Flores, Peten, Guatemala

 

Flores is the capital of Peten, Guatemala. It is set on an island joining the mainland by a manmade causeway.

Flores is one of the main tourist destinations on the way to Tikal. There are lots of small hotels, hostels, and eatery places here to explore and enjoy.

There is a small island off of Flores that is home to a working museum of many different items. Old radios and some gadgets I could not figure out what they were used for. Lots of Mayan artifacts and a very interesting curator that is a whole story himself. Well worth the short lancha (boat) trip to visit and spend an enjoyable hour or two chatting away in the shade of the ceiba tree that seems to dominate the space here.

Lake Peten Itza, Peten, Guatemala

Lake Peten Itza is on the road to Tikal, Peten, Guatemala. I'm not sure if many people that go to Tikal realize that this beautiful gem is just waiting for you to take a refreshing dip or just sit and enjoy the almost unbelivable Caribbean colours.

I spent almost a week here exploring her secrets. There used to be fresh water crocodiles living here, sadly they are gone now. But the local people remember the "time of the crocodiles" with almost mythical memory. In the middle of the Peten jungle that is not hard to envision.

There are several small towns dotting the shores of the lake. All sleepy and slow in the jungle heat, and alive with life forms of different kinds. Birds so many as to remain a constant background of a cacaphony. Insects bigger than most humming birds.

Turtles and fish in the lake still dance to the rythms of time.

It seeps into your marrow and fills your soul with the timeless life of the jungle. And a refreshing dip into the lake watching the heat lightening displays at night are something out of a fairy tale.

I am hooked.