https://schema.org

Home

Countries

Guatemala

Explore 83 protected areas in Guatemala, rated across 10 categories

Encompasses the stunning caldera Lake Atitlán, one of the deepest lakes in Central America, ringed by three volcanoes — San Pedro, Tolimán, and Atitlán. The lake area is 130 km² and the surrounding pr

Atitlán

A RAMSAR-designated wetland at the mouth of the Polochic River where it drains into Lake Izabal. The refuge protects critical habitat for manatees, crocodiles, and over 300 bird species including the 

Bocas del Polochic

The first protected biotope established by the University of San Carlos (CECON) in Petén, located on the shores of Lake Petén Itzá. The humid tropical forest is the natural habitat of the ocellated tu

Cerro Cahuí

A forested hill above Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala's second-largest city, offering panoramic views of the city and surrounding highland valleys. The park serves as an important urban green space a

Cerro El Baúl

A small forested hill providing scenic views over the dry Motagua Valley in Zacapa department. Established in 1956 as one of Guatemala's earliest national parks, it offers a viewpoint and natural resp

Cerro Miramundo

One of the most biodiverse protected areas in Guatemala, sheltering nearly 50% of the country's biological diversity within humid tropical forest in Izabal. The reserve protects 54% of Guatemala's ver

Cerro San Gil

A biotope established for the conservation of the West Indian manatee along the northern shores of the Río Dulce-Golfete system in Izabal. The mangrove forests, flooded forests, and aquatic ecosystems

Chocón Machacas

The only major forest reserve in the metropolitan area of Guatemala City, protecting the Cordillera Alux mountain range which serves as a critical watershed for the capital region. The reserve has 27 

Cordillera Alux

A multiple use reserve encompassing the watershed of Lake Atitlán, declared by Congressional Decree 64-97. The reserve spans portions of Sololá and Chimaltenango departments, containing over 26 nested

Cuenca del Lago Atitlán

Protects a small limestone cave system in the Verapaz highlands, near the Lanquín cave complex. The caves are part of the extensive karst formations of Alta Verapaz and provide habitat for cave-dwelli

Cuevas de Silvino

A wildlife refuge within the Maya Biosphere Reserve protecting low-flooding forest and wetland ecosystems along the Arroyo El Pucté. Over 31% of the area is wetlands, providing critical habitat for ja

El Pucté

A small forested hill with a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Motagua Valley in El Progreso, covered with dry tropical shrubland. The park was named after the Guatemalan reformer General Justo Rufi

El Reformador

A former state-owned finca declared a national park in 1980, centered on the small laguna El Rosario on the eastern edge of Sayaxché. The park protects lowland tropical forest interspersed with wetlan

El Rosario

Protects an impressive system of large limestone caves near the town of Lanquín, through which the Lanquín River flows. The caves are home to enormous bat colonies that emerge at dusk in dramatic swir

Grutas de Lanquín

A transboundary biosphere reserve shared between Guatemala and Honduras protecting dry tropical forest and cloud forest ecosystems in the Chiquimula highlands. Part of the broader Trifinio Biosphere R

La Fraternidad

Protects a small natural lake 30 km south-southeast of Guatemala City, surrounded by pine and mixed forest. One of Guatemala's original 10 national parks, the lake and shoreline provide habitat for wa

Laguna del Pino

Guatemala's largest national park and home to the largest freshwater wetlands in Mesoamerica. Located in the western Maya Biosphere Reserve, it protects vast wetlands, tropical forest, and the scarlet

Laguna del Tigre

A protected biotope within the Laguna del Tigre National Park complex, protecting wetland and riparian forest ecosystems along the Río Escondido. The area provides critical habitat for the scarlet mac

Laguna del Tigre-Río Escondido

Centers on the stunning circular karst lake of Lachuá with brilliant turquoise waters, surrounded by lowland tropical rainforest. The park is an important wetland habitat for crocodiles, manatees, ott

Laguna Lachuá

An urban forest park on the northwestern outskirts of Cobán city, providing green space, cloud forest fragments, and a refuge for birds within Guatemala's Verapaz highlands. The park serves as an impo

Las Victorias

A small forested park south of Chimaltenango city with several springs feeding two small lakes. The park provides a pleasant natural escape within the densely populated central highlands and was one o

Los Aposentos

A large wildlife refuge in southeastern Petén featuring natural caves, sinkholes, rivers, archaeological sites, and ceremonial Maya caverns. The refuge protects diverse tropical forest and karst ecosy

Machaquilá

A RAMSAR-designated wetland on the Pacific coast spanning the departments of Retalhuleu and San Marcos, with Guatemala's most extensive mangrove forests. The area protects estuaries, mangroves, and co

Manchón Guamuchal

Guatemala's most famous biotope, dedicated to the conservation of the resplendent quetzal — Guatemala's national bird — and its cloud forest habitat. Named for conservationist Mario Dary Rivera, who c

Mario Dary Rivera

Guatemala's largest protected area and one of the most significant tropical forest reserves in the Western Hemisphere, covering nearly one-fifth of the country's total land area. The reserve encompass

Maya

Contains the monumental Pre-Classic Maya site of El Mirador, home to the largest pyramid by volume in the world (La Danta). The park spans two blocks — El Mirador in the west and Río Azul in the east 

Mirador-Río Azul

A biosphere reserve in southeastern Petén along the Belize border, protecting the Chiquibul cave system — the largest cave system in Central America — along with lowland tropical rainforest and karst 

Montañas Mayas Chiquibul

A multiple-use protected area on Guatemala's Pacific coast protecting mangroves, estuaries, and black-sand beaches that serve as critical nesting grounds for olive ridley, leatherback, and hawksbill s

Monterrico

One of the most biodiverse areas in the entire Maya Biosphere Reserve, located on the Mexican border and protecting the ancient Maya site of Naachtún. The biotope possesses the greatest biological div

Naachtún-Dos Lagunas

A forested national park located 21 km south of Guatemala City, just north of Lake Amatitlán. One of Guatemala's original 10 national parks, it provides urban green space and scenic views of Lago de A

Naciones Unidas

A wildlife refuge centered on the spectacular Petexbatún Lagoon in southwestern Petén, also protecting the Petexbatún and Aguateca creeks and adjacent wetlands. The lagoon and forest edges support abu

Petexbatún

Guatemala's first marine-coastal protected area, a peninsula and coastal zone north of Puerto Barrios on the Caribbean coast. The refuge covers 132,900 ha total including reef zones, sea grass meadows

Punta de Manabique

Protects the spectacular canyon of the Río Dulce connecting Lake Izabal to the Caribbean Sea, with towering limestone cliffs draped in tropical vegetation. Critical habitat for West Indian manatees, A

Río Dulce

Protects a remarkable landscape of eroded chalk formations (riscos) — white pinnacles, pillars, and rock towers shaped by millennia of erosion. Located near the K'iche' Maya town of Momostenango, whic

Riscos de Momostenango

A former nationalized finca on the northern outskirts of Cobán, declared a national park to preserve its secondary forest and provide green space. Located adjacent to Las Victorias National Park, it c

San José La Colonia

A large biotope named for the Maya ruin of El Zotz, known for its spectacular nightly bat emergence from caves beneath a Maya temple. The biotope borders Tikal National Park on the east and contains d

San Miguel La Palotada (El Zotz)

A large biological reserve in the southern buffer zone of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, protecting tropical forest and wetland ecosystems along the Salinas and San Román river basins. The reserve spans 

San Román

A forested mountainous area in the department of Zacapa protecting dry tropical forest and cloud forest ecosystems in the Motagua Valley. One of the earliest protected areas in eastern Guatemala, desi

Santa Rosalía

One of Guatemala's most breathtaking natural wonders — a series of stepped, crystal-clear turquoise pools formed atop a 300-meter natural limestone bridge over which the Cahabón River flows undergroun

Semuc Champey

A UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserve spanning five departments with Guatemala's most extensive cloud forest — approximately 60% of the country's remaining cloud forest. The reserve runs nearly 180 km

Sierra de las Minas

Protects one of the last large tracts of intact lowland rainforest in Central America along the Usumacinta River border with Mexico. Critical habitat for Baird's tapir, jaguars, harpy eagles, and hund

Sierra del Lacandón

A 20-km coastal strip along the Pacific coast protecting mangrove forests, estuarine lagoons, and black-sand beaches. Critical nesting ground for endangered sea turtles, including leatherback and oliv

Sipacate-Naranjo

Guatemala's most iconic national park protecting the ancient Maya city of Tikal and its surrounding tropical rainforest. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological and e

Tikal

A biosphere reserve in the highlands of Quiché protecting cloud forests and high-altitude ecosystems in the Cuchumatanes mountain range. The reserve is managed in partnership with indigenous Q'anjob'a

Visis-Cabá

A twin-peaked stratovolcano rising to 3,976 m near Antigua Guatemala. The permanent veda zone protects pine-oak and cloud forests on the volcano's slopes, which offer dramatic views of neighboring Vol

Volcán Acatenango

A dormant volcano in the department of Jalapa in eastern Guatemala. The permanent veda zone protects pine-oak forest and shrubland ecosystems on the volcanic slopes, serving as a water catchment area 

Volcán Alzatate

A dormant volcanic cone in the southeastern department of Jutiapa near the El Salvador border. The permanent veda zone protects dry tropical forest and shrubland on the volcanic slopes in one of Guate

Volcán Amayo

An active stratovolcano rising to 3,537 m on the southern shore of Lake Atitlán, forming a dramatic backdrop to the caldera lake along with its twin Volcán Tolimán. The permanent veda zone protects cl

Volcán Atitlán

An active lava dome complex at 3,197 m near Quetzaltenango, with historical eruptions producing lava flows. The permanent veda zone protects the volcanic dome and surrounding forests with active fumar

Volcán Cerro Quemado

A small volcanic dome in the department of Santa Rosa. The permanent veda zone protects the volcanic feature and surrounding vegetation near the Pacific lowlands of Guatemala.

Volcán Cerro Redondo

Best Parks in Guatemala

Guatemala's most recently established national park, protecting three major Maya archaeological sites — Yaxhá, Nakum, and Naranjo — along with important RAMSAR-designated wetlands. Lake Yaxhá and Lake

National Parks in Guatemala

Top 10 Parks in Guatemala

Tikal

Atitlán

Sierra de las Minas

Maya

Laguna Lachuá

Mirador-Río Azul

Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo

Cuenca del Lago Atitlán

Río Dulce

Semuc Champey

Top Parks by Category

Top 10 Parks for Uniqueness in Guatemala

Tikal

Maya

Mirador-Río Azul

Volcán de Fuego

Semuc Champey

Volcán Santiaguito

Atitlán

Laguna del Tigre

Sierra de las Minas

Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo

All Parks (83)

Tikal

Sierra de las Minas

Atitlán

Maya

Laguna Lachuá

Mirador-Río Azul

Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo

Semuc Champey

Volcán Acatenango

All Parks A–Z

A

B

C

E

G

L

M

N

P

R

S

T

V

X

Y