Chiminos Island Lodge

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Ecology and archaeology come together in this remote jungle lodge with its own Maya ruin on beautiful Lago de Petexbatun

Talk about getting away from it all. We met our charming boatman in Sayaxché, a dusty frontier town an hour south of Flores, then cruised down the winding Rio Pasión for another two hours into the very heart of Peten. The river widened to shimmering Lago de Petexbatun, teeming with bird- and wildlife. But our destination was unseen until we moored beside the jetty; Chiminos Island Lodge hides amid dense jungle and huge ceiba trees.

It's actually a peninsula rather than an island, its neck scattered with impressive fortifications from the Petexbatun Maya's last stand 1300 years ago. The only 'modern' buildings are the six stilted bungalows of this eco-lodge, built of local thatch and reclaimed mahogany, plus a central lobby with restaurant and bar. Wonderful walkways weave through pristine jungle, every step resounding to the screech of noisy parrots and howler monkeys. Such is their passion for Maya conservation that owners Juan Carlos and Mynor Pinto work for free, investing proceeds in local communities.