The excellent Museo Miraflores (7a Calle 21-55 Zona 11, Paseo Miraflores, tel. 2470-3415/16/17/18, www.museomiraflores.org, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Tues.–Sun., $2 adults, $1 children/students) is dedicated to the history of the Mayan site of Kaminaljuyú. Just outside the museum’s main entrance is a replica of an irrigation canal similar to those found throughout the Mayan city as early as 600 B.C.

Inside, the large window panels provide fantastic views of the stark contrast between old and new, with the green temple mound of structure B-V-3 flanked by modern glass buildings in the background. Also at the entrance is a scale model of what the city probably looked like in its heyday, built into the museum floor under a glass case.

In the main exhibit area, you’ll find a comprehensive history of Kaminaljuyú in English and Spanish as well as a burial display, pottery, jade jewelry, stone sculpture, and obsidian blades. There are also old photographs of the site’s excavation and maps showing the large area once occupied by the ancient city. You are free to explore the temple mounds outside (steps are built into them).

A few more temple mounds can be found in the vicinity of the museum, having been completely closed in by one of the city’s larger shopping complexes. Among the latter are the ever-growing Galerías Miraflores, Paseo Miraflores, and Las Majadas.