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Two days' walk into the deepest forest in Central America to a city that was already ancient when Tikal was young, and to La Danta, by volume one of the largest pyramids on earth, still wrapped in jungle.
El Mirador flourished between about 300 BC and AD 150, centuries before the classic cities, and was abandoned to the forest. Only a fraction has been excavated.
The trek starts at Carmelita, a chicle-gatherers' village about three hours north of Flores by road. Day one covers 17 km of forest trail to camp at the ruins of El Tintal; day two pushes 23 km to El Mirador. A full day at the site follows: climbing La Danta and El Tigre for views over unbroken canopy, and seeing the stucco masks of the Jaguar Paw temple. Two days back retrace the route.
Expect ticks, mosquitoes, heat around 35°C and purified pond water. Mules carry the gear, and the community cooperative in Carmelita provides guide, cook, tents and food for about US$370 per person; helicopter day trips cost around US$600. Flores agencies resell them for US$400 to US$500.
Early starts and long, flat, hot days under the canopy.
Drive north from Flores at dawn, load the mules and walk through forest to camp beside the ruins of El Tintal. Climb its pyramid for a first view of El Mirador's temples on the horizon.
The longest day, deeper into the forest past spider monkeys and ocellated turkeys, to the archaeologists' camp at El Mirador.
Explore the site with your guide: the Jaguar Paw masks, El Tigre at sunset and the vast La Danta complex.
Retrace the trail south to the El Tintal camp.
Walk out to Carmelita and drive back to Flores by evening.
Book directly with the Carmelita community cooperative for the best price and to support the village, or through a Flores agency for convenience.
Ticks are everywhere: tuck trousers into socks, check yourself each evening, and carry antihistamines.
Flights from Flores land near the site for a day visit; book well ahead and expect weather delays.
Flores practical notes →Wikimedia Commons photographs are used under their licences.
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