National park · Guatemala
Dos Pilas
Enter Dos Pilas for about GTQ 50 (≈ $6) per person, hike the Main Plaza trail (≈ 1 km (0.6 mi), easy) in the morning, and visit during the dry season (Nov–Apr) to avoid rain and crowds.Enter Dos Pilas for about GTQ 50 (≈ $6) per person, hike the Main Plaza trail (≈ 0.6 mi (1 km), easy) in the morning, and visit during the dry season (Nov–Apr) to avoid rain and crowds.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
approximate
Established
2000
Best months
Mar–Apr, Nov–Dec
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 9Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Guatemala ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Guatemala's Migration Institute or a Guatemalan consulate. Guatemala shares a Central America border agreement (CA-4) with El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, so your permitted stay may count across all four.
- Guatemala ↗Hike volcanoes (Acatenango, Pacaya) only with registered guides and check eruption alerts; Fuego is highly active.
- Guatemala ↗Avoid public chicken buses between cities: they are frequent targets of robbery. Use tourist shuttles or private transport.
- Northern Lowlands ↗Rainy season is late May to October; expect afternoon rain and more mosquitoes.
- Northern Lowlands ↗Remote ruins (Río Azul, Xultún, Holmul) are dry-season trips only, February to June, and need a guide.
- Northern Lowlands ↗Do not drive the Petén highways at night; use first-class buses or fly.
At a glance
- Country
- Guatemala
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- Site covers roughly 0.5 km² of jungle ruins (check).
- Established
- 2000
- Best months
- Mar–Apr, Nov–Dec
- Permits
- For some areas
Dos Pilas is a compact Classic Maya site in the Petén jungle, notable for its hieroglyphic stairway and well‑preserved plaza, offering a quick cultural stop on a lowland itinerary.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2000.
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 2000
Site covers roughly 0.5 km² of jungle ruins (check).
Why go
- Compact Maya ruin with well‑preserved hieroglyphic stairway.
- Jungle setting offers a quick cultural stop on a lowland itinerary.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctCaution
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanDry, cool mornings
- FebDry, warm days
- MarDry, pleasant
- AprDry, before rains start
- MayIncreasing showers
- JunRainy, humid
- JulRainy, possible storms
- AugRainy, hot
- SepRainy, humid
- OctTransition to dry
- NovDry, cooler
- DecDry, pleasant
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jungle birds (e.g., toucans, motmots)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Guatemala City
Bus to Cobán, then bus to Sayaxché, then boat downstream to Dos Pilas.
6–8 h
Open the page →
From Flores
Bus to Libertad, then bus to Sayaxché, then boat to the site.
4–5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Main plaza area | Entrance, stairway, altar platform. | Open with ticket. |
| Peripheral structures | Smaller platforms and staircases a short walk from the plaza. | Open, short trail. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates from Wikidata; approximate for visitor orientation.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance fee | GTQ 50 | person | 2026 estimate |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Site entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- Not required for the short plaza walk.
- Camping
- Not allowed within the site; stay in nearby villages.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish.
Where to stay
Near the park
Sayaxché town
Basic guesthouses and hostels, 15 km (9.3 mi) from the site.Basic guesthouses and hostels, 9.3 mi (15 km) from the site.
Safety
Mosquitoes low
River crossing on boat medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Main plaza area reachable by a short, flat walk from the gate.
Visiting lightly
- Buy food and services in Sayaxché to support local economy.
- Avoid buying souvenirs that involve wildlife parts.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Dos Pilas?
GTQ 50 per person (≈ $6) at the gate.
What are the best hikes in Dos Pilas?
The short Main Plaza trail (≈ 1 km, easy) and the peripheral platform walk (≈ 0.5 km).
When is the best time to visit Dos Pilas?
During the dry season, especially November to April, to avoid rain and heat.
Can I reach Dos Pilas without a guide?
Yes, the main ruin area is self‑guided; a guide is only needed for longer backcountry trips.
Where can I stay near Dos Pilas?
Basic guesthouses in Sayaxché town, about 15 km away, offer cheap rooms and meals.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Dos Pilas
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