Mayan ruins in Guatemala at a glance
Tikal is the best known of the Mayan ruins in Guatemala, but the Petén region holds several more. Some are a short drive from Tikal, others need a boat, a local guide or several days of walking. They are different trips with different effort, and no single ticket covers them all.
Most travelers use Flores as their base. If you have one extra day, a guided trip such as Tikal tours from Flores is a good first step, and Yaxhá is the easiest ruin to add.
Mayan ruins near Tikal compared
Access and fees differ by site. Fees are for foreign visitors in 2026 where they apply.
| Site | Getting there | Entrance | Access notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uaxactún | About 23 km of unpaved road beyond the Tikal car park | GTQ 50 | Tell the Tikal checkpoint your destination; the regular Tikal ticket is required |
| Yaxhá | 73 km from Flores, about 1 hour 15 minutes | GTQ 80 | Open 08:00 to 17:00 under the 2026 rules |
| Nakum | 17 km from Yaxhá | – | Local guide required; register at the checkpoints |
| Ceibal | About 2 hours by car from Flores, or about 1 hour by boat from Sayaxché | – | Open 07:00 to 17:00 daily; ask about access after rain |
| El Mirador | Multi-day trek or helicopter | – | Authorized guides only, on reserved dates |
For most visitors, Yaxhá is the easiest add-on from Flores, Uaxactún fits a stay at Tikal, and Ceibal and El Mirador each need a day or more of their own.
Our picks: beyond Tikal
Uaxactún with Tikal at sunset includes all fees; the community tour is the shorter, simpler visit.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Uaxactún observatory, jungle lunch and Tikal at sunset
- Tikal entry and sunset ticket
- Uaxactún community fee
- Traditional Petén lunch
A local guide, the Tikal park entry and the sunset ticket, the Uaxactún community fee and a Petén lunch are all included. Bring a torch for the walk out.
Check availability →
Uaxactún ruins and community visit
- Air-conditioned transport
- Certified local guide
- Community visit
Air-conditioned transport, a certified local guide for the ruins and the observatory, and a visit to the village. The park ticket of Q80 is extra.
Check availability →Tikal and Petén tours from Flores
Guided days from Flores, Yaxhá combinations and El Mirador trips, with live prices and availability.
Uaxactún
Uaxactún (often written Uaxactun) is a Mayan site beyond Tikal. You reach it by continuing about 23 km on a gravel road from the Tikal car park. At the Tikal checkpoint, say that your destination is Uaxactún and show your ticket.
The Uaxactún fee is separate: GTQ 50 for foreign visitors and GTQ 5 for Guatemalan citizens. The ticket shop also asks for the regular Tikal ticket of GTQ 150. How a drive through to Uaxactún without a Tikal visit is treated is something to ask at the checkpoint. See the Tikal ticket prices for the full list.
Yaxhá, Nakum and Ceibal
The other ruins that most travelers ask about.
Yaxhá
Ruins beside a lagoon in the Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park. The 2026 visitor rules give 08:00 to 17:00 and require a local guide for sunset visits. A boat visit to Topoxté takes about 2 hours.
Yaxhá guide →Nakum
Nakum is 17 km from Yaxhá. The 2026 rules require a local guide on all its access routes and registration at the checkpoints. It is not a self-drive stop.
Ceibal
Ceibal (also written Seibal) lies near Sayaxché on the Río La Pasión. It has stelae and a restored temple, A-3, and it flourished from about 700 to 900 CE. The road from Flores takes about 2 hours, and a boat from Sayaxché about 1 hour. Hours are 07:00 to 17:00, daily. Ask about access before you go in the rainy months.
El Mirador
The most remote of the group. You walk in over several days or fly in by helicopter, always with authorized guides.
El Mirador guide →Planning a trip to several ruins
Four points that save trouble.
Separate tickets
No single ticket covers all Mayan sites in Guatemala. Tikal, Yaxhá, Uaxactún and Ceibal each have their own fees and hours.
Different effort
Mirador, Yaxhá with Nakum and Naranjo, Tikal with Uaxactún, and Ceibal are separate destinations in the Petén. Do not plan them as one loop.
Base in Flores
Tikal, Yaxhá and Ceibal can all be reached from Flores. Read the Flores guide for the town.
Living culture
The Maya are a living people, and many Maya communities live in Guatemala today. The ruins are part of their history, and not the end of it.
Plan the rest of your trip
Tikal itself and the road to it.
Tikal temples
Temple I, Temple IV, the Great Plaza and Mundo Perdido.
Yaxhá
Hours, fees and getting there from Flores.
El Mirador
La Danta by trek or helicopter.
For the highlands, see Antigua and Lake Atitlán.
Mayan ruins in Guatemala: frequently asked questions
Which Mayan ruins in Guatemala are worth visiting besides Tikal?
Yaxhá, Uaxactún, Nakum, Ceibal and El Mirador are the main choices in the Petén. They differ in distance, access and fees, as the table above shows.
How do I get to Uaxactún?
Continue about 23 km on a gravel road beyond the Tikal car park. Say that you are going to Uaxactún at the Tikal checkpoint.
Can I visit Nakum on my own?
No. The 2026 rules require a local guide for Nakum and registration at the checkpoints.
How far is Ceibal from Flores?
About 2 hours by car, or about 1 hour by boat from Sayaxché. Ceibal is open from 07:00 to 17:00 daily.
Is there one ticket for all the Mayan ruins?
No. Each site has its own fees, hours and rules. Plan and budget for each separately.
Is this the official website of the Mayan ruins?
No. TikalRuins.com is an independent travel guide. It is not the official website of Tikal National Park, of CONAP, of the Ministry of Culture and Sports or of INGUAT, and it is not connected to any tour operator or hotel.