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View at the Yaxhá lagoon from the top of a pyramid. Photo/© Knut Eisermann. |
Birding in Yaxhá. Yaxhá is a stunning place for nature and archeology. Rediscovered in 1904, the ruins continue to be excavated and have been found to be part of one of the largest ancient Mayan cities. Geographically, the ruins are located southeast of Tikal National Park. The site is part of the National Park Yaxhá-Nakúm-Naranjo. At the foot of the ruins is a lagoon carved in limestone and framed by tropical rainforest, which is home for many Neotropical species of flora and fauna typically representative of the Maya Biosphere Reserve. The birding experience in this area is as astonishing as in Tikal, you will find a wide variety of exotic species, and it also provides you with the advantage of seeing a site with much less human traffic, thereby making birdwatching much easier. From the remarkable solstice observatory you can observe swarms of Red-lored Parrot (Amazona autumnalis), White-fronted Parrot (Amazona albifrons), Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinosa) and White-crowned Parrot (Pionus senilis), flying over the canopy of the Yaxhá rainforest to reach their evening roosting site.
At the lagoon you may observe the rare Jabiru (Jabiru mycteria), during migration season various species of Nearctic shorebirds. A swim in the Yaxhá lake, which appears very inviting from far, is not recommendable, because crocodiles (Crocodylus moreleti) are abundant.
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| Mealy Parrot Amazona farinosa is the largest amazon in the region. Photo/© Knut Eisermann. |
Accommodation: In Yaxhá you will stay overnight and eat in El Sombrero Eco-lodge, where original recipes are used for delighting you with tasty meals, served in a nice environment facing the Yaxhá lake. The Eco-lodge has double and triple country style rooms with solar and candle light, and private bathrooms.
For independent travelers:
Please fill this reservation form and we will send you information on rates and space availability as soon as possible. 
When is the best time for a visit in Yaxhá? Any time of year is possible, since the road is always in good condition, and well worth the visit for the different species you will see.
How do you support conservation and development in Yaxhá? El Sombrero ecolodge is the most active institution in the Yaxhá region applying ecotourism in close involvement of local communities. Your visit is important because your tourism dollars provide jobs for local guides with few other job opportunities available to them and they, in turn, work extensively to preserve the rainforest in the area, one of the largest protected areas in Guatemala and certainly a wealth of diversity of tropical fauna and flora.
