Guatemala has the largest Maya population of any country, and in terms of numbers, they are the dominant ethnic group. There are at least 15 distinct Mayan groups in the country, mostly living in the highlands near Quetzaltenango. Tikal is by far the best Mayan site in Guatemala and worth the money to visit. Many people use travel agencies to book the 2 day 1 night tour of Tika. This tour is pretty much all inclusive. You fly to Flores from Guatemala city then shuttle bus to Tika, take a 4 hour guide tou of the ruins and then stay in the park. The advantaget of staying in the park is you have the opportunity to view the sunrise the next moring which is worth the entire price of admission.

The site closest to Quetzaltenango is Abaj Takalik which can be visited on a day trip if you get an early start. The site is located between Retalhuleu and Coatepeque along the coastal road CA2. It does not have the grand temples like Tikal but it is a great site to see and close by. One interesting fact is that they are digging at this site currently so you might get the chance to see it as they uncover more and more.