Petén Department

The department encompasses 35,854 square kilometers of tropical forest, lakes, and limestone plateaus, representing one-third of Guatemala's total territory.

The Guatemalan government established Petén as an administrative department on May 8, 1866, initiating a program of land distribution in the 1960s.

The department contains numerous Maya archaeological sites, including Tikal, Uaxactún, and Nakum, which demonstrate the architectural achievements of ancient civilizations.

The climate alternates between wet and dry seasons with temperatures ranging from 12 to 40 degrees Celsius and annual rainfall reaching 2,007 millimeters near Flores.

Lake Petén Itzá forms the centerpiece of the region, with the departmental capital Flores situated on an island connected to the mainland by a causeway.

Location: Guatemala

Inception: May 8, 1866

Capital city: Flores

Shares border with: Alta Verapaz Department, Izabal Department, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Orange Walk District, Cayo District, Toledo District

Website: http://guatemala.gob.gt/peten.php

GPS coordinates: 16.90000,-89.90000

Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:07