Quirigua, located in the banana region of Izabal, is one of the smallest Mayan cities but one of the most notable due to its splendid monuments. Quirigua is just 94 kilometers from Puerto Barrios on the road to Guatemala City, making it the closest place from the capital to see important ruins. Quirigua was probably founded in the Late Pre-Classic era and flourished until the 10th century, when it was abandoned for unknown reasons.

Nine stelae are arranged around the central plaza, accompanied by altars and four rocks carved into zoomorphic shapes representing different gods. Stela E, eight meters tall, is the largest stelae ever discovered in the Mayan world. The ruins are not completely restored, but deciphered hieroglyphs from the stelae and altars tell a fascinating story of Quirigua’s relationship with nearby Copan. Together, they are one of the most beautiful expressions of Maya culture, for that reason Quirigua was declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.