El Petén, in northern Guatemala, is a jungle region scattered with many lost Mayan cities and ceremonial centres. The magnificent site of Tikal has a collection of over 3,000 buildings, surrounded by dense jungle, home to howler monkeys, coatis and birds such as toucans, parrots and hummingbirds. The most iconic ruins are the remarkable pyramids of the Temple of the Grand Jaguar and the Temple of the Masks, that are set at opposite ends of the Grand Plaza, and tower above the rainforest canopy.
Other lesser-known ruins include Yaxha, closer to the Belize border and on the shores of a lagoon that provides picturesque panoramas and excellent birdwatching opportunities; remote Aguateca, accessible only by river; and Ceibal, with its well-preserved carvings.