Jungle trek to El Mirador
Only available as Add-on
Deep in the heart of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, there’s a secret that’s been hidden for centuries – a secret that dates back even before the mighty temples of Tikal. This isn’t your typical vacation; it’s an expedition that’s going to transport you back in time to the very dawn of the Maya civilization. The trek to El Mirador slowly strips away the trappings of modern life – the constant din of traffic, the city skyline, and replaces them with the raw, earthy beauty of the Petén jungle.
Imagine the howler monkeys’ guttural roar shaking the air, the emerald canopy stretching out as far as the eye can see, and you’ll get a sense of just how far removed this tour will be from your daily life. For the intrepid traveler, this is an adventure that’s an actual trek to the largest pyramid in the known world – a massive pyramid that’s so well hidden that, for decades, pilots thought it was a volcano.
El Mirador
The Lost Mayan City
The Maya Hero Twins
Amazing limestone carvings
La Danta
The top of the Mayan World
Mayan adventure
Jungle trek to the lost Mayan City
Highlights
- La Danta: Tackle the climb up one of the world’s most massive ancient structures , where you can watch the sun disappear into a sea of jungle that stretches on and on to Mexico.
- The Roar of the Howler Monkeys: Sleep and wake to the haunting calls of the Black Howler, a sound that resonates for miles and becomes the jungle’s primal soundtrack.
- Walking the Causeways of El Tintal: Step onto the remnants of ancient elevated highways that demonstrate a level of engineering prowess that puts Rome to shame, connecting the jungle metropolises of old.
- The Friezes of the Hero Twins: See the incredible preservation of limestone carvings that tell the Popol Vuh creation myths – intricate art that’s survived two millennia of humidity and roots.
EL MIRADOR
The Lost Mayan City
The trek to El Mirador is for people who want to see the ‘before’. It’s a rare chance to stand in a place so remote that the stars above look just as they did to the astronomer-priests all those centuries ago – no artificial haze or light pollution to dull the view.
This is where you get to test your limits against the jungle’s unforgiving conditions, against the sheer distance. By the time you reach the heart of the lost metropolis, you won’t just be a tourist looking at a monument; you’ll be a witness to the sheer ambition of a people who managed to build a mountain of stone in the middle of a swamp.
Itinerary
Route: Flores ➔ Carmelita ➔ El Tintal Archeological Site
We hit the road early, leaving the cobblestones of Flores behind and driving further into the deepening forest. The road quickly turns to dust and then gravel as we make our way to the historic settlement of Carmelita, a place that’s been around for over a century thanks to the chicleros (gum harvesters). It’s here that we meet our support team and the mules that will be carrying our gear for the next few days, marking the real start of the El Mirador trek.
The hike begins with a gentle trail shaded by towering Mahogany and Ceiba trees, the air thick with humidity and smelling of damp earth and decaying leaves. As we push deeper into the jungle, the terrain starts to shift into the lowland swamp forest – a landscape that’s all but impassable during the rainy season, but full of twisted roots and orchids.
By late afternoon, we arrive at El Tintal, a massive city that used to control the entire region. We set up camp near the base of its temples, watching the spider monkeys swing through the upper canopy as the light starts to fade.
A Surprising Fact: El Tintal has a “h-shaped” ball court that’s one of the biggest in the Mayan world. Now that’s interesting. It’s worth noting that archaeologists have dug up evidence of a pretty complex water management system with canals, and moats – kind of like lakes that were used for farming and trading back in the day.
The Logistics:
- How long will we be on the road? 3.5 hours driving; 6 hours trekking (approx. 17km). You’ll want to factor that into your planning.
- What costs are included? Private transportation from Flores, community entrance fees, lunch, dinner, and the cost of renting a mule to carry your gear.
- Other costs you should be aware of:
- Personal snacks – if you want to bring some extra treats, that’s up to you.
- What to bring and what to wear:
- A lightweight long sleeve top for your trek, and some good sturdy boots that are broken in.
- Insect repellent and a couple of litres of water to keep you hydrated.
The Route: El Tintal ➔ El Mirador
We start the day at the crack of dawn with a hearty jungle breakfast, cooked up over a campfire. Today is a real test of endurance and a chance to learn about some pretty impressive engineering feats from the Mayans. We’re following the route of an sacbe – that’s an ancient road made from limestone, and it’s a real jungle road. It was built by the Mayans so that their rulers could travel above the swamps when the rainy season hit.
As you walk, the jungle starts to change around you and before you know it, the trees get a lot taller and the undergrowth gets thicker. Then, out of nowhere, the wall of green breaks and you get a glimpse of the La Muerta complex – that’s a smaller site that’s part of the El Mirador place. We spend some time exploring the subterranean tunnels there and then it’s off to the main campsite of El Mirador. When we finally arrive, it hits you just how massive the site is – it’s got mounds that look like hills but are actually just crumbling palaces covered in vines and roots.
- Something else cool you might not know: The “Pre-Classic” Mayans, who built El Mirador, used to be thought of as being less advanced than the later Classic Mayans from Tikal. But actually, it turns out they were doing way more in terms of social organization and building engineering, moving millions of tons of stone into place without even the use of the wheel!
The Logistics:
- How long will we be trekking? 7–8 hours (approx. 23km) – make sure you’re fully prepared.
- What costs are included? All your meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) plus camping gear and park fees are included.
- Other things to bring:
- Some comfortable hiking pants and good sun protection
- It’s also a good idea to bring some blister protection (like moleskin) and a camera to capture the views.
The Route: Exploring the El Mirador Complex
Today is all about exploring. We ditch the heavy packs and just carry a bit of water and some cameras. The main event is the La Danta complex – and this is not just a pyramid, it’s a massive architectural statement of power that will leave you breathless.
Getting to the Heart of La Danta
This pyramid is not just a pyramid; it’s a three-part temple complex sitting atop a series of colossal platforms. And when you approach it, you might not even realize you are standing on a man-made structure – that’s how seamlessly it blends in with the jungle. The base of this place covers nearly 18 hectares, an area big enough to fit several football stadiums – and that’s not even counting the platforms themselves. This must have required a huge amount of manpower – an estimated 15 million man-days of Labour to complete. And the amazing thing is, the Mayans didn’t just build a temple here – they actually dragged millions of tons of limestone and volcanic rocks into place without the help of a single beast of burden or metal tool.
Standing at the foot of the final staircase is a real eye opener. As you climb up through the wooden ladders and stone steps, the heat of the jungle starts to thin out and you get a cooling breeze that only the gods and the birds usually get to enjoy. Reaching the top of the central temple puts you 72 metres above the forest floor – higher than the tallest trees. From up there, you start to get a glimpse of just how big the Mayan world was.
You aren’t just looking out at a view; you are looking out at the horizon of the ancient world. In the afternoon, we head over to the El Tigre complex and the Central Acropolis. Check out the absolutely mind-blowing stucco friezes here – they’re still got their plaster artwork in amazing condition, depicting the Maya Hero Twins paddling about in the underworld. It’s like looking back on everything we thought we knew about early Maya art and going ‘wow, we were wrong’. And to top off the day, we watch the sunset from the Tigre pyramid, the jungle just getting louder and wilder until it’s almost deafening.
- Surprising Fact: Apparently the ancient Maya had to burn an awful lot of green wood to get enough lime to plaster those massive buildings – so much so that people reckon this deforestation probably altered the local climate and contributed to El Mirador being abandoned long before Tikal fell.
Logistics:
- On the trail: 4-5 hours of walking, climbing, etc, within the site.
- What’s Included: Guided tour, all meals.
- What’s Not Included: Tips for the site guardians – be sure to bring some cash for that.
- What to Bring: Good sturdy boots, binoculars for spotting wildlife, good sun protection.
Journey: El Mirador to El Tintal
We’ve stood on top of the Maya world and now we’re headed back down again – just a different experience now that you’ve actually seen everything and are trying to soak it all in. The return leg is a trek back along the causeway, keeping your eyes peeled for any of the amazing wildlife like tapirs or jaguars – who knows, you might get lucky and catch a glimpse.
We arrive back at El Tintal in the late afternoon with a bit of time to spare before packing up again. Having got the big trek out of the way, we’ve got some time to explore the bits and bobs at this site that we didn’t get to see on the way up. We climb the main pyramid to watch our last jungle sunset and take in just how eerily quiet these once-thriving cities are now.
- Surprising Fact: It turns out El Tintal and El Mirador weren’t just connected by roads – they actually had a pretty complex alliance going on too. The number of jade artifacts we find along the way suggests that trade was a pretty big deal for these guys.
Logistics:
- On the trail: 7-8 hours hiking (just under 23km).
- What’s Included: All meals, camping gear.
- What’s Not Included: If you spot a local artisan doing some handicraft – consider supporting them with a tip.
- What to Bring: Fresh socks and water.
Journey: El Tintal to Carmelita to Flores
Final push – we’re up early to beat the heat and get out of the forest as fast as possible. The scent of the trees starts mixing with the smell of smoke from the village of Carmelita in the distance, which just gets us all the more excited to see some civilization at last. Upon reaching the village, there’s a great big welcome party going on – cold drinks, bits of fruit, and just the satisfaction of having completed one of the toughest hikes in Central America.
We say our goodbyes to the muleteers and guides who made the whole thing possible and jump on our transport – it’s a real treat to feel the smooth pavement and electric lights of civilization after five days in the wild. We arrive back at your hotel with plenty of time to get clean and relax – and as you’re getting changed you’re carrying a bit of the ancient world with you on your boots.
- Surprising Fact: The village of Carmelita is one of the few places in the reserve that’s got permission to harvest xate (that’s a type of palm) and chicle in a way that doesn’t damage the forest.
Logistics:
- On the trail: 5 hours hiking; 3.5 hours driving.
- What’s Included: Breakfast, Lunch, transport to Flores.
- What to Bring: Comfortable shoes for the drive back, and a bit of cash for tipping.
map, expenses & price
Jungle trek to El Mirador
Expenses included:
-Private transportation
-All meals and purified water during the trek
-Entrance fee for the archeological sites
-Community guides and a cook
-All park entrance fees
-Camping and cooking equipment
*This tour is exclusively available to guests who plan their trip with us.
