Yaxhá National Park
The Mayan capital that dominated the large pre-Hispanic settlements
The Yaxha National Park is located in the northeast part of the Petén department, in the municipalities of Flores and Melchor de Mencos. It was the capital of an extensive territory that dominated the northeastern part of Petén, although it had very strong links with the city of Tikal, Caracol in Belize, and Calakmul in Mexico. It has monumental clusters with pyramidal temples, Acropolis, twin pyramids complexes, commemorative complexes, Ball Games, palaces and domestic residential complexes.
The Park has an extension of 37,760 hectares. It hosts various cities, being Topoxte, Nakum and Naranjo the main ones, after Yaxhá. These cities played a very important role in the social and political organization of the central lowlands for more than 1,500 years. It is possible to visit the Yaxhá, Topoxte, and Nakum, Yaxhá being the most accessible, and from where you can start the visit to the park.
The park is also a refuge that allows to appreciate a balanced combination of biodiversity and pre-Hispanic cultural heritage. Due to the presence of impressive lagoons and wetlands that are part of the main migratory bird routes, the park has been recognized as a wetland of global importance (RAMSAR). The lagoons of Yaxhá and Sacnab can be observed from the top of several archaeological monuments, giving the area a unique landscape beauty.
GEOPOSITION
Cantarranas
Providencia and San Gerardo de Dota
Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Area
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