Yaxhá Sunset Tour from Flores
Watch the sun drop into Yaxhá lagoon from the top of Temple 216, in a Maya city the jungle still keeps for the few who make the trip.
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- Sunset from Temple 216 over the lagoon
- A fraction of the Tikal crowds
- Howler monkeys and toucans at dusk
- Third-largest Maya city in Guatemala
- Bilingual local guide
- Round-trip transport from Flores
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TOUR DETAILS
What is the Yaxhá Sunset Tour from Flores?
The Yaxhá Sunset Tour from Flores is a guided afternoon trip to Yaxhá, the third-largest Maya city in Guatemala, ending with sunset from Temple 216 over Yaxhá lagoon. You explore plazas and acropolises with only a few other visitors, hear howler monkeys as the light fades and are back in Flores around 8:00 PM. Entrance paid separately.
What's Included in the Yaxhá Sunset Tour?
- Pickup at 12:00 PM at the "Yo Amo Petén" sign, at the entrance to Flores Island, or at 12:35 PM at Restaurante Las Gardenias in El Remate
- Round-trip bus to Yaxhá National Park, about 1:30 hours each way, including the 11 km dirt road you would not want to drive yourself
- Professional driver with all licenses and permits
- Bilingual local guide with the stories of Yaxhá: its rivalry with Naranjo, its twin pyramids and the astronomy behind its plazas
- Climbs on selected structures, including Temple 216 for the sunset (at your own risk)
- Free time to take photos and enjoy the site on your own
- Restroom stop during the tour
What's NOT Included?
- Yaxhá entrance: Q80 per foreign visitor (about US$10), paid in cash in quetzales at the park; Guatemalans Q40
- Optional boat ride to the Topoxté islands, offered by local boatmen and paid on site
- Meals and drinks (bring water and snacks)
- Tips for the guide and driver (optional)
- Travel insurance (recommended)
Things to know before your Yaxhá sunset tour
- Bring cash for the entrance. The Q80 Yaxhá ticket is paid in quetzales at the park, and so is the optional boat to Topoxté; there are no ATMs or card machines out there.
- Clouds can steal the sunset. Afternoon storms are common from May to October. Even then the lagoon, the monkeys and the silence on top of Temple 216 make the trip, but we never promise a clear sun.
- A long half-day. You leave at noon and return around 8:00 PM, so plan a late dinner in Flores.
- The last stretch is a dirt road. About 11 km of unpaved road through the jungle; it can be bumpy after rain.
- Steep wooden stairs lead to the top of Temple 216. Take your time: there is no rush before sunset.
- Mosquitoes come out near the lagoon at dusk: wear long sleeves and repellent.
- Few services inside the park. Carry 1.5 L of water and snacks; there is no restaurant at the ruins.
- Do not swim in the lagoon: Morelet's crocodiles live in Yaxhá lagoon.
- Shared group of about 5 to 25 travelers; the guide sets one pace for everyone.
- Back in the dark. The group walks out after sunset; a flashlight helps.
- Payment: the US$29 tour price is paid in full when you book.
About the tour
WhatsApp Us!Yaxhá feels like Tikal must have felt before the crowds. The Yaxhá sunset tour leaves Flores at noon, follows the highway toward Belize and turns onto a dirt track through the forest for the last 11 km. About an hour and a half after pickup you reach Yaxhá National Park, on the shore of a lagoon whose Maya name means "blue-green water".
Your guide walks you through a city of more than 500 structures, the third largest in Guatemala after Tikal and El Mirador. You cross plazas where only a handful of travelers share the view, see one of the few twin-pyramid complexes outside Tikal and climb into the North Acropolis while howler monkeys call from the treetops and toucans cross the clearings.
As the afternoon softens, you climb the wooden stairs of Temple 216, the tallest building in Yaxhá at over 30 m. From the platform the lagoon stretches below, dotted with islands, and the jungle runs to the horizon. Most groups fall silent for the last minutes as the sun drops behind the water. Then you walk down in the dusk and the bus brings you back to Flores around 8:00 PM.
Why do travelers choose the Yaxhá sunset tour?
Travelers choose the Yaxhá sunset tour for the view from Temple 216 over the lagoon and for the quiet: Yaxhá gets a fraction of the visitors of Tikal, so the ruins, the jungle and the sunset feel shared with very few people.
- The sunset over water: the sun sets behind the lagoon and its islands, a view no temple in Tikal offers.
- Fewer people: reviews repeat that Yaxhá is much less crowded than Tikal, even at sunset.
- More wildlife: with less noise, howler and spider monkeys and toucans are easier to see and hear.
- A wilder setting: jungle, lagoon and partly uncovered ruins, with architecture different from Tikal.
- A perfect pair with Tikal: Tikal one day, Yaxhá at sunset the next, both from Flores.
Yaxhá and Topoxté: the optional boat ride across the lagoon
At Yaxhá, local boatmen offer an optional boat ride across the lagoon to the Topoxté islands, about 15 to 20 minutes away. Spread over the islands of Topoxté, Paxté and Cante, the site holds the only exposed architecture of the late (Postclassic) Maya period in Petén: small temples and stone platforms wrapped in jungle, with the lagoon all around.
- How it works: travelers who choose it split from the group, cross the lagoon by boat, explore the island ruins and are brought back to Yaxhá, where they enter through a different access. The rest of the group goes in through the main entrance and starts the visit there, and everyone meets again for the sunset.
- Optional and paid on site: the boat ride is not part of the tour price; you pay the boatmen directly, so bring extra quetzales if you are tempted.
- Why travelers take it: the ride across the water, the forested islands and a second Maya site in the same afternoon make the adventure bigger.
Yaxhá vs Tikal: which should I visit?
Visit Tikal for size and the famous temples, and Yaxhá for a quieter jungle site with the best sunset in Petén; with two days in Flores, do both. Tikal is bigger, with more facilities and more visitors; Yaxhá is smaller, wilder and set beside a lagoon.
- Crowds: Tikal fills with buses from about 10 AM; Yaxhá stays calm all day.
- Sunset: Tikal over the jungle from the Lost World; Yaxhá over the lagoon from Temple 216.
- Entrance: Tikal Q150, plus Q100 for the sunset slot; Yaxhá Q80, cash.
- Distance from Flores: both about 1:30 hours by road, in different directions.
See our Tikal Sunset Tour or the budget Tikal day tour.
What to pack for your Yaxhá day trip
- Quetzales in cash for the Q80 entrance
- 1.5 L of water and a snack per person
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat for the midday arrival
- Mosquito repellent and long sleeves for dusk by the lagoon
- A flashlight for the walk out after sunset
- Shoes with grip for jungle trails and wooden stairs
- A camera with zoom for the lagoon, the islands and the monkeys
RELATED TOURS
Tikal Day ToursTikal Day Tour from Flores
4:30, 6:00, 8:00 or 10:00 AM · Temple IV, Great Plaza and Lost World by day$29.00
Tikal Sunset ToursTikal Sunset Tour from Flores
12:00 PM · Sunset from the Lost World pyramid$75.00
Tikal Sunrise ToursTikal Sunrise Tour from Flores
2:40 AM · Sunrise from Temple IV, inside before the park opens$87.00Yaxhá Sunset Tour Itinerary
From Flores to sunset over Yaxhá lagoon
12:00 PM
Pickup at the "Yo Amo Petén" sign, entrance to Flores Island.
12:35 PM
Pickup at Restaurante Las Gardenias, El Remate.
1:30 PM
Arrival at Yaxhá National Park after the last 11 km of dirt road; entrance paid in cash.
1:45 PM
Guided walk through the plazas, the twin-pyramid complex and the North Acropolis, watching for monkeys and toucans.
4:30 PM
Free time for photos before heading to Temple 216.
5:00 PM
Climb the wooden stairs of Temple 216 and find a spot on the platform.
5:20–6:35 PM
Sunset over Yaxhá lagoon (the time changes with the season).
After sunset
Walk back to the bus at dusk.
Around 8:00 PM
Arrival in Flores.
Times are approximate; the guide may adapt the route to the weather and the group.
Yaxhá Sunset Tour FAQ
Is the Yaxhá sunset tour worth it?
Yes, especially if you want ruins without crowds: the Yaxhá sunset tour shows you a huge Maya city with few visitors and ends on Temple 216 above the lagoon. The drive is about 1:30 hours each way and clouds can hide the sun, but the quiet and the wildlife rarely disappoint.
Yaxhá or Tikal: which is better?
Tikal is bigger and more famous; Yaxhá is quieter, wilder and has the better sunset, over a lagoon. If you only have one day, choose Tikal; with two days in Flores, add the Yaxhá sunset tour for the calm and the view from Temple 216.
How far is Yaxhá from Flores?
Yaxhá is about 73 km from Flores: 62 km of paved highway toward Melchor de Mencos and 11 km of dirt road. The drive takes about 1:30 hours each way; the Yaxhá sunset tour picks you up at 12:00 PM in Flores or 12:35 PM in El Remate.
How much is the Yaxhá entrance fee?
The Yaxhá entrance fee is Q80 (about US$10) for foreign visitors and Q40 for Guatemalans, according to the CONAP rate sheet. It is paid in cash in quetzales at the park and is not included in the US$29 Yaxhá sunset tour.
How much is the Yaxhá sunset tour?
The Yaxhá Sunset Tour from Flores costs US$29 per person (2026), with round-trip transport, driver and a bilingual guide. Add the Q80 Yaxhá entrance, paid in cash at the park. It is one of the most affordable ways to see a major Maya city at sunset.
What is Temple 216 in Yaxhá?
Temple 216 is the tallest structure in Yaxhá, over 30 m (100 ft) high, on the East Acropolis. Wooden stairs lead to a platform with a view over Yaxhá lagoon and the jungle, the spot where the Yaxhá sunset tour watches the sun go down.
Can you do Tikal and Yaxhá in one day?
Yes, but it is a very long day of about 17 hours from Flores, with a sunrise start at Tikal and sunset at Yaxhá. Most travelers enjoy them more on two days: Tikal one morning and the Yaxhá sunset tour another afternoon.
What time is sunset at Yaxhá?
Sunset at Yaxhá is between about 5:20 PM in December and 6:35 PM in July, since it lies close to Tikal. The Yaxhá sunset tour always leaves Flores at 12:00 PM and is back around 8:00 PM.
What does Yaxhá mean?
Yaxhá means "blue-green water" in Maya, after the lagoon beside the city. Yaxhá is one of the few Maya cities whose ancient name is still known, and the color is easy to see from the top of Temple 216 on the Yaxhá sunset tour.
Will I see wildlife in Yaxhá?
Often: Yaxhá is quieter than Tikal, so howler and spider monkeys, toucans, parrots and coatis are easier to spot, especially in the late afternoon. Animals are never guaranteed, but the howlers usually call as the sun goes down.
Can you swim in Yaxhá lagoon?
No, swimming in Yaxhá lagoon is not advised: it is home to Morelet's crocodiles, and the park has warning signs by the water. On the Yaxhá sunset tour you enjoy the lagoon from above, from the top of Temple 216.
Was Survivor filmed in Yaxhá?
Yes: Survivor: Guatemala, the 11th season of the show, was filmed in Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park, the protected area around Yaxhá, between June and August 2005. Today the same park is where the Yaxhá sunset tour climbs Temple 216 above the lagoon.
Can I visit Topoxté from Yaxhá?
Yes: on the Yaxhá sunset tour, local boatmen offer an optional 15 to 20 minute boat ride across Yaxhá lagoon to the Topoxté islands, paid on site. You explore the island ruins, return to Yaxhá through another access and rejoin the group for the sunset on Temple 216.
What should I bring to Yaxhá?
Bring cash in quetzales for the Q80 entrance, 1.5 L of water, snacks, sunscreen, a hat, mosquito repellent, long sleeves for dusk, a flashlight and shoes with grip. There are no ATMs and no restaurant at the ruins of Yaxhá.
Is Yaxhá National Park open for sunset?
Yes, guided sunset groups stay on Temple 216 until the sun goes down and leave the park together afterwards. The park's day hours run from about 8:00 AM to 5:00–6:00 PM, so a sunset visit is easiest on a guided tour.
