Yaxha was one of the oldest and most important towns in eastern Peten and is one of the few Mayan cities that still retains its original name: yax-ha, which means "green water."

The city was occupied for more than 1,500 years (800 BC - 900 AD), during which time its inhabitants constructed more than 350 buildings. Yaxha is believed to have been within the Tikal Area of Influence, but was repeatedly conquered by Naranjo, a vassal of Calakmul (in Mexico), and had only brief periods of independence.

At the site you will be able to appreciate a highly organized urban scheme with several acropolis-like complexes connected by roads, as well as two ball game courts and 31 stelae.

You can also see two architectural ensembles known as Group E, which were used to commemorate the solstices and equinoxes as part of the Solar or Haab Calendar, as well as a Twin Pyramid Complex, which is a typical architectural ensemble of Tikal and was used to commemorate the called K'atun cycles (approximately 20 years) of the Long Count calendar.

Yaxha is the most visited site in the Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park since it is the most explored, accessible and offers excellent services to its visitors. On the site you can walk through the original roads that connect the fourteen restored buildings, appreciate the total extension of the site thanks to its excellent management of the vegetation and enjoy a unique experience with fascinating jungle and lagoon landscapes, seen from the top of their temples.