In 1541, Hernán Cortés arrived on the island where the Guatemalan city of Flores is today. Then he did not conquer it and went on. Later, the Spaniards had raided these lands several times, until in 1697 they finally managed to land on its shores and join the fight with the locals. The islanders were the famous Maya, and the city on the site of modern Flores was their capital Nojpetén, which meant "The Great Island".

The island itself is located on Lake Petén Itzá, which is considered the second largest lake in Guatemala. Previously, there were about 30 Mayan settlements on its shores. Today archaeologists conduct excavations in these places and find valuable items of life and culture of these people. Thanks to these historical monuments, curious travelers often return to these places.

The city of Flores is famous for its Mayan finds and history. However, one of its main attractions is the lake surrounded by dense jungle. It is located on the territory of a biosphere reserve and covers an area of about 100 square kilometers. And its depths, which reach 160 meters, keep many mysteries.

In ancient times, this lake was a source of freshwater and was considered sacred by the tribes of the ancient civilization. Their descendants who speak the almost extinct Mayan dialect live on its shores today. In 2018, a group of Polish underwater archaeologists discovered more than 500 artifacts at the bottom of Petén Itzá. Some items are more than 2000 years old. Among the well-preserved items, there are three bowls, nested one in the other. They stood on larger vessels, where an obsidian blade of about 20 cm in length was. All the finds are evidence of religious rites with sacrifice. One of the most interesting items for archaeologists was a ceramic censer in the shape of a human head.