Chiminos Island Lodge, Archaeology






		Aguateca: Our Lodge is the perfect gateway to Aguateca, just minutes away by boat, a fortified city built on high escarpments above the Petexbatun basin. The site is partially reconstructed and you can hike inside nearby caves and a deep cut in the limestone, product of tectonic forces, used as a defensive wall by the Mayas. The trip, by boat and walking the site takes between 3 to 4 hours. Dos Pilas: A trip to Dos Pilas, an important Mayan City that extended its rule on Tikal at a certain time, is a one in a lifetime experience. The tour takes a full day and takes about 2 ½ hours to get there walking after a short boat cruise. You will need to be in good physical condition, but it pays when you get to see the magnificent stellaes and hieroglyphs in carved stone staircases. You can refresh yourself in the springs that form two small ponds that give its name to the site. Ceibal: A large site, the most widely reconstructed and visited of the sites in the region, is a perfect trip on your way in or out to our Lodge. It can be reached by road or river, upstream La Pasion River from Sayaxche, so plan on it, the day you arrive or the day you leave. It is at least a half day tour.

Cancuen: Tours available in the near future. This Mayan city is currently under investigation by Vanderbilt University, but it has not been reconstructed yet. According to most recent findings it has a magnificent royal palace, even larger than Tikal's, but still unearthed. Right now, we recommend visits to other mayan sites in the region.
Yaxchilán: Is a great mayan city that sits on the bank of the Usumacinta River on the Mexican side of the border. The site has been cleared, and some of the palaces and temples have been restored. Yaxchilán's beautiful stelae were carved in deeper relief than at other Maya sites. One of the most interesting discoveries here was a carving made on a step of Temple 33 in the 8th. century AD, which shows Yaxchilán ruler Bird Jaguar playing a ball game. Trips to this beautiful site can be arranged upon special request, and be prepared to spend at least 3 days in this trip.