Sie benötigen einen Allradantrieb, um Yaxhá auf eigene Faust zu besuchen. Der Hauptstandort befindet sich etwa 12 km vom Bürgersteig entfernt und kann in der Regenzeit tückisch sein. Da der Standort noch relativ unentwickelt ist, sollten Sie Ihr eigenes Wasser und Essen mitbringen.
Ihr Startgeld gilt für alle Standorte im Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo-Nationalpark, einer riesigen Fläche von 37.160 Hektar (144 Quadratmeilen), die drei weitere wichtige Standorte umfasst: Topoxte am Südufer des Yaxhá-Sees; Nakum, ein alter Hafen am Holmul; und Naranjo, etwa 20 km nördlich, Yaxhás langjähriger Rivale. Während Sie alle besuchen können, machen schlechte Straßen und schlechtere Karten dieses Abenteuer am besten mit einem Führer.
Yaxhá is located in the Petén region of Guatemala, about 19 miles (30 kilometers) north of Tikal and 45 miles (73 kilometers) from Flores. Driving here requires a 4WD, as the off-road pathway is rocky and can become inaccessible in heavy rains. Buses leave Flores about every two hours and take about 1.5 - 2 hours.
The site is open daily from morning until evening. The climate in Flores is pleasant throughout the year, though it’s best to avoid the rainy season (May through October). Come to the city in the first two weeks of January to experience the Dance of the Chotona festival, a quirky fiesta featuring firecrackers, religious processions, a parade featuring giant dolls made of paper maché, men in drag, and lots of dancing.
Yaxháxa0was already a large city as early as 1000 BC, reigning as an important hub for sacred ceremonies and trade. By AD 250, the city expanded in both area and population, becoming a main trade route in the region, and later, a trading partner of the great city of Tikal. Wars with the kingdom of Naranjo weakened Yaxhá. Although it was able to survive while the rest of the empire collapsed, eventually the city became abandoned.
