Peten
Peten is the largest of Guatemala's departments (roughly similar to the counties of Great Britain), with a size of 12,960 square miles. It accounts for a third of all of Guatemala's land but the fact that it is home to only around 450,000 people goes some way to show how relatively unpopulated Guatemala is in comparison to countries in the Western world. Peten is situated in the northernmost part of Guatemala and most tourists would agree that it is home to the country's most awe inspiring scenery and archaeological sites, certainly its most easily accessible.
With a history that can be dated back to around 500 BCE, Peten is the land where the Maya culture has been flourishing for millennia. Some historians believe that around 750 CE there were several million people living in Peten, and over-cultivation of land led to a famine and considerable depletion in the numbers of Maya people. In more recent history, the first paved road in Peten was built as recently as 1982 when the land was made more accessible for tourists who flocked to see what remains of the Maya architecture, most notably Tikal, and the abundance of wildlife. Today Peten remains for the most part a traditional region, with many parts still inaccessible for tourists due to the underdevelopment of the roads. But as deforestation continues to decimate the landscape and central areas such as Flores continue to become more built up, Peten is increasingly a region of juxtaposition of relative wealth, in the capital of Flores, and underdevelopment in the rainforest areas.
Attractions
Tikal - This site is of a truly enormous magnitude on many scales. Spanning 220 square miles of rainforest, Tikal is the largest of the ruined ancient cities of the Maya civilization, and with temples that some scholars believe could have been the tallest in pre-Columbian America, Tikal is a breathtaking place. As you approach by bus from nearby Flores, it feels as if you could be in any other area of Guatemalan rainforest, dwarfed by the massive trees that loom over the roads. As you enter the site of the ruins however, it becomes clear that this incredible area is unique even within Guatemala's incredible scenery. Ancient pyramids, temples, observatories and palaces stand proud on top of the hill the site is based upon, that served as the centre of a civilization which achieved remarkable feats in the written language and arts amongst many other accomplishments. Tikal is a must for travellers, without doubt one of the most visually spectacular archaeological sites in the world. It is so impressive it cannot fail to impress both old and young.
Flores - The capital of the Peten region, Flores is a popular town for travellers and locals alike. Flores itself is a municipality, but it is based around the old town, spectacularly positioned on an island on Lake Peten Itza. With the surrounding area mainly residential, the old town is of most interest to travellers and many get a thrill when travelling across the short causeway from the mainland to the island as they take in the romantic view of the town. Flores has a very 'safe' feel about it, with cobble stone streets flanked by local handicraft stores, hotels and restaurants. The relaxed atmosphere of the town itself is the main attraction of this place, and it serves as a perfect base for those who want to spend a short time relaxing before continuing their travels in the relatively nearby surrounding areas of Peten such as Tikal and the ARCAS wildlife centre.
Trekking - The Peten rainforest area is so abundantly rich in its flora and fauna that many travellers, in order to get the most authentic feel of the place, choose to trek through the heart of it. There are many tour organisers who organise trips, mainly from Flores, around the surrounding area where many unique flowers and insects can be spotted, as well as the remnants of ancient Maya civilization that litter the countryside. By choosing to explore the countryside this way, tourists get the chance to walk through what some ecologists have called 'the lungs of our planet', such are these rainforests importance to us today.
Shopping
As Peten's main attractions are based around the ecology and history of the area, shopping is not a priority for tourists. There are of course, shops in the Tikal area where you can buy t shirts and models of the area but these rarely go further than standard tourist tat. The main exception regarding shopping in Peten is in the old town of Flores. A little walk away from the river front into the centre of the town and you can find yourself in winding alleys where local handicraft shops stay open late until the evening. Colourful hand made garments and fabrics are readily available and local hard wood carvings are all available for very cheap prices and are well worth a look.
Nightlife and Eating Out
Peten is a tranquil and quiet area so do not expect a party culture. Flores has a nice selection of restaurants and bars that can entertain groups for civilized evenings and most tourists tend to favour these surroundings rather than the empty, seedy discotheques. In other areas of Peten the towns are not big enough to accommodate any western forms of nightlife so do not expect much more than a few shops where beer is available.
The food is largely typical of Central America. In most shops you will be able to buy cheap rice and peas dishes that will suffice the appetite but not excite the soul. In Flores there is a selection of very agreeable international style restaurants which sell pasta, pizza and a variety of meat dishes. Watch out for items on the menu that are labelled as rare dishes, this usually means they are endangered animals such as the hilariously ugly tepesquintle.
Tourist Information
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- Website: [http://www.travelsustainable.com/ www.travelsustainable.com]
