La Ruta Maya is a non-profit organization founded on the 25 of October 1990 in the United States of America by Mr. Wilbur Garrett, retired editor of National Geographic Magazine and first president of the same.

In 2004, the presidency of the foundation went to Mr. Fernando Paiz Andrade, Guatemalan businessman and entrepreneur known for his support for the arts and the environment. Since then, the commitment of the organization has been centered on creating a collection of significant archeological pieces representing the achievements of pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican culture through their art.

In November of 2007, La Ruta Maya was registered in Guatemala as a private, non-profit organization with the purpose of arranging for the repatriation of pre-Hispanic artifacts of the Mayan region.

The short and medium term goal of the organization is to create an emblematic, world-class museum for Guatemala that will house and showcase not only the national archeological collection, but private collections and traveling exhibitions as well. The museum aspires to open the doors of its first phase to the public in the month of December 2012 in celebration of the Baktún 13 or the date 13.0.0.0.0 which commemorates the day of creation or year zero of the Mayan calendar.

Mission & vision

Legal Structure