1. Location and access: Puerta al Mundo Maya is an innovative combination of five community-based ecotourism destinations in the municipalities of Chisec, department of Alta Verapaz, and Sayaxché department of Petén. The municipality of Chisec is 3 hours, heading south from the town of Flores, Petén, and 1.5 hours north of the city of Coban. Also Cobán is 4 hours from Guatemala City. From Terminal Cobán Chisec buses to depart every hour between 5:00 and 16:30 hours, and further, Casa D'Acuña offers shuttle service ($ 25 per person) once a day to Cobán Flores, passing by Chisec. In Flores, many tour operators offer shuttle service to and Chisec also small buses depart every hour to Sayaxché public. It crosses the River Passion in a small boat and then take a bus going to Raxruhá (departures every hour). From Raxruhá buses depart every hour to Chisec.

2. Ecosystem: the fates of Puerta al Mundo Maya are found within an ecosystem full of beautiful caves, jungle rivers and underground waters and stunning turquoise lagoons. Almost the entire territory is covered by a subtropical wet forest, habitat of great diversity of flora and fauna, including jaguars, toucans and other endangered species. Two of the World destinations andalusia Puerta Maya are within the Candelaria Caves National Park, and Cancuén is a protected archaeological site. In the same region include the Conservation Corridor Community Jaguar, Parque Nacional Laguna Lachuá and Special Protection Area of Sierra Chinahá. The summer season extends from mid-February to late June, which recorded the highest temperatures and less rain.

3. Tourist attractions: Puerta al Mundo Maya combines natural attractions, cultural and archaeological sites. Lagoons Sepalau four impressive karst formations in crystal clear turquoise waters, fringed by a mysterious landscape of rocks and woods. Jul Iq '(Cave of Wind) and B'omb'il Pek (Piedra Pintada) are impressive in the two systems that can be observed extraordinary formations of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the first cave paintings found in a cave in Guatemala. Surrounded by lush forest, is the Rio San Simon. Its beautiful turquoise waters, unique karst formations and high limestone cliffs, make it the perfect place for tours of "white water tubing" river or decrease tires. Parque Nacional Cuevas de Candelaria is a system of caves and underground rivers, considered one of the largest and most impressive in Latin America and also was a pilgrimage site of great importance to the Mayan civilization. There, two communities Q'eqchi ', Mucbilha' I-Camposanto Candelaria and offer tourist services in some of the most impressive caves in the entire system, as well as tours of "cave tubing". On the banks of the Pasion River in Sayaxché is the archaeological site Cancuén. This was an important commercial center in prehispanic times, and controlling traffic jade, quetzal feathers and obsidian materials between the Guatemala highlands and the lowlands of Petén and Mexico. Cancuén Palace is one of the largest and most impressive of the Mayan world, with a unique style of architecture with particular attention on aesthetics.

4. Tourism activities: anyone can perform a variety of activities such as hiking through trails, observation of flora and fauna, swimming, canoe trips, together with communities Q'eqchi ', visits to caves and dry traveled by the archaeological site. They also offer activities for the adventurous tourist, as rappelling and cave tubing in rivers and in caves. All these activities are accompanied by guides Q'eqchi 'trained and all required equipment is provided by the different communities.

5. Tourism services in addition to the interpretive guidance offered by local people, all destinations are tourist reception areas, parking (U.S. $ 1.25), clean bathrooms and showers, food service (U.S. $ 3-5 if requested in advance), rental equipment such as flashlights ($ 1), pneumatic tubes (U.S. $ 2.50), abseiling equipment ($ 5), camping area (U.S. $ 2.50), eco-lodge accommodation in the community Mucbilha '($ 10) and transport Cancuén boat (U.S. $ 32-50 per group). Each of the tours offered in various places ranging from $ 3 to $ 8. Public transportation between the various tourist sites is constant, simple and secure. In the villages of Chisec Raxruhá and you can find some hotels and restaurants.

6. Package offered, the suggested route is three days and two nights, and can be done by car or public bus, camping or staying in Mucbilha 'or Chisec. This itinerary may vary depending on the interest of tourist (visit www.puertamundomaya.com suggested for other routes). You can visit a maximum of three destinations per day. The price per person for the package ranges between $ 80 and 100, depending on the number of people in the group.
• Day 1: Departure Cobán and visit Lagoons Sepalau, lunch and the afternoon visit to the caves of B'omb'il Pek and tubing on the Rio San Simon. At night, dinner and lodging at Chisec.
• Day 2: breakfast at the Café La Huella (draft of a local youth group); tubing in caves in Candelaria-Camposanto and lunch. In the afternoon, visit to caves Mucbilha. At night, dinner and lodging at eco-lodge in Mucbilha.
• Day 3: Visit and lunch at the site Cancuén. In the afternoon, return to or Cobán Petén.
Note: coming from Flores (Petén) to Cobán, follow the same route but in reverse

7. Equipment to bring: backpack, hiking boots, shoes that can get wet (sandals tied) to the tubing trips on the river and into the cave, and flashlight (if you want, but at all sites rented). If you want to camp, should bring tent and sleeping bag. Clothing: clothes for warm weather as shorts, T-shirts fresh, light socks, swimwear, waterproof jacket in case it rains and the sun hat. Protective sunglasses (UV protection), sunscreen, lip balm, insect repellent, personal hygiene kits and first aid kit.

8. Presentation of the organization: This is a project that began in 2001 as a joint cooperation between Peace Corps and the "Project Cancuén of Vanderbilt University, with support from USAID, and INTECAP AGEXPRONT. The goal was to create an ecotourism route managed entirely by communities Q'eqchi ', exploiting the natural and cultural resources in a sustainable manner, while contributing to improved quality of life of those communities. Counterpart International, with financial assistance from USAID, is providing support in organizing and managing community and improvement of tourism infrastructure and services to local communities. Each destination is handled entirely by a legally established community association. The development of these community ecotourism projects would not have been possible without the financial support of USAID and the cooperation of the following institutions: INGUAT, IDAEH, CONAP, AGEXPRONT, approval Sankar, Vanderbilt University, National Geographic Society, Peace Corps Counterpart International, among others