Petén

Petén
Flores

Population
366,735 habitants

Postcode
17000 (Petén)
17001 (Flores)
17003 (San Benito)
17013 (Tikal, Flores)

Location
488 Km. of capital city

Altitude
174 msnm

Languages
Español y q'eqchi

Territorial Extension
35,854 km²

Weather
Warm, Tropical

Major ruins and other tourist attractions
El Mirador
Tikal
Ceibal
Piedras Negras
Ceibal
Yaxhá
Parque Natural Ixpanpajul

The department of Peten is located in northern Guatemala. Bordered on the north by Mexico, on the south by the departments of Izabal and Alta Verapaz, on the east by Belize and Mexico to the west.

Its main means of communication with the Capital City and elsewhere in the country, is the air, but also owns the roads that communicate with Izabal and Alta Verapaz, as well as Mexico and Belize. They are also used to move some rivers and lakes linking the municipalities.

The Mayans called Petenes to the islands of the current Lake Peten Itza, with the name later extended to the entire territory covered by the department, also translates as a flat or flat land.

In this department as a mountainous area where Brazil as well as still virgin forest there are several areas that the government has declared as protected areas.

The big department stores archaeological treasures that are a focus of attraction for tourists and foreign nationals. There are the ruins of the largest metropolis of the Maya, Tikal, the holy city, on the banks of the Usumacinta are the ruins of Piedras Negras.

The big department stores archaeological treasures that are a focus of attraction for tourists and foreign nationals. There are the ruins of the largest metropolis of the Maya, Tikal, the holy city, on the banks of the Usumacinta are the ruins of Piedras Negras.

In addition possesses unique natural beauty and countless as the caves of Jobtzinaj and Naj Tunich, the cave which initiated the interest in Mayan caves, among archaeologists. Lake Peten Itza, Lagoons Yaxhá and Sacnab, among other gaps by minors who are, not without great beauty, not to mention their majestic and crystalline rivers that snake across the virgin forest that still exists in this department green as en la Cuenca del Mirador.

Climate of Petén

The department is varied topography, which also brings with it the diversity of climates, which are divided into three zones: Region Lower, Middle Region and Region High.

In the first match plains and lakes, where the majority of towns in the department, as well as its large grasslands or savanna, the second, the first match point, including small hills river valleys San Pedro , Or Blue Hondo and San Juan. In the Region High correspond Mayan mountains in the western part of the department, the highest elevation in it, being more favourable climatic conditions for the establishment of livestock and agricultural colonies.

General Information / Overview of Petén

Emergency Phone
National Civil Police. +(502) 7926-1365

Inguat in Petén
INGUAT provides schedules for buses, billboard events, tours and information related to travel.

INGUAT
Oficina Regional INGUAT
Km. 5 Carretera a Tikal, Complejo Cristal
Cervecería Centroamérica Gallo
Tel. +(502) 7952.8602
Fax. +(502) 7952.8604
www.visitguatemala.com