Charming Isla de Flores, Guatemala, 22 January 2024 | + Actún Kan Caves!

Located in the heart of Lake Petén, the tiny island town of Isla de Flores is full of colorful colonial-style houses, cobblestone streets, and a laid-back, peaceful attitude. It is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Americas! Watch my other Guatemala videos:    • Guatemala 🇬🇹   Flores is a town in Petén, Guatemala. The town proper is Isla de Flores, an island on Lago Petén Itzá, connected to land by a causeway with the twin towns Santa Elena and San Benito. All three are often referred to as Flores. For many, the main reason to visit Isla de Flores is its proximity to Tikal, the most famous Mayan ruins in Guatemala, or as a starting point for trips around the Petén region. But the city itself is a wonder - dense with colonial, red-roofed buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, a historic church and Spanish plaza, and restaurants that are easy to stumble upon walking the city's charming streets. Most will find that this island city is more than just a take-off point, but a memorable attraction in itself. Earliest archaeological traces on the island date back to 900–600 BC, with a major expansion of the settlement occurring around 250–400 AD, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Americas. The Itza left the Yucatán region in the 13th century and founded the city later known as Tayasal as their capital. They called it Nojpetén, "Great Island" in the Itza language). The Spanish called it Tayasal, possibly derived from ta Itza, or "Place of the Itza". It was here, on Isla de Flores on the Lake Petén Itzá, that the last independent Maya state held out against the Spanish conquerors. In 1541, Hernán Cortés came to the island, en route to Honduras, but needed to move on and did not try to conquer it. The Spanish did not manage to conquer the island until 1697, when they marched in, attacked via boats, and destroyed it. Those who could flee did so, and many Itzá people hid in the jungle for years. From the ruins of Nojpetén arose the modern city of Flores. The modern city can thus be regarded as the second oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the Americas, after Cholula. Isla de Flores is a very small island, that will take you about an hour and a half to two hours to completely explore. I did combine my visit with the Actún Kan Caves, found very close-by to Isla de Flores. Nestled in the heart of the lush forests of Flores, the Actún Kan Caves are worth visiting. Be prepared to explore a realm where the walls whisper tales of ancient civilizations, where Mayan rituals once echoed, and where sacred ceremonies were conducted. The Actún Kan Caves are found a short drive from Isla de Flores. Information about Actún Kan Caves: https://www.guatevalley.com/que-visit... Music: Jean Dar - Ad Astra Album: Rays of Light https://www.jeandar.com