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| > practical information : travel in Guatemala | el peten | tikal | |||||||||
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THE PETÉN : DISCOVERY AND ADVENTURE, NO HUSTLE, NO BUSTLE
The Petén is Guatemala's largest province and home to the Maya Itzá people. The region features hundreds of archaeological sites, the second-largest tropical forest in the Americas (Maya Biosphere Reserve), Lake Petén Itzá, the San Pedro and de la Pasion rivers, and numerous other attractions.
The capital of the Petén is Flores ; with Santa Elena and San Benito, it constitutes an urban centre of roughly 50,000 inhabitants, and is located on the south shore of Lake Péten Itzá. Internet cafés, banks, craft boutiques and supermarkets are easily accessible. The 40 km long lake is one of the biggest in Guatemala..
The towns of San José and San Andrés (respectively 3,500 and 8,000 inhabitants), are located on the north shore of Lake Petén Itzá, a few kilometers from Casa Américas. These towns are accessible from Flores by road and by boat. Traditionally dependent on subsistence agriculture and forestry, San José and San Andrés have in recent years developed eco-tourism infrastructures and activities, and created Spanish and Mayan language schools. This has resulted in more diversified local economies, and contributed to underscoring the importance of their natural and cultural heritage.FOR MORE INFORMATION:
page update on January 4th, 2008 / © Placements Casa Américas, inc.