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Village in Petén, Guatemala
Photo: Jorge Antonio Leoni de León, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
El Remate is a small, relaxed little village on the east side of Lago Petén Itza. Some travelers looking for peace and quiet opt to stay here rather than Flores as a base for exploring the lake and the region. It's also the closest jumping off point to Tikal.
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This former ceremonial center and city of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization is best visited with a guide and arranged from an agency in Flores, Santa Elena or Melchor de Mencos. Its acropolis has been mostly reconstructed and is larger than that of Tikal. The city was able to benefit from its position on the Holmul River trade route, and had its peak in the period between the 8th and 10th century AD. It belongs with Naranjo and Yaxha to the so-called cultural triangle in the region. The city was discovered in 1905 by Maurice Perigny. An extensive restoration program was started in 1990. You can visit as either a round trip from Yaxhá or a one-way continuing onward to Tikal. From the main road between Flores (Guatemala) and San Ignacio (Belize) one branches off in the direction of Yaxha. From here an unpaved path leads to the ruins in Nakum. The path can only be mastered with a 4x4 car in dry conditions.
unrestored Maya ruins
Survivor Guatemala was filmed on nearby Lake Yaxha. Hotels and travel agents can arrange tours.
Top-quality, home-style Italian food served in a quiet palapa-hut.
The best rooms have a/c, and hot water. The property is clean, tidy and well maintained with very friendly staff, who can help with all kinds of activities and transportation. Amenities for hotel guests are free filtered water and internet service. Amazing garden with lake lookout and "Toucan Express" cable car drink delivery.
A peaceful and inexpensive family-run hostel with its own dock on the lake and a restaurant.
This chill lodge is a nice place to relax along the lake. Accommodation is in a few various cabins, and in a small hotel block. One cabin in particular is close to the lake and is the most open to the elements. 2 docks make for decent swimming, and there's a couple of floating platforms to swim out to and sunbathe. Breakfast and dinner are included in the price.
A luxury hotel in beautiful natural surroundings. It has a restaurant, but with an unimaginative menu. The Biotopo Cerro Cahuí is close by and worth a visit. Expensive.
Minibuses run from Santa Elena semi-frequently throughout the day (Q20). A taxi from the Santa Elena airport will run US$20. Hotels will arrange shared minibuses to Tikal for Q100 rtn.
Read in the guideCentral El Remate is small and walkable, but if you're staying a ways along the north road on the lake, you may want to find a bicycle to rent.
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San Benito · Regional · FRS
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