San Andrés lies on the shore of Lake Petén Itzá and is the administrative seat of the municipality of the same name. For planning your trip, the town and the municipality are two different scales: the patron saint festival takes place in San Andrés, while archaeological and ecological destinations such as El Mirador and the Ruta Guacamaya are located within the municipality. If you are looking for hotels in San Andrés, you can plan your travel dates according to whether you want to focus on a festival in the town or destinations in the municipality.
Festivals and their dates
The patron saint festival in honor of the Apostle Saint Andrew takes place in San Andrés every year from November 21 to 30. The festival includes religious, cultural, sporting, and social activities. If you want to plan your trip around this occasion, check the dates locally before you leave.
Another annual religious event is the Misa Jurada on February 18 in the municipality of San Andrés. It is intended to protect the population from epidemics. Its location differs from that of the patron saint festival: the latter takes place in San Andrés, while the Misa Jurada is observed in the municipality. When planning, you can therefore take into account both the occasion you wish to attend and its date.
Food traditions and festival dates
In the municipality of San Andrés, bollitos and tamales with totoposte are among the traditional foods served during the celebrations of All Saints’ Day, Christmas, and New Year. These dishes are therefore associated with specific festive periods. When choosing your travel dates, this offers a different guide than a single announced event program.
The 2025 Festival of Xikinché and Totoposte was announced to feature tastings of traditional Xikinché, totopostes, and products made from them. Artistic and cultural performances, described as representative of San Andrés, Petén, were also planned. At the 2025 Festival Agrointegral y Gastronómico en Semana Santa, locals and visitors were invited to enjoy the culinary offerings. Both notices refer to events held in 2025.
Archaeological and ecological destinations in the municipality
El Mirador Archaeological Park is located in the municipality of San Andrés and includes Maya pyramids, among them La Danta and Del Tigre. If you want to include this archaeological site in your travel plans, check the current access conditions before visiting.
The Ruta Guacamaya is an ecotourism route in the municipality. Its stops include Centro Campesino, Arroyo Sacluc, Río San Pedro, Estación Biológica, Perú, Paso Caballos, Yalá, Peñón de Buena Vista, Corozal, and Cruce de Dos Aguadas. As you should not assume any particular route conditions, it is advisable to check the current situation before planning a visit.
The Sacbaquecan Interpretive Trail is also located in the municipality. It is maintained by students of the Eco-Escuela and lies along the route to San Benito. If you are planning a visit, check the current access conditions. This helps keep the trail, route stops, and archaeological site clearly distinguished as separate destinations in your plans.
Macantún (Tapanco de Piedra) is considered a public beach near the administrative seat; its management and maintenance are attributed to the Eco-Escuela. If you are considering this beach, check the current access conditions before your visit. Macantún is near the administrative seat; the route and archaeology references concern the municipality of San Andrés.
Discover more destinations: Laguna Yaxjá, San Benito, Tikal, San José, El Remate, Flores, Jobompiche, Santa Ana.
For the broader travel overview: Petén.
