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El Mirador

Pre-Columbian Maya settlement

Photo: Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

El Mirador is a large site of Mayan ruins in the Petén department of Guatemala.

Getting there and around

Getting there

Virtually all trips in go via the village of Carmelita, but these can be arranged in Flores or Santa Elena.

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Getting around

It is best to do this trip with a sixth day to see Nakbé, which is 3½ to 4 hours away and just a bit closer to Carmelita.

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Mundo Maya International Airport

San Benito · Regional · FRS

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Read before you go to El Mirador

Articles and travel topics about El Mirador and Guatemala.

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Full travel guide

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UnderstandThe reasons that El Mirador is not swamped with tourists are its inaccessibility and, although a lot of work being done here, most of this huge site involves many unrestored mounds and pyramids in the jungle.

Get inVirtually all trips in go via the village of Carmelita, but these can be arranged in Flores or Santa Elena.

Fees and permits

Get aroundIt is best to do this trip with a sixth day to see Nakbé, which is 3½ to 4 hours away and just a bit closer to Carmelita.

SeeThe city's main group of buildings covers 2 km² and many were built on a grand scale. The largest pyramid at El Mirador, El Tigre, has six times the surface area as Temple IV at Tikal and is 55 m tall.

DoTours also can involve visiting Nakbé and will take longer than seeing just the one site.

BuyBuy what you need beforehand. The guards at any Guatemalan ruin rotate in for 21 days at a time, so consider buying and bringing "items" for them. Food treats or cigarettes would be enjoyed.

EatFood is included in any outfitted trip to El Mirador, but protein may be in short supply for most meals. Bring snacks and granola bars.

DrinkBring your own, except for water. On cool mornings, unless you really like instant coffee every day, hot chocolate or latte mixes will hit the spot.

SleepHammocks, mosquito nets and blanket provided. If rain is possible, your guide should put a tarp overhead.

Stay safeThe last thing that almost anyone connected with these trips wants is for anything bad to happen to travelers. The local economy depends on good trips happening.

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Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "El Mirador" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "El Mirador", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Geoff Gallice from Gainesville, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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