Quiriguá
Guatemala · Izabal · 75 m
Description
Quiriguá is a Maya archaeological site in the lower Motagua valley in the Guatemalan department of Izabal. It is small in area but holds the tallest carved monuments of the Maya world. Stela E rises over ten metres and weighs some sixty-five tons. Alongside the stelae stand zoomorphs, boulders carved into toads, jaguars and crocodiles, a sculptural form found almost nowhere else. Seventeen monuments record the reign of K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat, who defeated Copán in the eighth century. Ceiba trees and banana plantations surround the ruins. Most travellers stop here on the Atlantic Highway between Guatemala City and Río Dulce.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 2 days (optimal 1 day)
Travel season
Best time to visit: December – March
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Stela E
- Great Plaza
- Zoomorph P
- Copán Ruinas, Honduras(Day trip)
- Río Dulce(Day trip)
- The Acropolis
- Ballcourt
- Stela D
- Stela C
- Stela F
- Zoomorph B
- Zoomorph G
- Quiriguá Site Museum
- Ceiba Trees of the Archaeological Park
- Cuevas del Silvino(Day trip)
- Motagua Valley Banana Plantations
- Quiriguá Village