Stela E
The tallest of all Maya stelae.
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Quiriguá is an ancient Maya site in Izabal Department in southeastern Guatemala, inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1981. Its importance lies not in its modest buildings but in its wealth of sculpture, including the tallest stela raised in the Maya world, making it one of the finest places to see Maya carving. The site was occupied by about AD 200, work on the acropolis had begun by about 550, and the city expanded in the 8th century. It had been a vassal of nearby Copán until King K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat defeated Copán's ruler in 738, after which Quiriguá stayed independent and flourished. Building stopped about 850, with a brief reoccupation later. You enter a wide green lawn ringed by forest, where tall stelae stand under protective thatched roofs, including the famous Stela E. They were carved from strong red sandstone, so their detail has stayed crisp. Huge carved boulders in the shape of mythical creatures lie on the ground, while the low stone acropolis stands at the edge of the plaza among the trees. It is a little over 200 km northeast of Guatemala City, 44 km in a straight line from Río Dulce and 15.7 km from the Honduran border, and UK travel advice urges care in border areas. The weather is hot and humid, so bring water and insect repellent, and do not touch the carvings. Carry cash in quetzales, as cards may not work at the gate.
The tallest of all Maya stelae.
Mythical creatures in stone.
Stone walls among the trees.
Los Amates, Izabal, southeastern Guatemala
One to two hours covers the plaza and acropolis.
Yes, 15.7 km from Honduras, so read travel advice first.