National park · Guatemala
Piedras NegrasParque Nacional Piedras Negras
Enter Piedras Negras for a half‑day visit: pay the entry fee (check), take the short main trail (30 min walk) and avoid the rainy season (Nov–Apr).
- 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
2026
Best months
Apr
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)
- Small archaeological zone within Sierra del Lacandón National Park (estimate).
- Established
- 2026
- Best months
- Apr
- Permits
- For some areas
Piedras Negras is a Classic Maya city on the Usumacinta River, known for its limestone sculptures and its location inside the Sierra del Lacandón protected area.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2026.
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 2026
Small archaeological zone within Sierra del Lacandón National Park (estimate).
Why go
- Explore a Classic Maya city with many limestone sculptures.
- See the site from the Usumacinta River and the surrounding jungle.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepAvoid
- OctCaution
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanDry, cooler.
- FebDry, good for walking.
- MarDry, still warm.
- AprDry, comfortable temperatures.
- MayStart of rains.
- JunRainy, trails muddy.
- JulHeavy rain, river high.
- AugHeavy rain, river high.
- SepRainy, river flooding risk.
- OctRain tapering.
- NovDry, cooler.
- DecDry, cooler.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jungle birdsAll 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 Flores (Petén)
Take a shuttle to the Usumacinta River, cross by boat to the park entrance.
3–4 h
From Mexico (Chiapas)
Boat on the Usumacinta River to the Guatemalan side, then walk to the site.
2–3 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Main plaza | Central area with stelae and the main temple platform. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Northwest acropolis | Cluster of sculpted monuments. | Open with entry ticket. |
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 centre of the archaeological zone.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | Free | person | Check official park fee (often low). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- Not required for short visits, but recommended for deeper interpretation.
- Camping
- Not allowed inside the park; stay in nearby villages.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited.
Where to stay
Near the park
Piedras Negras village
Basic guesthouses and hostels.
Safety
River flooding 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 short walk from the gate.
Visiting lightly
- Support local guesthouses and buy food from village vendors.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Piedras Negras?
Entry fee is low (around 10 GTQ) but check the latest price at the gate.
What are the best hikes in Piedras Negras?
The short main‑plaza walk (30 min) and the north‑west acropolis trail (15 min) cover the key monuments.
When is the best time to visit Piedras Negras?
Dry season November to April offers clear trails and low river levels.
Can I camp inside the park?
No, camping is prohibited; stay in the nearby village.
How do I get there from Flores?
Take a shuttle to the Usumacinta River, cross by boat, then walk to the site (3–4 h total).
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Piedras Negras
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