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- Stela E: The star of the site, at about 10.5 meters the tallest freestanding carved monolith in the Americas. Look for the king, Cauac Sky, on the front and back, wearing a heavy headdress and holding ceremonial objects.
- Stela F: Close to Stela E in quality, with deeply cut portraits and long glyph texts on its sides. The crisp edges let you see the sculptors’ technique.
- Stela H: A well-preserved monument with a ruler in full regalia, worth lingering at because the shade makes the relief easy to read.
- Stela D: Tall and finely worked, it records dates and rulers and helps explain how the dynasty framed its reign.
- Zoomorphs: Giant boulders carved into fantastical creatures such as jaguar-like and turtle-like beasts, with rulers peering out of their jaws. They are some of the strangest sculptures
- Stela E: The star of the site, at about 10.5 meters the tallest freestanding carved monolith in the Americas. Look for the king, Cauac Sky, on the front and back, wearing a heavy headdress and holding ceremonial objects.
- Stela F: Close to Stela E in quality, with deeply cut portraits and long glyph texts on its sides. The crisp edges let you see the sculptors’ technique.
- Stela H: A well-preserved monument with a ruler in full regalia, worth lingering at because the shade makes the relief easy to read.
- Stela D: Tall and finely worked, it records dates and rulers and helps explain how the dynasty framed its reign.
- Zoomorphs: Giant boulders carved into fantastical creatures such as jaguar-like and turtle-like beasts, with rulers peering out of their jaws. They are some of the strangest sculptures in Guatemala.
- The Great Plaza: A broad grassy space, the largest ceremonial plaza in the southern Maya area, lined with monuments and shaded by towering trees. Walk it slowly to feel the scale.
- The Acropolis: A modest platform of stepped structures at the south end, with views back across the plaza. It is small compared with other Maya centers but fits the site’s sculptural focus.
- Forest trail and wildlife: The path in and out passes banana plantations and tall trees where howler monkeys, toucans and many birds can be heard, adding a jungle soundtrack to the stones.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.