Petén

Look at any map of Guatemala and one thing becomes immediately clear—Petén is big, forested, and without many roads. It’s true that Petén is a remote wilderness area. Much of the forest here remains untouched and continues to harbor all kinds of plants and animals. Over 285 species of birds have been reported at Tikal alone.

Over the past few decades, however, subsistence agriculture and cattle ranching have continued to threaten the forests of Petén. Even so, activists have managed to protect a third of Petén since 1990, most of it in the form of national parks collectively known as the Maya Biosphere Reserve. The Maya Biosphere Reserve is one of the largest continuous tracts of tropical forest in Central America. It’s hoped that the environmental, cultural, and recreational potential of this area will outweigh the urge for short-term gain and natural degradation over the coming years.

Petén is believed to be the birthplace of Mayan civilization, as some of the oldest Mayan sites are found here. The most impressive of these is Tikal, which was once one of the largest Mayan cities and is an absolute must-see for travelers in the area. The ruins, composed of huge temples and limestone pyramids, are utterly incredible. Aside from the ruins, Tikal is also an awesome place for birders and wildlife enthusiasts.

There are two other important Mayan sites in Petén—El Mirador and Yaxhá. El Mirador, set deep in the northern portion of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, is one of the largest and earliest Mayan sites in the world. Its massive ruins are still being excavated and are sure to reveal a wealth of treasures in the future.