Topoxte

Whenever you are in Yaxha, the ruins of Topoxte are a must-see.  Topoxte is a pre-Columbian Maya archaeological site located in a small island in Lake Yaxha, in the Peten Basin in northern Guatemala.  The ruins of Topoxte are just less than 10 minutes away from the ruins of Yaxha.  You will see some nice ruins partly rebuilt on this island which can be seen in less than an hour by boat.  In this island you can see many different bird species.

According to history, Topoxte was named by Teobert Maler in 1904.  Topoxte means “seed of the Ramon tree” in Itza Mayan Language. Before it was named Topoxte the island was formerly called Islapag.

The Topoxte ruins are considered as the largest post classic Maya site in Peten Basin. Even though this site is small it is captivating owing to its unusual architectural features which includes columns which are looks similar to the ones found at the Yucatec site of Chichen Itza.

During the Mayan civilization, the island was made into a residential city for local elites from Yaxha and it was also made into fortified city by the Mayan warriors as a defense against Spanish invaders.

Among the few Post Classic Maya Sites in Peten, Topoxte is considered to be the largest and the main city of the K'owoj.  In 900 AD the island was abandoned and was reoccupied during the 1650 AD by the K'owoj.  Moreover it was finally abandoned in the year 1450. It was once an island but now it is already considered as a peninsula it is separated by two other islands in Yaxha lagoon, Cante and Paxte.

In the Topoxte archeological site you will see different constructions and structures.  The site can be visited all year round by canoe or boat.  When heading to this island make sure to bring your own drinking water or food.  If your travel is arranged by a travel agency then the food and drinks are already provided.  That is why it is best to use the services of a reliable travel agency. The ruins of Topoxte can be explored in less than an hour and hearing many birds can make your trip even more enjoyable.

There are only a few people who have explored Topoxte which makes it very interesting to visit.  Extensive wildlife can also be seen and the best time to visit it is during the day. Spider and howler monkeys, parrots, toucans, mot-mots are commonly encountered. The Topoxte ruins are highly recommended especially if you are an adventure seeker and nature lover.

Topoxte Adventure Travel Pictures

These are pictures taken from our Topoxte adventure travel.  The place is filled with mystery.  And the environment is beautiful and serene simply a great place to be with nature and travel back time.