Flores Island, Guatemala

Flores Island is a 13.3-hectare island located in Lake Petén Itzá, in the northern region of the Central American country of Guatemala. 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, meaning “Great Island.” 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 initiated efforts to have the island recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, citing its historical and cultural significance.
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”, and they often self-identify as “de la isla”, “de Flores,” or occasionally “isleños”.
In recent years, a growing number of residents have adopted the term florenses as a contemporary demonym, which is gaining popularity within the community.