Guatemala Guide
Petén
Lago de Petexbatún
Lago de Petexbatún is a spectacular expanse of water ringed by dense forest and containing plentiful supplies of snook, bass, alligator and freshwater turtle. The shores of the lake abound with birdlife and howler monkeys, and there are a number of Maya ruins – the most impressive of which is the partially restored Aguateca, suggesting the lake was an important trading centre for the Maya.
As it's not that feasible to get around the lake independently, it's probably best explored as part of a tour. The ideal way to explore this beautiful region is to arrange a boat and guide locally (ask at Posada El Caribe or Chiminos) to take you on a two- or three-day trip around the lake. There are plenty of options – touring the lake on foot, by boat or on horseback, exploring the jungle, fishing or bathing in the natural warm springs on the lakeshore.
You'll find three hotels in the lake area. It's a 45-minute speedboat trip from Sayaxché to the northern tip of Lago de Petexbatún, where you'll find the very friendly Posada El Caribe ( 
7928 6114, 
posadacaribe@peten.net; Price: $41-60, full board). Run by the Mariona family, it has clean and comfortable screened cabins and good food. Don Julián, the owner, has lived in this part of the Petén all his life and is highly recommended for lake and ruin tours to Aguateca and Dos Pilas; he can arrange horses, 4WD and boat transport, though he speaks very limited English. South of here on the western shore of the lake, Petexbatún Lodge ( 7926 0501; Price: $13–60) enjoys great lake views but few guests. Continuing south of here, 
Chiminos Island Lodge ( 2335 3506, 
www.chiminosisland.com ; Price: US$95 per head including all meals)just has to be Guatemala's ultimate jungle retreat, with six huge, commodious thatch-roofed bungalows, all set well apart from each other, with stylish bathrooms and furnishings and wonderful private viewing decks above the lake.