Considered by some archaeologists to be the first and largest Mayan city, El Mirador is also one of the most recently discovered wonders of this civilization. Found in 1926 by workers of a chiclera company who would baptize it as «El Mirador»since from the top of its pyramids you could see the horizon in all its splendor.
Located in the heart of the jungle, north of the department of Petén, in Guatemala, and 7 kilometers from the Mexican borderthis archaeological complex hides in its vestiges many secrets yet to be discovered, about one of the most important towns of the ancient world.
However, visiting it is an experience for true lovers of archaeology, adventure and Mayan culture, since due to its location in the Mayan biosphere reserve, there are currently only two options to access this city: the first requires a long trip of 37 kilometers, from the town of Carmelita located to the south, which translates into two days of travel considering walks of 9 hours per day, having the help of a guide. While the second option represents a 30-minute helicopter ride, departing from the Mundo Maya International Airport.
In addition to this, since there are no hotels or lodgings near this area, our visit becomes a real excursion, suitable only for people with an adventurous spirit, but one that is worth living. Well, when we get there we will find the most incredible and majestic structures of the Mayan empire, among which two of them stand out:
La Danta Pyramid: With its 72 meters it is the tallest in America, something that adds to the fact that It was built on a pyramidal platform, together with two other neighboring pyramids, forming the great tapir acropolis.. A complex that reaches a total height of 170 meters and according to estimates would have 2,800,000 cubic meters of fill; surpassing the pyramid of Cheops in Egypt by 24 meters and 200,000 cubic meters, to become the largest construction in the ancient world.
The Tiger Pyramid: Located 2 kilometers from the La Danta complex, with its triadic style, it is the most studied pyramid in El Mirador, also has 55 meters high, thanks to which it exceeds the largest pyramid of Tikal. As part of the Tigre complex we find the Jaguar Claw Temple, a 17-meter structure, on whose stairs we can find stucco masks on both sides, representing a deity.
An additional attraction in El Mirador is represented by the number of trees, plants and animals that live theremaking it the ideal refuge for several species such as: the jaguar, puma, lizards, deer and the harpy eagle, in addition to 260 species of birds.
The Mayan civilization was one of the largest in the world, undoubtedly standing out for its extraordinary legacy and one of the most important is in the Mayan city of Mirador. For this reason, if you want to live one of the best archaeological and ecological experiences in the world, you cannot miss out on visiting it.