Naachtún-Dos Lagunas

Naachtun-Dos Lagunas is a 45,555-hectare Protected Biotope situated in the northeastern extreme of the Maya Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala's Peten department, directly on the border with Mexico's Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. Designated in 1989 and administered by the University of San Carlos Center for Conservation Studies (CECON), the biotope protects a vital corridor of tropical forest that connects Guatemalan and Mexican protected areas, forming part of the largest contiguous tropical forest north of the Amazon. The area derives its name from two seasonal lagoons (Dos Lagunas) that represent some of the only freshwater sources in this limestone karst landscape, and from the ancient Maya city of Naachtun whose ruins lie within its boundaries. The biotope serves as critical habitat for jaguars, white-tailed deer, and numerous other species of the Peten lowlands.

The biotope supports an impressive diversity of tropical wildlife characteristic of the Maya Forest ecosystem. Jaguars maintain stable populations within the reserve, alongside other large cats including margays and ocelots that hunt through the dense forest understory. Baird's tapirs, white-tailed deer -- the species the biotope was originally established to protect -- and white-lipped peccaries roam the forest floor, while howler monkeys and spider monkeys traverse the canopy overhead. The avifauna is equally rich, with toucans, parrots, ocellated turkeys, and numerous raptor species recorded in the area. American crocodiles inhabit the seasonal wetlands and lagoons, sharing these scarce water sources with a variety of freshwater turtles and amphibians. The biotope's position as a corridor between Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve and Mexico's Calakmul Reserve makes it essential for maintaining genetic connectivity among wide-ranging species.

The vegetation of Naachtun-Dos Lagunas consists primarily of humid subtropical forest, with trees reaching maximum heights of approximately 30 meters at higher elevations. The forest canopy is dominated by ramon (breadnut) and chicozapote (sapodilla) trees, two species that were also economically important to the ancient Maya who once inhabited this landscape. The forest composition varies with topography, transitioning from taller, more diverse stands on the elevated karst ridges to lower, seasonally flooded forests in the depressions known as bajos. Scattered perennial wetlands called sivales, fed by rainwater during the wet season, support aquatic and semi-aquatic vegetation including sedges and water lilies. Epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, and ferns drape the canopy trees, while palms such as the xate (Chamaedorea) grow in the shaded understory and have historically been collected for the ornamental plant trade.

The landscape of Naachtun-Dos Lagunas is shaped by the limestone karst geology that characterizes much of the Peten lowlands. Naachtun itself sits on a large hilly escarpment bordered to the north and south by two broad depressions called bajos -- seasonal wetlands that form when rainwater collects in areas where the underlying limestone is less permeable. The karst terrain features sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage systems that channel surface water through the porous limestone, resulting in very few permanent surface water bodies. The two lagoons (Dos Lagunas) that give the biotope its name occupy natural depressions in the limestone where clay accumulations prevent water from draining away entirely. This geological framework also shaped ancient Maya settlement patterns, as the scarce freshwater sources attracted human habitation and the elevated limestone ridges provided building material for monumental architecture.

Naachtun-Dos Lagunas experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons typical of the Peten lowlands. The wet season extends from approximately May through January, with the heaviest rainfall occurring between June and October, when monthly totals can exceed 250 millimeters. The dry season from February through April brings significantly reduced precipitation, and the seasonal lagoons and bajos may partially dry out during this period. Average temperatures remain warm year-round, typically ranging from 22 to 34 degrees Celsius, with the hottest months coinciding with the dry season when reduced cloud cover allows maximum solar heating. Humidity is consistently high, generally exceeding 80 percent during the wet season. The climate supports dense tropical forest growth but also creates challenging conditions for both wildlife and the few researchers who venture into this remote area.

The human history of Naachtun-Dos Lagunas stretches back millennia, with the ancient Maya city of Naachtun representing one of the area's most significant archaeological sites. First occupied as early as the fifth century BCE, Naachtun developed into a major regional center during the Classic period (250-900 CE), strategically positioned midway between the rival Maya superpowers of Tikal to the south and Calakmul to the north. The city may have housed several thousand inhabitants at its peak, and archaeological investigations have revealed walled compounds, ceremonial platforms, and evidence of the political maneuvering required to survive between two dominant kingdoms. After the Classic Maya collapse around the ninth century, the area was gradually reclaimed by forest, and it remained largely uninhabited for centuries. In more recent history, the forests of northern Peten attracted chicleros -- harvesters of chicle latex from sapodilla trees -- who worked the area during the early twentieth century.

The Naachtun-Dos Lagunas Protected Biotope was officially declared in 1989 as part of Guatemala's efforts to protect the vast forests of northern Peten. Administration was assigned to CECON, the Center for Conservation Studies at the University of San Carlos de Guatemala, which manages the biotope for both biodiversity conservation and scientific research. The biotope was incorporated into the larger Maya Biosphere Reserve when that umbrella designation was established in 1990, placing it within the reserve's strictly protected core zone where extractive activities are prohibited. The biotope was originally created with a primary focus on protecting white-tailed deer populations, but its conservation mandate quickly expanded to encompass the full range of biodiversity and the significant archaeological heritage within its boundaries. International conservation organizations, including the Wildlife Conservation Society, have supported research and monitoring programs in the biotope, particularly focused on jaguar populations and forest cover.

Naachtun-Dos Lagunas is one of the most remote and least-visited protected areas in Guatemala, with its primary attractions centered on the ancient Maya ruins of Naachtun and the surrounding pristine tropical forest. The archaeological site of Naachtun features partially excavated plazas, temple platforms, and residential compounds that are being studied by French and Guatemalan research teams, offering a rare glimpse of a Maya city still largely reclaimed by jungle. The two seasonal lagoons that give the biotope its name are important wildlife viewing locations, particularly during the dry season when animals concentrate around the remaining water sources. Birdwatching is exceptional throughout the forest, with possibilities of observing toucans, parrots, and the elusive ocellated turkey. The bajos -- vast seasonal wetlands surrounding the elevated terrain -- provide dramatic landscape views and unique ecological experiences, though they are extremely difficult to traverse during the wet season.

Naachtun-Dos Lagunas is one of Guatemala's most difficult protected areas to reach, located in the far northeastern corner of Peten with no paved roads providing access. The nearest settlement with basic services is the community of Uaxactun, which is itself accessible only by a rough dirt road from the town of Flores, the regional capital approximately 150 kilometers to the south. From Uaxactun, reaching the biotope requires continued travel by four-wheel-drive vehicle or on foot through dense forest, often taking a full day or more depending on conditions. There is a small airstrip at Dos Lagunas that can accommodate light aircraft, though flights must be specially arranged. Visitor facilities are essentially nonexistent -- there are no lodges, restaurants, or established campgrounds within the biotope. Any visit requires careful advance planning, local guides, and complete self-sufficiency in terms of food, water, and camping equipment.

Conservation of Naachtun-Dos Lagunas faces significant challenges despite its protected status and remote location. Illegal logging, agricultural encroachment from communities to the south, and unauthorized extraction of forest products including xate palms and chicle threaten the integrity of the forest cover. Forest fires, often set deliberately to clear land for agriculture or cattle ranching, represent a periodic threat, particularly during the dry season. CECON, in collaboration with international partners including the Wildlife Conservation Society, conducts jaguar monitoring and forest patrols, but limited funding and personnel constrain enforcement across the vast area. The biotope's position as a transboundary corridor with Mexico's Calakmul Biosphere Reserve has led to cooperative conservation initiatives under the Selva Maya program, which coordinates protection efforts across Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize. Maintaining ecological connectivity through this corridor is considered essential for the long-term survival of wide-ranging species including jaguars and tapirs in the Maya Forest region.