When it comes to lost civilizations, few in the world left so much behind for modern day history-hunters to imagine our ancestor’s cultures as the Maya.  The only pre-Columbian civilization to fully develop a writing system, as well as art, architecture and astronomy, it spread from modern day Mexico down through Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.While Belize is home to a variety of sites, from the carvings at Xunantunich to the burial caves of Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM), it is in the jungles of north Guatemala that not one, but two, of the great cities of the Maya, can be found with entire complexes largely in tact. Mostly dating from the Classic Period of the Maya, (both rose to prominence from around 200-250AD), Tikal and Yaxha offer highly immersive experiences in a region that is still relatively unblemished by mass tourism.The Peten region makes up the entire north of Guatemala, with Flores as its capital right on Lake Peten Itza. Unlike the hills that make up the majority of the country, Peten is low-lying, with rivers and lakes flowing through the basin and making for ideal rainforest and marshland conditions. Getting around the region involves quite some trekking.Ideally located for both the Mayan cities is one resort designed to bring guests right inside the jungle, begun by a local Guatemalan explorer who immersed himself in the undomesticated rainforest for decades. Las Lagunas offers “luxury by nature,” set in 200 acres on the Quexil Lagoon, it offers 19 villas that stand over the water, home to just some of the native wildlife species that are bred to keep the environment stable.Some 700 unique bird species have their natural habitat in Guatemala, a country with 300 microclimates. Now the resort isn’t just preserving the habitat of today, but the environment and wildlife that Mayans would have encountered in their era.Tikal lies directly north of the property, and it perhaps the most completely uncovered complex, as well as the most visited. UNESCO-listed, it is one of the largest Mayan archaeological sites, discovered and named in 1853. Begun the 4th Century BC it was abandoned in the 10th century. Today its center is one the most photographed images of Guatemala, but visitors need only make a short walk to its many other temples over the vast grounds to find themselves alone in what was a vast city.Yaxha to the east is even less visited and more atmospheric, helped by the fact its original name (which means “blue-green water” in Mayan) has survived. Thought to have been home to 42,000, it covers 237 square kilometers (92 square miles) and takes a good few hours to explore uncovered temples and those that still lie reclaimed by nature.Besides visits to the sites, Las Lagunas offers plenty of other ways for visitors to immerses themselves in the habitat, from kayaking and 4x4 ATV rides, to trekking and bird watching trails, working with the CONAP (Consejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas) to educate guests about the region.Follow us on Twitter – @Cultravel Read more