REGION 8 - Peten
Conformed by the Department of Peten

•  Name of the department: Petén
• Department's Capital: Flores
• Extension. 35,854 km2
• Municipiums: Flores, Dolores, La Libertad, Melchor de Mencos, Poptún, San Andrés, San Benito, San Francisco, San José, San Luis, Santa Ana, Sayaxché.
• Climate: Hot
• Altitude. 127 mts above sea level
• Population: 366,735
• Demography: 10 inhabitants per Km2
• Urban population. 30.1
• Rural population: 69.9
• Population per gender: Men: 187,228. Women: 179,507
• Population per ethnic group: Indigenous: 113,462. non-indigenous: 253,273
• Literacy: 186,476 (population of 7 years of age and more)
• Economically-Active Population: 111,568
• Creation of the Department: By Government Agreement on May 8, 1866.
• Tourism:

1) Cancuén: This site from the Late Classic period was a prominent trade center, which controlled during the VIII and IX centuries a.C the interchanges between Tikal and Kaminaljuyú. It had more than 200 constructions; the majority were obsidian, lithic and jade shops. It is believed that it was the starting point of sailing through the La Pasión river, where all the commerce went through. The king of Cancuén was Taj Chan Ahk.

2) Aguateca. This is the place for the adventure lovers, since you have to go by water to get there and the access is difficult. Aguateca is located at the top of a cliff of almost 80 mts of height, that was used as a natural defense.

3) Ceibal: This site was the biggest of the late Classic period and with the biggest commercial and transport power over the east side of la Pasion river. It was found by the Itzaes and played an important role in the south low lands together with Tikal. This place was abandoned just after year 900.

4) Mirador Basin: Located at the northern-central area of Peten, this territory has an approximate extension of 2,128.56 km2 and is found inside the zone of Multiple Uses and focal point of the Reserve of the Mayan Biosphere. Mirador Basin was the place where the first Mayan appear; that is why is considered as "The Origin of the Mayan civilization". It belongs to the pre-classic period (1000 b.C until 150 a.C.). It is distinguished because is an eco-system of tropical forests surrounded by a karstica jagged mountain range, at the center are found the biggest and older archeological sites of the Mayan world. Today the constructions are covered with vegetation and more than 29 cities have been found inside the Valley. Danta Complex is one example of these cities, located at the site of El Mirador, which is the biggest architectonic complex of the Mayan area and is one of the biggest pyramids of the world, which reaches a height of 70 mts.

5) Uaxactún: This site belongs to the classic period and competed with Tikal, until it was defeated on year 378 a.C. Uaxactún, which means eight stones, was one of the most important cities and it is believed that it was there where the Mayan writing system was improved and where the Mayan calendar was made.

6) Tikal: The archeological site of Tikal was the first politic entity of the classic period, was a city-state, which dominated an area of approximate 2500 km2. In 1848 Colonel don Modesto Mendez received the first recognition of this place and today, Tikal is patrimony of the Humanity declared by UNESCO, since it has not only natural and abundant resources, but also cultural wealth because their high artistic, architectonic, mathematic, urban, commercial and agricultural development.

7) Piedras Negras: This site gave sufficient material to demonstrate that the steles told about the politic history and even though it had suffered pillaging, you can still appreciate some murals in bas-relief.

8) Yaxhá: This site is distinguished by a urban baywork of streets and alleys; meaning that Yaxhá has an urban outline formed by a system of streets and plazas. The temples and the steles of plaza C are astronomic monuments used for the observation of the solstice.

9) Naranjo: This site has impressive architectonic structures and steles with rich information; it also has an altar, a lintel, a ball game and a stairs with hieroglyphic inscriptions.

10) Dos Pilas: The site of Dos Pilas dominated a big zone, sine its territory was extended in one part by La Pasion River and the Salinas River; including the cities of Cancuen and Amelia. Great part of the engraved monuments are found in the main group. The central plaque is surrounded by platforms, temples and two of them have perrons with hieroglyphics.

11) Flores: Located in the isle with the same name, Flores island, with its houses that reminds you the Victorian style, is the most developed point of the region where you will find many options of lodging, food and organization of tour trips.