Yaxhá is a Maya city on the shore of Lake Yaxhá inside Parque Nacional Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo, in Petén. Entry is Q80 for foreigners and Q40 for Guatemalans (free for Guatemalans on Sundays), per CONAP’s official tariff, and CONAP’s tourism portal lists it open every day from 8:00 to 17:00 (read 24 September 2026).
Yaxhá is a Maya site near Flores that INGUAT’s guide calls relatively uncrowded, with lake views from the top of several monuments (CONAP) and a fourth city, Topoxte, reached by boat across Lake Yaxhá. It runs on its own ticket, sold by CONAP rather than the Ministerio de Cultura, and that ticket can be paid in advance at any Banrural branch.
Quick summary
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Where | Parque Nacional Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo, Flores and Melchor de Mencos municipalities, Petén |
| Protected since | 2003 (Decreto 55-2003) — 37,160 hectares |
| From Flores | 62 km paved to La Máquina + 11 km dirt; about 1 h 15 min (CONAP) |
| Entry, foreigners | Q80 |
| Entry, Guatemalans | Q40 · free on Sundays |
| Children under 5 · school groups with teachers | Exempt |
| Hours | Every day, 8:00-17:00 (CONAP portal) |
| Time on site | 3-5 hours (INGUAT) + ~2 hours for Topoxte |
| Where to sleep | Flores |
Fees from CONAP’s Yaxhá tariff sheet; route, hours and contacts from CONAP’s tourism portal. Both read 24 September 2026.
What you pay
CONAP’s tariff sheet lists every entry line with its Banrural code:
| Banrural code | Who | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 616 | Foreign visitors | Q80 |
| 618 | Guatemalan visitors | Q40 |
| 619 | Guatemalan visitors on Sundays | Exempt |
| 617 | Children under 5 | Exempt |
| 615 | School groups accompanied by their teachers | Exempt |
CONAP’s site files the tariff sheet under November 2021; the same Q80 and Q40 figures appear in a 2022 Ministerio de Cultura list of archaeological sites and in a November 2023 AGN report, and no later change turned up in our search.
Paying at Banrural
CONAP reminds visitors that the entry can be paid in advance at Banrural, to skip the queue on arrival. According to the AGN report, you give the bank CONAP’s code — Atx 249, Empresa 706, Transacción 1 — and then the service code from the table above. CONAP’s phone for questions is (+502) 7861-1790.
Hours, and the sunset question
CONAP’s tourism portal lists Yaxhá as open Monday to Sunday, 8:00 to 17:00. CONAP’s own 2020 visitor notice gave the same hours. But a 2022 Ministerio de Cultura list and a 2023 AGN report both said 8:00 to 18:00.
That hour matters because the classic Yaxhá plan is the sunset: INGUAT’s guide says many travellers go in the afternoon to watch it from the temples. We could not find which closing time the gate applies today. If sunset is the point of your trip, call the park before you go — CONAP lists (+502) 7861-1790, 7861-1791, 5633-1684 and WhatsApp 3039-8581.
Getting there
CONAP’s route: from Flores take the paved road toward Melchor de Mencos for 62 km, to the community of La Máquina. From there it is 11 km of dirt road in good condition. CONAP estimates 1 hour 15 minutes; INGUAT’s guide says 1.5 to 2 hours, with the last stretch on a secondary road through rural areas and forest.
What you are looking at
The park holds four main Maya cities — Yaxhá, Nakum, Naranjo and Topoxte — which CONAP says played a major role in the Central Lowlands for more than 1,500 years (800 BC to 1450 AD). It is also a RAMSAR wetland of world importance: the lakes of Yaxhá and Sacnab lie on migratory-bird routes, and you can see both from the top of several monuments.
- Yaxhá — the most accessible of the four, and where a visit to Nakum starts (CONAP). INGUAT’s guide puts the full visit at three to five hours on signposted paths.
- Topoxte — reached by boat across Lake Yaxhá. CONAP recommends it: the full trip takes 2 hours and you reach it by boat across Lake Yaxhá. Boats leave from the Yaxhá visitor centre through ASODESTY, the association of the 12 communities around the park, which also offers guides, food, equipment hire and birdwatching.
- Nakum — 17 km from Yaxhá. CONAP advises a local guide, comfortable shoes, repellent, sunscreen and enough water.
- Naranjo — visitable all year in four-wheel-drive vehicles, entering through the town of Melchor de Mencos, where a community association provides guiding, food and transport.
- Site museum — CONAP’s 2020 notice mentions a museum on the investigation and restoration of the park’s heritage.
CONAP’s 2020 visitor notice also says a permit from the park administration is needed to visit Nakum or Naranjo. Ask when you pay.
Where to sleep: Flores
- CONAP’s route starts in Flores, 1 h 15 min away by its estimate.
- Flores is already the base for Tikal and Uaxactún.
- The drive back comes at the end of the day. If you stay at Yaxhá until the gate closes, the 11 km of dirt road and 62 km of highway are still ahead of you; sleeping in Flores keeps that drive as short as it can be.
Live availability around Flores:
Where to stay in Flores
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A workable day
| Step | Time | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Pay at a Banrural branch in Flores (optional) | Before you leave | CONAP; AGN |
| Flores → Yaxhá | 1 h 15 min to 2 h | CONAP; INGUAT |
| Main site | 3-5 hours | INGUAT |
| Boat to Topoxte (optional) | ~2 hours | CONAP |
| Leave before the gate closes | 17:00 per CONAP’s portal — confirm | CONAP |
More in Petén
- Uaxactún ruins — reached through Tikal: Tikal’s ticket plus its own.
- Tikal sunrise tour · Flores to Tikal.
- Actun Kan caves · Ixpanpajul park.
- Guatemala’s archaeological sites compared · Flores municipality · Petén department · all activities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the entrance to Yaxhá?
Q80 per person for foreigners and Q40 for Guatemalans, per CONAP’s official tariff for Parque Nacional Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo. Guatemalans enter free on Sundays; children under 5 and school groups with their teachers are exempt. Read 24 September 2026.
Can I pay the Yaxhá fee in advance?
Yes. CONAP lets visitors pay at any Banrural branch. The state news agency AGN published the codes: CONAP Atx 249, Empresa 706, Transacción 1, then the service code — 616 for a foreign visitor, 618 for a Guatemalan.
What are Yaxhá's opening hours?
Monday to Sunday, 8:00 to 17:00, per CONAP’s tourism portal read 24 September 2026. Older official notices (a 2022 Ministerio de Cultura list and a 2023 AGN report) gave 8:00 to 18:00, so confirm the closing time with the park if you plan to stay for sunset.
How do I get to Yaxhá from Flores?
Take the paved road from Flores toward Melchor de Mencos for 62 km to the community of La Máquina, then 11 km of dirt road in good condition, per CONAP. CONAP estimates 1 hour 15 minutes; INGUAT’s guide says 1.5 to 2 hours.
How long do you need at Yaxhá?
Three to five hours for the main site, per INGUAT’s guide. The trip to Topoxte, reached by boat across Lake Yaxhá, adds about 2 hours, per CONAP.
Can I visit Nakum and Naranjo?
Yes, but they are harder. Nakum is 17 km from Yaxhá; Naranjo is reached year-round in four-wheel-drive vehicles from Melchor de Mencos, where a community association provides guides, food and transport. CONAP advises local guides for both, and its 2020 notice says a permit from the park administration is required.
Where should I stay to visit Yaxhá?
Flores. CONAP’s route starts there and it is about an hour and a quarter away. It also lets you pair Yaxhá with Tikal on another day.
