Guatemala City by Jenny Herrera -AGN-. The Ministry of Culture and Sports -MCD- invites visitors to enjoy recreation in the Yaxhá Nakum Naranjo National Park. This natural and cultural jewel has an area of 37160.05 hectares and is part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Petén.
This place has wetlands, forests, rivers, and lagoons. It has been cataloged as a Ramsar site, a wetland of international importance, because of its essential wetlands; it also has endemic species currently in danger of extinction.
It also has different archaeological remains that emerge from the Mayan civilization, characterized by its natural and cultural beauties.
The entrance fee to Yaxhá Park is only USD 5 for national tourists, while foreigners are also welcome and must pay a fee of USD 10 to enter. The park is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Services
It has different services in each of the four monumental cities, including:
- booths
- trails
- benches
- rest areas
- restrooms
- camping huts
- showers
- parking
- museum
- boat trips
- docks
- library
Pre-Hispanic History
The first inhabitants arrived in 700 B.C. It is believed that they were impressed by the landscape and the vital water source, a life-generating element. They decided to name their settlement Agua Verde (Green Water) or Yaxhá, as it is referred to in the glyph they used to identify themselves. Afterward, they were settled for 1,600 years, during which time several buildings remained for posterity, among them the North Acropolis and the Maler Group, the most ancient vestiges.
In the year 250 A.D., the Classic Period began, which refers to sites with great influence and power, such as Tikal, where a close relationship seems to have been established.
Between 600 and 800 A.D., the Late Classic period emerged.
Yaxhá continued its development at the expense of sites such as Holtun, La Naya, and others. After the last stela was erected in Yaxhá with a record of 796 A.D., there was a decrease in construction works, which would last more than 100 years until its total abandonment in the second part of the 10th century A.D.
The MCD provides recreational spaces to share with family or friends and, in this way, promotes tourism in Guatemala.
