National park · Guatemala
Las Victorias National ParkParque Nacional Las Victorias
Enter Las Victorias for Q30/night camping or free day use; walk the 2 km (1.2 mi) loop trail any time, avoid weekends for fewer crowds.Enter Las Victorias for Q30/night camping or free day use; walk the 1.2 mi (2 km) loop trail any time, avoid weekends for fewer 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
1990
Best months
Apr–May
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Guatemala, 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.
- Central Highlands ↗Tourist shuttles between Antigua, the airport and Lake Atitlán run by day; they stop in the evening.
- Central Highlands ↗Antigua sits about 1,530 m; Cobán about 1,320 m. Neither usually causes altitude problems, but nights are cool.
At a glance
- Country
- Guatemala
- Area
- 1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²)
- Park covers about 82 ha (0.82 km²) of forest and lakefront within Cobán (source: Wikivoyage).
- Established
- 1990
- Best months
- Apr–May
- Permits
- For some areas
Las Victorias National Park is a small urban forest oasis on the edge of Cobán, offering a lake, picnic facilities and short hiking trails for locals and visitors seeking a quick nature escape.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1990.
Size and age
1 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (1 km²) · national park since 1990
Park covers about 82 ha (0.82 km²) of forest and lakefront within Cobán (source: Wikivoyage).
Why go
- A green oasis on the edge of Cobán with lake, trails and picnic areas.
- Birdwatching and chance to see small mammals in a city‑adjacent forest.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanDry, mild
- FebDry, mild
- MarDry, mild
- AprDry, comfortable
- MayEnd of dry season
- JunRain begins
- JulRainy, trails slick
- AugRainy, mosquitoes
- SepRainy, occasional storms
- OctDry returns
- NovDry, cooler
- DecDry, cool
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birds (tanagers, toucans, hummingbirds)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Squirrels, coatis, rabbits, armadillosAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Alligators (in the pond, rare sightings)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 Cobán city centre
Walk or taxi 5 min north on 3rd Street to the park entrance near 9th Avenue.
5 min
From Guatemala City
Bus to Cobán (≈ 6 h) then taxi to park entrance.
≈ 7 h total
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Ranger station & entrance | Ticket office, information, campground registration. | Open daily |
| Lake & picnic area | Pavilions, grills, small pond. | Open to all |
| Campground | Designated sites with toilets and water. | Register at ranger station |
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 park entrance; other points approximated.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camping site | GTQ 30 | night | Register at ranger station |
| Day entry | Free | person | Free for day visitors |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Camping registration permit or guide
Day entry no permit
Park rules
- Fires
- No open fires; use designated grills only.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; bins are limited.
- Camping registration
- Required at ranger station; unregistered camping prohibited.
- Pets
- Dogs must be leashed at all times.
- Safety
- Stay on marked trails; avoid isolated areas alone.
Where to stay
Near the park
Cobán city hotels
Range from budget hostels to mid‑range hotels, 5 min drive to park.
Safety
Crime in isolated spots medium
Alligator in pond low
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 trails are flat and suitable for most walkers; some uneven sections near the lake.
Visiting lightly
- Use the designated picnic grills; do not feed wildlife.
- Pack out all waste and respect the campground registration system.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Las Victorias National Park?
Day entry is free; camping costs Q30 per night after registering at the ranger station.
What are the best hikes in Las Victorias National Park?
The 2 km lake loop is the main easy trail; longer forest paths are available but are unmarked and best explored with a local guide.
When is the best time to visit Las Victorias National Park?
The dry season from November to May offers comfortable walking and fewer mosquitoes.
Is a guide required for any activities?
No guide is needed for the lake loop or day visits; a guide is recommended for night camping to ensure safety.
Are there facilities for families?
Yes, the park has picnic pavilions, playgrounds, and easy trails suitable for children.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Las Victorias National Park
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