as big as Tikal, however a few scalable vantage points and an extensive enough area to enjoy a quiet, unspoiled area. I would highly recommend a visit if in town.

Written February 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephen L
Rye, UK31 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Solo
I took the sunset tour of Yaxha. We had a pick up from Flores at midday. Nice mix of nationalities though I was the granddaddy of the group. Booked through Adrenalina Tours in Xela, though contracted out to a guide/ operator.

It’s a bumpy and slow last 12km or so along an unmade road. But what awaits you is great. Not on the scale of Tikal but as impressive in its own way. Enjoyable for there being many fewer people about and fun for you being encouraged to climb some of the larger temples - would never be permitted by ‘elf & safety these days in Blighty.

The sunset bit itself is really atmospheric with beautiful views over the lagoon. Again, as enjoyable in its way as sunrise over Tikal.

Thanks to Patrick at Adrenalina for setting me up with this. Would like to acknowledge the guide but can’t remember his name/ company.
Written December 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ben F
Bloomington, IN1,841 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
Want a Tikal-esque experience without the crowds? Yaxha is the way to go. The park staff were generous enough to allow the owner of my lodge, the nearby El Sombrero, to take her four-wheel-drive SUV into the heart of the park so that I could see the incredible ruins without needing to walk too much, which, as someone who normally gets around using an electric wheelchair, was very helpful, since I was exhausted from previously walking a LOT. The fee at the main entrance is very cheap, and any cost to get in will be worth it.

The ruins are structures you just need to see for yourself to extract full value. They were so enchanting and fascinating, and to imagine that only a fraction of all the buildings are currently visible to our eyes today…the city of Yaxha was massive back in the day! And I learned there was a path actually linking Yaxha with Tikal that is now, of course, all buried in flora and trees. The Mayans were extremely resourceful and meticulous, and their urban planning strategies were insane!

Getting to the park will take awhile, both if originating from Flores or the Belize/Guatemala border, but the trek is one of the coolest things you can do in the country. I felt perfectly safe and at ease. Check out this gem as soon as possible! (And maybe keep it a secret from your friends!)
Written December 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MMM & Pipa
Logrono, Spain14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Friends
It was a surprise. In the shadow of Tikal, this site is often outside of the usual tourist visits, but what a shame!
It is a wonderful city, with more than 500 buildings, of which it is true that there are few excavated and exposed, but those that are, are magnificent. And walking among the hills formed by the tree-covered ruins, in the heart of a jungle, surrounded by two natural lakes, is impressive.
The city was huge. Walk through the different sectors of the city, have the opportunity to climb to the top of the pyramids, observe the views from above, a wonderful enclave in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve.
Walk almost alone, feel the human silence, but perceive the noise of nature like nowhere else: howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and beautiful birds everywhere!
Worth!
Bring water. It is very hot and humid. There are mosquitoes. And physically if you want to climb the wooden walkways, or the pyramid stairs to the top, it is demanding.
Google
Written October 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

murali8121
Kochi (Cochin), India797 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
With an area of 143 sq.miles, this is a cluster of three parks -Yaxha,Nahum and Naranjo and has been named a world heritage site in 2006. Open 6.00 am to 6.00 pm all days and entry for foreign citizens at 80.00 quetzals, this boasts a history of 1500 years. Due to the presence of lagoons, this is also the path of migratory birds. This is one place you can follow the roaring sound silently and get to see the howler monkeys establishing their territories. The sound they make is so loud a roar that you might feel there are lions around!
Written February 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

petergerman2016
Guatemala708 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Couples
Yaxha is the better Tikal. It is not so crowded, it is located at the lake and still the ruins are impressive.

Also, many ruins have not yet been excavated. Yaxha is 1 hour drive from the lake Peten Itza. Of course Yaxha is not as big as Tikal, and in 3-4 hours you have seen everything, but there is no more beautiful sunset than from Pyramid 216. The view over the jungle overlooking the lake - priceless.

I loved it and I can recommend it anytime.
Written May 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rob C
San Jose, CA2,105 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
Yaxha- Nakum-Naranjo National Park is the home of the impressive ruins of an ancient Mayan city of Yaxha. The trip from Flores by car takes about 1.5 hours. The entry fee is 80Q for foreigners. There are lots of restored structures and several restored pyramids. You can scale some of them, but not everyone. Many more structures remain covered by vegetation. Park was not busy in early April of 2021, maybe 10 people in the entire place. Access is difficult and involves a 1/2 he ride down a narrow dirt path. The bathrooms are located at the ticket office and right by the entrance. I'd come back.
Written April 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jim L
Orillia, Canada715 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
To the north, there’s a hundred miles of jungle before being crossed by a single highway. On the map, it’s just a small corner of Central America. But here, it looks like forever! To the south, immediately below me, is a courtyard bounded on three sides by temple pyramids and on the fourth by administration buildings. Beyond, mostly hidden by the dense forest, the abandon city of Yaxha unfolds. Except for the tops of a few other pyramids, all I see is jungle now. But a 1,000 years ago? What would I be looking over?
For a few minutes, I have this space to myself. The forest is alive with the sounds of birds. A rustle in the trees indicates a spider monkey, while barking and growling in the distance indicates a troop of howler monkeys. The thigh burning climb up the steep steps gave me some time to think about the history of this place. If only the stones could speak! They’d tell me of the people that walked these steps before me. How did they live? How did they die? What did they laugh about? What made them cry? What were their daily, most dull routines?
It’s a strange thing to be standing here. This isn’t just a scenic outlook or an observation tower. Archaeologists tell us these are temples. Perhaps on this very spot, 1,000 years ago, blood was being spilled as a sacrifice. Even human sacrifice. For some, this scenic view was their last view. It’s a strange thing indeed.
Another couple approaches the pyramid, gets halfway up and laughs and jokes about being out of shape. Finally, they join me at the top, huffing and puffing like I had a few minutes before. The spell is broken, and I head down, still thinking of the footsteps I follow.
If you can handle the road, Yaxha is THE place to visit in Peten. Nearby Tikal may be bigger, more developed and more extensive, but it's also much more popular. Wandering Yaxha, you might feel like you are alone in an undiscovered world. We saw maybe 2 dozen people in 4 hours. A must see, must experience place.
Written May 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mayahma
United States2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
Loved the sunset tour to Yaxha, it was peaceful and beautiful. We saw beautiful ruins that we were able to climb up, the vistas were extraordinary! I highly recommend visiting.

Warning: if you do a tour from Flores, I recommend asking the name of your tour guide, if it is Saul, Do not Go! Find a different tour guide. My niece and I and the rest of our group were left on our own, and were reprimanded by Saul like children, we were all spoken to in Spanish, even when we told him that some of the group didn't understand Spanish. He even made fun of most of us! Saul is the tour guide who hates tourists!
Written July 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GillyBum63
King's Lynn, UK37 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Couples
This was a much quieter trip to see the ruins than any of the others that we have been to. There is a long bumpy track which is not unusual to get to it but once there it is a very relaxing to walk through the woods listening to the Howler monkeys and learning the scale of the place and how much more there is to discover.What is there is to see is very interesting and our guide from Maya Trails was great, not so many visitors and no facilities on site only at check in. The Howler monkeys were amazing to listen to, they sound like dinosaurs!
We also visited Tikal which could not of been more different.
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Yaxhá, Peten

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