Maya Biosphere Reserve (Reserva de la Biosfera Maya) Tours and Activities
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The vast tropical basin that covers Petén, the northern third of Guatemala, remains largely wild, its jungle-carpeted Mayan cities and traditional indigenous villages left largely unmolested within the protected 2.1 million-hectare (almost 8000 square-mile) Maya Biosphere Reserve (Reserva de la Biosfera Maya), created by UNESCO in 1990.
Home to only 3% of Guatemala’s population, the Maya Biosphere Reserve has become an adventurous ecotourism destination. The reserve comprises Tikal National Park, El Zotz and Naachtún-Dos Lagunas Biotopes (Uaxatún), Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park, and Mirador Basin National Monument, along with at least 200 other Mayan ruins, mountains, rivers, cenotes, hiking trails, and 14 lakes, including Lake Petén Itza, gateway to the reserve.
The Maya Biosphere Reserve is part of a protected area stretching from central Mexico, through northern Guatemala and Belize. The Mayan city-studded forests are home to thousands of rare and beautiful species, including jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay, spider monkeys, tapirs, deer, scarlet macaws, and much more. There are dozen of ways to explore the wilderness, most of which are easily arranged from Flores.
Home to only 3% of Guatemala’s population, the Maya Biosphere Reserve has become an adventurous ecotourism destination. The reserve comprises Tikal National Park, El Zotz and Naachtún-Dos Lagunas Biotopes (Uaxatún), Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park, and Mirador Basin National Monument, along with at least 200 other Mayan ruins, mountains, rivers, cenotes, hiking trails, and 14 lakes, including Lake Petén Itza, gateway to the reserve.
The Maya Biosphere Reserve is part of a protected area stretching from central Mexico, through northern Guatemala and Belize. The Mayan city-studded forests are home to thousands of rare and beautiful species, including jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay, spider monkeys, tapirs, deer, scarlet macaws, and much more. There are dozen of ways to explore the wilderness, most of which are easily arranged from Flores.
Practical Info
The Petén lowlands in which the Maya Biosphere Reserve sits are classified as either Tropical or Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forest, which means it will be hot and humid—much more so than Antigua and Lake Atitlán. It is coolest (relatively speaking) from November through February, when you may need a light jacket. Rainy season is steamy, and runs from late May through October; bring mosquito repellant.
Remember that while the reserve is protected on paper, the Guatemalan government has other pressing problems (poverty, narcotrafficking, corruption, etc). They can’t stop all the squatters who hunt, log, and mine the wilderness, or raid unprotected ruins for Mayan artifacts. Use your best judgment as you travel responsibly through the region.
Remember that while the reserve is protected on paper, the Guatemalan government has other pressing problems (poverty, narcotrafficking, corruption, etc). They can’t stop all the squatters who hunt, log, and mine the wilderness, or raid unprotected ruins for Mayan artifacts. Use your best judgment as you travel responsibly through the region.
Address: Reserva de Biosfera Maya, Peten, Guatemala
1 Tours and Activities to Experience Maya Biosphere Reserve (Reserva de la Biosfera Maya)
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Bird Watch Tour in Ixpanpajul, Tikal or Taxha
1
Enjoy a close encounter with Guatemala’s vibrant wildlife on this full-day bird-watching tour in the Maya Biosphere Reserve. With the help of an expert private guide, a member of Petén Birder's Club, visit bird-watching hotspots like Ixpanpajul Nature Park, Tikal or Yaxha, and have chance to spot more than 400 different bird species, including the famous Resplendent Quetzal.
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$274.36
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$274.36
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