Lake Petén Itzá has a number of interesting sights that travelers might easily miss without a little guidance. On this tour, you'll see a little bit of everything that this once-thriving Maya stomping ground has to offer.

Your tour begins with a 9:30 A.M. departure from your hotel in Flores. You will travel by boat to Santa Elena to see the caves of Actún Kan. These caves form a large network of underground passageways. Visitors come to admire the large stalactites and stalagmites in the cave. Natural formations here are so distinctive that some have nicknames like “The God of Rain and “The Elephant Foot.”

After caving, you will navigate Lake Petén Itzá until you come to Petencito Island, home to a zoo that's managed by the University of San Carlos. Paths will take you past enclosures of native species, including ocelots, jaguars, and spider monkeys. Tropical birds and wild pigs roam free.

From there, the boat tour continues to the archeological site of El Mirador, on the peninsula of Tayasal. Tayasal was an important site during the post-classic era of the Maya. This city held out against the invading Spaniards the longest of any Mayan city. Many of the buildings in the area were dismantled to build temples elsewhere. The El Mirador pyramid still stands, encased in encroaching plants.

At 1:00 P.M. you will return to your hotel or the Maya Mundo International Airport. Depending on weather conditions, your tour operator may change the order of the itinerary for optimal sightseeing.