these ancient sites in guatemala hide an intriguing history
the mayans of central america and mexico have a long and mysterious past, with the earliest evidence of their settlements dating to almost 4000 years ago. their culture was complex, with unique farming and irrigation methods, fascinating mythologies, and intricate hieroglyphic writings and calendars. today, the mayans cultural influence remains forever stamped upon the countries they inhabited, in the form of ancient ruins, buried within vibrant jungles and forests. the iconic design in their pyramids, temples, statues and engravings, continue to draw visitors from around the world. dive into the past as we highlight some fascinating ruins in guatemala - a country that was, and continues to be, alive with mayan history.
Cancuen
when it was first discovered in the early 1900s, cancuen was thought to be a relatively small mayan city. it was only until recently, however, that archaeologists unearthed the remains of an enormous palace deep in the jungle. covering over 250,000 square feet, the palace has over a hundred rooms and many large courtyards, showing just how advanced the mayan civilisation really was. the cancuen complex is found at the southern end of peten, where it was connected to many other mayan cities by way of trading rare materials such as jade. the jade, discovered by archeologists, was carved into jewellery and small statues before being traded. cancuen sits close to the paśion river, in the region of the same name, and it's palace serves as an example of what could be lying within the guatemalan jungles, yet to be unearthed.
Zaculeu
the structures of zaculeu border a large clearing in the guatemalan forest, with views of distant mountains and jungles beyond. they’re close to the city of huehuetenango, and the location was strategic for the mayans, as it meant they were less accessible to invaders. however, despite the mayans efforts, the site eventually fell to the spaniards after a long siege in 1525. today, the huge monuments stand as a reminder of the fallen civilisation, with intricate pyramids and platforms, as well as a ball court - an arena used for traditional mayan ball games. the location is just as impressive as the structures, and exploring the open-air lawn on which zaculeu was built makes for a nice departure from the heat of the jungle.
Yaxha
in northern guatemala, the region of the petén basin is also home to yaxha, one of the larger mayan complexes hidden within the country. its name literally means ‘green water’, and was discovered in the early 1900s. located between two massive lakes, these ruins form part of a larger complex of mayan ruins, and was believed to be a ceremonial site. it sits in the jungle, encroached by dense foliage and the wildlife that fills the landscape, such as toucans, monkeys and plenty of other tropical birds. you can climb to the top of the ruins' unique, pyramid-like design, with steps leading to tier upon tier of mayan architecture. once you’ve explored the main site, you could also discover the smaller settlements scattered about the national park, located around 2 hours from the town of flores.
Quirigua
the site of quirigua is close to the border of honduras and guatemala, and was a small mayan town used as a trading port for the nearby site of copan. while being a small site, it's a great place to embrace your inner archaeologist, as it is filled with unique mayan stelae, statues, and monoliths embedded with hieroglyphs. these special examples of mayan craftsmanship are a testimony to their culture, with engravings of faces, animals, strange patterns and letters. some of the stelae depict a mayan creation myth, with deities and depictions of constellations jutting out of the stone. as you walk through the complex, you’ll find large stretches of grassy fields within the jungle, showcasing these relics among stone steps and other, smaller ruins.
Tikal