El Peru-Waka

El Peru, known to the Maya as Waka, stands above the San Pedro river inside Laguna del Tigre national park, a wetland reserve in north-western Peten, and excavation there has produced a series of royal burials including one identified as a queen, found with a jade mask and war regalia. The site is unrestored and stands under forest with stelae, plazas and mounds. The other reason to come is the macaws: this part of the park holds one of the last nesting populations of scarlet macaws in Central America, and between roughly February and May they are active around the site, which has made it a focus of both archaeological and conservation work.

What you actually see

• Royal tombs including a queen's - burials with jade and war regalia.
• Nesting scarlet macaws - one of the last populations in the region.
• Unrestored plazas under forest - the site as excavation left it.
• The San Pedro river approach - the boat trip in from Paso Caballos.

When to go

February to May, when the macaws are nesting and the tracks are driest. Two to three days including travel. Trips are arranged with operators and community guides.

Honest expectations

Access is by boat and on foot with camping, and trips must be organised in advance. The site is unrestored and covered in forest. Facilities are none. The wider park has faced serious pressure from illegal clearance.

Nearby

Paso Caballos is east; Flores lies south-east.