Yaxhá is a Mesoamerican archaeological site in the north-east of the Petén Basin region, and a former ceremonial centre and city of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It shares an unique relationship with two other cities, Nakúm and Naranjo; together they form a triangle in the midst of which there are other minor sites.

Sightseeing
The site has more than five hundred structures, including forty stelae, thirteen altars, nine temple pyramids, two Mesoamerican ballcourts and a network of sacbeob (causeways). The top of Temple 216 provides a view of the two lakes on one side and the jungle and the stepped-pyramids on the other. It's a great site and well worth visiting because it's so big and there are hardly any visitors. For this reason there is a lot more wildlife too.

Getting there
The road from Belize to Flores passes 11km to the south of Lago de Yaxhá, there is a clear sign at the turn-off. You can arrange to go on a tour or, if you are travelling independently, then it's possible to hitch a ride to the village of La Máquina which is 2km from the lakes. You can walk the rest of the way from there. Just before you reach the lakes there is a control post and they may asked you to sign the book. Then just follow the road between the lakes for about another 3km and turn left at the signpost for Yaxhá.