Want a Tikal-esque experience without the crowds? Yaxha is the way to go. The park staff were generous enough to allow the owner of my lodge, the nearby El Sombrero, to take her four-wheel-drive SUV into the heart of the park so that I could see the incredible ruins without needing to walk too much, which, as someone who normally gets around using an electric wheelchair, was very helpful, since I was exhausted from previously walking a LOT. The fee at the main entrance is very cheap, and any cost to get in will be worth it. The ruins are structures you just need to see for yourself to extract full value. They were so enchanting and fascinating, and to imagine that only a fraction of all the buildings are currently visible to our eyes today…the city of Yaxha was massive back in the day! And I learned there was a path actually linking Yaxha with Tikal that is now, of course, all buried in flora and trees. The Mayans were extremely resourceful and meticulous, and their urban planning strategies were insane! Getting to the park will take awhile, both if originating from Flores or the Belize/Guatemala border, but the trek is one of the coolest things you can do in the country. I felt perfectly safe and at ease. Check out this gem as soon as possible! (And maybe keep it a secret from your friends!)

Yaxha was a very nice archeological site. The pyramids and other structures are not as impressive as Tikal. None the less still it was a very nice Mayan city and worth visiting. It was not crowded on our visit and we could easily visit everything and take pictures in 2.5 hours.

On our second trip to Tikal, my friend and I hired a guide to take us on a private tour to Yaxha. What an incredible place! With most structures unexcavated, it was fascinating to see the many mounds which promised buildings underneath. The excavated ruins, while not as large and dramatic as those at Tikal, are still interesting. ( I would definitely recommend hiring a guide to fully appreciate the history of this quiet place.) The sound of the howler monkeys and various bird sightings were an added attraction! I loved just walking in this quiet, uncrowded park where you can just enjoy the atmosphere of the jungle without crowds.

I visited the ruins of Yaxha after I wrapped up 3 days at Tikal. I booked the new tour out of Flores for the sunset and it was about a 7 hour trip. I recommend self guiding vs a guided tour. No water or concessions there and bathrooms are marginal!

Loved the sunset tour to Yaxha, it was peaceful and beautiful. We saw beautiful ruins that we were able to climb up, the vistas were extraordinary! I highly recommend visiting. Warning: if you do a tour from Flores, I recommend asking the name of your tour guide, if it is Saul, Do not Go! Find a different tour guide. My niece and I and the rest of our group were left on our own, and were reprimanded by Saul like children, we were all spoken to in Spanish, even when we told him that some of the group didn't understand Spanish. He even made fun of most of us! Saul is the tour guide who hates tourists!