Flores Island, Guatemala
Isla de Flores | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Guatemala |
| Coordinates | 16°55′46″N 89°53′29″W / 16.92944°N 89.89139°W |
| Area | 0.13 km2 (0.050 sq mi) |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 13,700 |
| Pop. density | 105,000/km2 (272000/sq mi) |
Flores Island (Spanish: Isla de Flores)[1] is a 13.3-hectare island located in Lake Petén Itzá, in the northern region of the Central American country of Guatemala.[2][3] It belongs to the Department of Petén and hosts the city of Flores, which serves as the departmental capital alongside the neighboring town of Santa Elena de la Cruz. Historically, the island was known by its indigenous name Noj Petén (also spelled Noh Petén),[4] meaning “Great Island.”[5] Spanish conquistadors destroyed Noj Petén in the 16th century, leaving it uninhabited until its resettlement in the 18th century.
The island was later renamed Flores in honor of Cirilo Flores, a prominent Guatemalan independence leader. Situated at an elevation of 127 meters above sea level, the island is connected to Santa Elena de la Cruz by a causeway and bridge, facilitating access between the two communities.
Despite its small size—just 0.13 km2 of urbanized area—Flores Island is home to an estimated population of over 13,000 residents. In 2025, the Guatemalan government[6] initiated efforts to have the island recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, citing its historical and cultural significance.[7]
There is currently no officially recognized term for the inhabitants of Flores Island. Anthropologist Rubén Reyna previously referred to them as florentinos, though this designation has been contested by later ethnographic studies. These studies suggest that the term is not commonly used in Petén; instead, locals are typically referred to as “los de Flores” (those from Flores), and they often self-identify as “de la isla” (from the island), “de Flores,” or occasionally “isleños” (islanders).
In recent years, a growing number of residents have adopted the term florenses as a contemporary demonym, which is gaining popularity within the community.
See also
References
- ^ Faubert, Denis; Soldevila, Carlos (2000). Ulysses Guatemala. Hunter Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-2-89464-175-0.
- ^ Cadavid, Humberto (2021-08-26). Destinos del mundo (in Spanish). Ibukku LLC. ISBN 978-1-64086-983-7.
- ^ Mejía, José Víctor (1922). Geografía descriptiva de la república de Guatemala (in Spanish). Tipografía Sánchez & De Guise.
- ^ Duarte, Luis Gustavo Jurado; Etnología (Guatemala), Museo Nacional de Arqueología y (1996). Piezas maestras mayas: patrimonio del Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología de Guatemala (in Spanish). Fundación G & T. ISBN 978-84-920874-0-2.
- ^ Barrera, Laura Caso (2002). Caminos en la selva: migración, comercio y resistencia, mayas yucatecos e itzaes, siglos XVII-XIX (in Spanish). El Colegio de México. ISBN 978-968-16-6714-6.
- ^ Noticias, Sociedad (2025-07-29). "En Guatemala, buscan reconocer la Isla de Flores como Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad". Sociedad Noticias (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ "Guatemala busca la candidatura de la Isla de Flores, Petén, como Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad - Gobierno de Guatemala" (in Spanish). 2025-07-29. Retrieved 2025-10-12.