Yaxhá ruins at a glance
Yaxhá (also written Yaxha) lies in the Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park in the Petén region of northern Guatemala. The ruins stand among restored pyramids and temples, with a lagoon nearby and forest all around. Most visitors come from Flores, either on a tour or with their own transport.
Yaxhá is a separate trip from Tikal, with its own ticket, its own hours and its own rules. You can visit both in one trip, but not on one ticket.
Our picks: Yaxhá
The shared sunset tour is the low-cost way; the entry is paid at the gate. The one-day combination and the two-day trip add Tikal.
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.
Tikal and Yaxhá over two days from Flores
- Entry fees
- Guides at Tikal and Yaxhá
- Transport between the sites
Guided visits to both sites with the entry fees and transport between them. Check where you stay the night in Flores.
Check availability →
Tikal sunrise and Yaxhá sunset on one day
- Sunrise from Temple IV
- Guided Tikal and Yaxhá
- Hotel pickup
Seventeen hours with a certified guide: sunrise from Temple IV, guided visits to Tikal and Yaxhá and the sunset at Yaxhá. Entry fees depend on the option.
Check availability →
Shared Yaxhá sunset tour
- Return transport
- Guide
Return transport and a guide for an afternoon at Yaxhá. The entry of Q80 is paid at the park gate.
Check availability →Yaxhá and Tikal tours from Flores
Day trips, Tikal and Yaxhá combinations and evening tours from Flores, with live prices and availability.
Yaxhá tours and ways to visit
Examples for 2026. Prices are offers, not final prices for your date.
| Option | Duration | Price | Check before you book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evening tour from Flores | About 7 hours | $25 | Whether the sunset visit and any climb are allowed under the current rules |
| Private Tikal and Yaxhá day trip from Flores | One day | $250 | Group size, entrance fees and the Yaxhá hours |
| Your own transport from Flores | About 1 hour 15 minutes each way | Entrance GTQ 80 | The state of the last 11 km of road |
For most visitors, a morning or daytime visit inside the opening hours is the safest plan. Treat a sunset trip as something that depends on the rules in force on your day.
Yaxhá opening hours, fees and visitor rules in 2026
What to know before you arrive.
Opening hours
The 2026 visitor rules give 08:00 to 17:00, with an exception for camping. Plan your day around that window and confirm the hours on arrival.
Entrance fee
The fee is GTQ 80 for foreign visitors and GTQ 40 for Guatemalan citizens. Children under 5 enter free. Check the current fee at the entrance before you go.
Local guides
The 2026 rules require a local guide for sunrise and sunset visits, wildlife watching, photo and film activities and certain access routes, where those activities are permitted. A free, unguided evening climb is therefore not something to plan on.
Swimming, drones and speed
Swimming in park waters is forbidden. Drones are allowed only for authorized research or promotion. Feeding wildlife is forbidden, and vehicles may drive up to 35 km/h on the permitted roads.
Getting to Yaxhá from Flores
From Flores, drive 62 km on the CA-13 to La Máquina, then 11 km on an unpaved road to the park. That is about 73 km and roughly 1 hour 15 minutes. The unpaved stretch changes with the weather, so allow extra time after rain.
Do not plan Tikal and Yaxhá as neighbors on the map. Use Flores as the base for both. The Flores guide covers the island town, and the how to get to Tikal page covers the airport and shuttles.
Lagoon, Topoxté and Temple 216
The sights beyond the main plaza.
The lagoon and Topoxté
Topoxté is reached by boat across the Yaxhá lagoon. The whole excursion takes about 2 hours. Boat service is arranged at the visitor center through the local association ASODESTY. There is no public timetable, so ask on arrival about price and departure.
Temple 216
Temple 216 has had a wooden staircase with a view over the lagoon and Topoxté. Whether you may climb it on your day is decided on site, so ask at the entrance and follow staff instructions.
Nakum
Nakum lies 17 km from Yaxhá. It requires a local guide on all its access routes and registration at the checkpoints, so it is not a self-drive stop. The Mayan ruins in Guatemala page puts Nakum next to Uaxactún and Ceibal.
Combining Yaxhá with Tikal
A private day trip from Flores that covers both sites costs about $250. Confirm the Yaxhá hours and rules with the operator before you book, because the 2026 rules affect evening visits. If you only have one day, see the Tikal tours first and add Yaxhá only if you can spare a second day.
Plan the rest of your trip
Nearby ruins, tickets and an expedition.
Tikal ticket prices
Entrance, sunrise and sunset tickets and how to buy them.
Mayan ruins in Guatemala
Uaxactún, Nakum, Ceibal and the sites around Tikal.
El Mirador
La Danta by multi-day trek or by helicopter.
Heading on to the highlands? Antigua has its own guide.
Yaxhá: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Yaxhá?
The fee is GTQ 80 for foreign visitors and GTQ 40 for Guatemalan citizens. Confirm the current fee at the entrance. Tour prices are separate.
What are the Yaxhá opening hours?
The 2026 visitor rules give 08:00 to 17:00, so plan your visit inside that window.
Can I watch the sunset at Yaxhá?
Sunset visits need a local guide and are only possible where the activity is permitted. A tour from Flores may offer it, so ask the operator to confirm that your date is allowed.
How far is Yaxhá from Flores?
About 73 km: 62 km on the CA-13 to La Máquina plus 11 km on an unpaved road. Allow roughly 1 hour 15 minutes each way.
Can I swim in the lagoon or fly a drone?
No. Swimming in park waters is forbidden, and drones are allowed only for authorized research or promotion.
Is this the official website of Yaxhá?
No. TikalRuins.com is an independent travel guide. It is not the official website of Yaxhá, of CONAP, of the Ministry of Culture and Sports or of INGUAT, and it is not connected to any tour operator or hotel.