Tayasal – The Last Stand Of The Mayan Empire

While in the Flores area, I took a hike through the ruins of Tayasal, the final city of the Mayan Empire. It survived for 150+ years after the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors. Unfortunately, it too fell in the end, and the city was torn down and destroyed.

It was fascinating to see what remained, and to have the place almost entirely to myself was something very special.

This LiDAR map of the area really shows just how many buildings were there, and how extensive a city it was.

As I arrived in the area, I was struck by the amount of work being done, though I got the sense that much of Tayasal had not been worked on in some time.

As I continued to wander through the area, there were hints of the once great city of Tayasal that would have been there. This Stella 1 had some intricate carvings of a man and an ornate throne upon which he sat.

As I headed up to the second level, there were even more buildings and structures in various stages of work. Again, based on the appearance, it had looked like it had been some time since work was done there.

One of the cool things about the area, was this large raised walking platform that allowed for an easy hike through the area, while preventing possible damage or contamination to the structures that have not yet been uncovered. It was a beautiful walk through the forest, and gave you a nicer view of the surrounding area.

After an hour or so, I made my way to the last stop on the visit, and the hardest one to get to by far. The lookoff point at the top of what was once a three-sided pyramid known as the Mirador Rey Can-ek, which overlooked the entirety of the Peten Itza Lake. But first, there were a few stairs to climb…

After being determined to climb the stairs all the way to the top, I finally made it to the lookoff point, and it did not disappoint. I was a hot and sweaty mess by this time, with the temperature near 30C. But I’m so glad I made it to the top to get this amazing view.

I then had to trek all the way back from the way I came, and was glad to stop at Cool Beans Too, a local restaurant and pit-stop after the long day of hiking. Amazing food, everything was freshly-made, and it really hit the spot. I also befriended a local dog who was hanging out.

In the end, I finally made my way back down to to the town of San Miguel where I’d been staying, which is on the north side of the lake, overlooking Flores.

I’d spent the week at Casa Zoila, which was a fantastic place to stay. If you want to contact them, please message Cori directly on WhatsApp at +502 4263 1196.

You can watch my full episode from Tayasal on Youtube, here:

Thanks for reading, please be sure to leave a comment below!

And Remember.
Life Is Short.
Wander.

– Ian