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Sights and landmarks in Flores

6 sights worth seeing in Flores: landmarks, galleries, monuments and viewpoints.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Sights and landmarks in Flores

  1. See

    Ak'tun Kan

    La Cueva de la Serpiente, the cave of the serpent

    Inside the cave are many formations that resemble various objects, such as animals, people, and of course ordinary stalagmites and stalactites. Most of the relics are labeled (in Spanish) and will be identified by your guide.

    Q15 (including guide)

  2. See

    Petencito Zoo

    A small zoo that is home to monkeys, jaguars and raccoons as well as some animals rescued by ARCAS. The zoo is a 10-minute boat ride from Flores (inquire behind Hotel Santana).

  3. See

    Tayasal

    El Mirador de Kan Ek

    Large overgrown Maya ruin a stone's throw from Flores, on the San Miguel peninsula just across the lake about 250 m distant. Easiest way to get there is by boat. Haggle with the lancheros, who will want to take you on a full (more expensive) tour of various sights. If archaeology is your thing, insist on only seeing the Tayasal ruins, and that the lanchero guide you to the major pyramids (all overgrown) - otherwise you might miss them on the forest trails. The first pyramid, known as the Mirador ("viewpoint"), is a 5-minute walk from the lakeshore, with concrete steps up the side to reach the top, where a wooden tower has been built to give fantastic views across the lake. There is another large pyramid nearby, and the main plaza has a couple of badly damaged stelae, and a smaller pyramid.

  4. See Not mapped

    ARCAS (Asociaciòn de Rescate y Conservaciòn de Vida Silvestre)

    A wildlife rescue center dedicated to the prevention of animal trafficking. There are possibilities to offer your services here as a volunteer. The center operates its own boat service from Flores, with boats leaving at 08:00 and 15:00. Alternatively, take a boat to the Petencito Zoo, which is located nearby.

  5. See Not mapped

    Castillo de Arismendi

    The old colonial barracks were built immediately after the conquest of the native Itza in 1697; it is on the north side of the central plaza, and now serves as a tourist information centre, with a traditional handicraft shop.

  6. See Not mapped

    Parque

    The central park is a plaza on the highest point of the island. There are a number of Maya sculptures dotted around the central kiosk; these were brought from the Maya ruins of Ixlu, at the east end of the lake.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Flores (CC BY-SA 4.0).