Birding In Yaxha

By Linda Patterson


One of the most significant cities during the Mayan civilization is Yaxha. This city is a part of the Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park. The well preserved forest and the Yaxha lagoon are its pride. The lagoon is considered to be Maya Biosphere's most important water systems.

The True Beauty Of The Yaxha Archaeological Site

This less well known archaeological site is the third largest. This site is comprised of more than 500 ancient structures which include a series of causeways or sacbe'ob that connect the eastern, northern and central acropolis, plus the 9 temple pyramids, 40 stalae, 2 ball courts and 13 altars. The wooden stairs of these 9 pyramids are strongly constructed hence they are safe for tourists to climb. A spectacular view can be seen once you are atop of the partially restored Temple 216. You will see a breathtaking view of the lakes, the jungles and the other ancient pyramids. Aside from that, the magical sounds of the birds and Howler monkeys can be heard.

The Maler Group, the North Acropolis and the astronomical observatory structure are its other interesting attractions. The Maler Group is a complex with twin temples which is comparable to that of Tikal twin temples. The North Acropolis is bordered by 3 temples while the observatory tower is popular even if it remains unnamed.

A Perfect Place To Go Bird Watching

This ancient city of the Mayans is now an ideal destination for nature lovers and archaeology enthusiasts. This site was part of the main ancient Mayan civilizations and was rediscovered in the year 1904 through continued excavation. The ruins are a part of the Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park and are also located on the southeast part of the Tikal National Park. The Yaxha lagoon is surrounded by tropical rainforest that houses a number of Neotropical varieties of flora and fauna.

This birding destination offers more wonderful bird watching experiences as there is less human traffic and there are a lot of exotic bird species. Flocks of beautiful White-crowned parrot, Red-lored parrot, and White-fronted parrot can be seen at the observatory pyramid. The lagoon also offers a great place to see a lot of birds especially the rare Jabiru especially if you go there during the Nearctic shorebirds' migration season. The lagoon can be inviting but swimming is not allowed due to the presence of crocodiles.

The lagoon is likewise an amazing location to watch a lot of bird species. The rare Jabiru can be seen if you are there during the migration season of the Nearctic shorebirds. The lagoon has an inviting appearance however, swimming is not allowed as crocodiles are in abundance. The forest of Yaxha also offers a lot of bird species to see such as the Blue Bunting, Pale-billed Woodpecker, Tawny-crowned Greenlet, Brown Jay, Crane Hawk, Slaty-tailed trogon, Killed-billed Toucan, Sulphur-rumped Flycatcher, Short-billed Pigeon, Brown-hooded Parrot, and Plain Chachalac.

This is definitely the best site to go bird watching as it is less crowded and the best bird watching tours are offered here.




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