Tikal National Park

Porchet
Porchet
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5 out of 5
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11
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24
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Editor Pick

The Natural Side of Tikal

  • September 26, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Koentje3000 from Hamme, Belgium
The Natural Side of Tikal

Despite its location, tucked away deep in the lowland jungle of the Guatemalan department of El Petén, the magnificent Maya site of Tikal attracts its fair share of tourists. After all, the Tikal ruins are probably the greatest Maya buildings in the whole of Guatemala, maybe even in the world. Unesco-listed already since 1979, the ancient town provides a great insight in daily Mayan matters as well as on religious and cultural affairs of this great nation. Nowadays the ruins are part of the 576 km2 large Tikal National Park, trying to preserve both the historical and natural treasures of the region. Established in 1955, it's about the only conservation area in Guatemala that escaped the human threats of deforestation, thanks to a huge support of its national park status by each subsequent government, no matter how corrupt or brutal they were. The park is incorporated in the 30 times larger Maya Biosphere Reserve, covering the whole north of the country and established in 1990, in a worthy attempt to combat illegal logging there.

All visitors are required to go to the Tikal Visitor Centre, right in the centre of the national park and just east of the main ruin area. You are to buy your ticket here (150 Quetzals, around 20US$). When you arrive after 4PM, you also receive a ticket for the next day, a great way to see Tikal at different times. Apart from a relief map of the ruins, there is also a quite pricy restaurant, some gift shops and even a post office in the visitor centre. Nearby are a few cheaper eateries ("comedores"), two museums (the Tikal museum is free), a few expensive but good hotels, like the Jungle Lodge charging around US$100 for a double, and even a campsite (only 30Q per person).

Apart from the extensive cultural heritage, which I will discuss in other reviews extensively, the park also contains rich natural treasures. Located in the lowland tropical rainforests of the Petén Basin, its climate is hot and humid all year round, but during the wet season (June-November) precipitation rises sharply. Many parts of the rainforest are impenetrable but a few dirt roads and trekking routes are available. Should you want to spend some time in the rainforest, the travel agents in Flores and Santa Elena offer specialised tours. There are great rainforest treks to one of the numerous Maya sites still hidden deep into the El Petén departement, like nearby Uaxactun and El Zotz or the great El Mirador site close to the Mexican border. But even if you don't participate, the ancient site of Tikal offers already great opportunities to discover the forests. A few temples towering over the sea of trees are climbable, which offers excellent bird's eye views on the lush green rainforest. Several of the ruins are overgrown with indigenous flowers, trees and plants. Several of the forest's wildlife, including howler monkeys, coatis, toucans and Guatemala's national bird, the Quetzal, are regular visitors to the ancient site and can be spotted, most likely during dusk and dawn, but also during the day. Larger mammals like the ocelot or the jaguar normally hide deep in the rainforest.

From journal Magical Maya Mystery

Tikal

  • March 19, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by KellySenn from New York, New York
Tikal

Tikal was one of the great cities of the Mayan empire. It was abandoned over 1,000 years ago and has become overgrown by jungle, painting a vivid picture of an advanced society's demise followed by the reclaiming of the land by nature. It is an awe-inspiring site. The Mayan empire was once the most developed civilization in the New World, before the Europeans arrived in North America. One of the details that makes this area so interesting is that no one has inhabited the area since... the ruins remain buried deep in the jungle, giving it an extra air of mystery and discovery. Until the mid-1800s, in fact, knowledge of their existence to Europeans and North Americans was limited to rumors. Tikal was inhabited approximately between 800BC and 900AD and supported as many as 100,000 inhabitants at its peak. See the pictures attached of the huge pyramids, organized into plazas, varying in size and date. They are unbelievable to witness from the ground, and you can climb some of them, giving you a birds eye view of the vastness of the area and the surrounding jungle.

Tikal is an amazing experience. We spent one very full day exploring the park, and found that there was a lot to see. It is do-able in 1 day, but 2 or even 3 days could be spent walking around and exploring without getting bored, especially if you hired a guide.

We did not hire a guide (on a student's budget) and did not find that we were missing much. The maps provided by the park are very detailed, and we were able to use descriptions of the history in our guidebooks to enhance our experience. Basic knowledge of the Mayan story is nice to have and will make the experience all the more powerful, however, the sheer size of the site alone is striking.

From journal Quick Trip to Tikal

Tikal

  • February 11, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by JodyS from Sauk Rapids, Minnesota
We bought airline tickets to fly from San Pedro to Guatemala. This was a day trip. I want to say that it was about $350 per person, maybe a little less. We boarded a plane in San Pedro early in the morning. From Belize we flew into Flores. Included in the fee, a very knowledgeable guide met us and two others and brought us to the site. We saw the Guatemalan countryside, great animals, and the ruins. Lunch was included, and surprisingly good. Excellent day!! It was quite hot midday. Tickets were bought near the San Pedro airport from a golf cart-rental place. This was the cheapest we could find.

From journal Trip to Belize

Editor Pick

Tikal National Park

  • November 12, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Ben the Grate from Dallas, Texas
Tikal National Park

Tikal is considered by most to be the greatest ancient Mayan site on the planet. So many of the structures are excavated and restored, and the ancient city is so vast.

San Ignacio sits just a few minutes from the Guatemala border and only a few hours' drive from Tikal, which is close enough to lure most travelers who have the time and the money.

There are three ways to do it: on your own, with a shuttle service, or on a guided tour.

If you want to visit Tikal on your own (by far the best option), you'll need a rental car that can cross the border. The only rental company in Belize that permits this currently is Crystal Rental (http://www.crystal-belize.com/). A little Spanish will help, as the border crossing can be confusing. The vehicle must be sprayed with insecticide ($10), and you'll pay around $30 for an importation tax, in addition to your own immigration charges into Guatemala, an exit tax of $17.50 from Belize, and a $5 bridge crossing fee just beyond the border.

Make sure you have a good map, and resist the temptation to turn right into the main area of Melchor de Mencos, the first town in Guatemala. The road to Tikal (currently unpaved at this section) goes straight ahead up the hill, even though it looks like an alley.

I suggest that you try to arrive at Tikal (an hour and a half or more once you cross the border) after 3pm. Your $15 admission ticket will be stamped for the next day, so you get 2 days' admission for the price of one.

The hike into the site takes about 45 minutes at a relaxed pace from the parking lot. Many local guides will offer their (expensive) services, and you'll get more out of your trip with a guide if you can afford one.

Poke around the Great Plaza for a bit, then watch the sunset from the Great Pyramid in the Mundo Perdido (Lost World). Make sure you have a flashlight for the long, dark hike back to the car.

Spend the night in Flores, a 1-hour drive from Tikal. It's an enchanting little village on an island in the middle of Lago Peten Itza. Expect to pay around $10 to $15 for a nice room--the Hospedaje Dona Goya II is recommended.

Spend the next day back in Tikal visiting the outer ruins, the Central Acropolis, and the Bat Palace. Leave early enough to drive back to the border in daylight so you don't hit any people or animals on the road (a real danger)! Some people sleep in the road, and I'm not joking!

The Guatemala border crossing closes at 9pm!

A shuttle service from San Ignacio provides transport to Tikal, then to Flores, back to Tikal the next day, and back to San Ignacio. You'll pay around $75 to $100 for transportation alone.

A fully guided tour to Tikal from San Ignacio can run $300, all expenses included.

From journal It's UnBelizeable!

Editor Pick

Ruins

  • August 22, 2005
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Andariega from Boca de Tomatlan, Mexico
Ruins

These ruins are all within a few blocks of each other, east of the plaza.

Santa Clara
Past
Nuns from Puebla, Mexico came to Antigua to found the Santa Clara church and convent in 1699. The 1717 earthquake seriously damaged the construction and it took almost twenty years to rebuild. It was inaugurated again in 1734 and was housing forty-six nuns. It was abandoned after the 1773 quake. It was later used as housing until the roof fell in during the 1874 quake. In 1944, when the city was declared a national monument, the site was cleaned up and reconditioned, making it safe to open to the public. In 1976, during another earthquake, there was more damage but the place has now been restored to its 1976 state, sort of.
Present
The convent has a beautiful facade, covered in archangels and saints. It is located on the corner of 6 Calle Ote and 2 Avenida Sur, open daily from 8am to 5pm, and admission is 30Q (US$3.75) for foreigners.

Iglesia de San Francisco
Past
The first temple was built in 1579 but was soon destroyed. Its ruins are next to the San Francisco ruins. The present church was built throughout the 17th century. It started small but was enlarged in 1684, damaged by earthquake in 1689, and built bigger and better. By 1702, it covered four blocks and contained the church, a convent, a school and a hospital. There was severe damage during the 1717 quake and even more in 1751. In 1773, it was almost completely ruined. Reconstruction began in 1960 to much criticism. Many thought it was being made too whole, being turned into a "new" ruin. The facade was also restored; its figures are from the 20th century.
Present
It is located on 7 Calle Ote and 1 Avenida Sur and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8am to 6pm. Inside is a museum, El Museo del Santo Hermano Pedro, which displays the religious belongings of Saint Hermano Pedro, still in remarkably good condition. Other religious objects, mostly paintings, are also displayed. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9am to 5pm. Admission is Q3 (US$.37).

La Concepcion
Past
Built in the late 16th century, La Concepcion was one of the largest and the most luxurious of Antigua's convents. It covered five blocks and the nuns lived in grand style, surrounded by beautiful objects and creature comforts. It was seriously damaged in the 1717 quake and was damaged some more in 1751 and 1773. It was abandoned in 1774.
Present
Little remains of this huge construction and much of what is left is buried. The front, built in 1694 remains, as do the cloisters. These ruins are on private property and not open to the public but are definitely worth a stop-and-peek from the street. They are located on 4 Calle Ote, east of 1 Avenida.

From journal Wrath of the Gods

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