Surrounded by water and usually reached by boat, the city of Aguateca boasts some of the most well-preserved Mayan ruins in Guatemala. Established around 300 BC, Aguateca and its sister city of Dos Pilas were the twin capitals of a dynasty which claimed to descend from the rulers of Tikal.

For defense purposes, the city sat on a tall limestone bluff and walls surrounded the city. History shows that the city was eventually ransacked around the 9th century AD and abandoned.

Today, visitors to Aguateca will not see temples (except for an unfinished one) or pyramids, but will no doubt be impressed by the Mayan city’s altars, stelae, residences, long houses, and bridges.