Guatemala // A day trip to Tikal National Park

Tikal history

No visit to Guatemala is complete without a visit to Tikal National Park! It was once the greatest city of the Maya world, with a population of around 100,000. The monumental pyramids of Tikal date back as far as the 4th century BC and are listed as UNESCO World Heritage since 1979.

This massive Mayan Kingdom was abandoned by the end of the 10th century, and during the following years the Guatemalan rainforest jungle completely engulfed the site. The story goes that Cortès (the conqueror of Mexico) passed Tikal during his explorations in 1525, but never discovered the lost city as is was totally concealed by the surrounding jungle. It wasn’t until 1848 that the Mayan pyramid ruins were discovered by an official Guatemalan expedition.

Tikal is now the largest excavated site in the American continent, and the National Park comprises a total of 576 square kilometers (222 square miles). So… if these facts and figures haven’t convinced you yet, there’s also the bonus of tons of cool wildlife to spot at the site :) !

Tikal Temple Highlights

Temple I (Great Jaguar Temple)

Temple I (the Great Jaguar Temple) is the most famous pyramid of Tikal, and located on the Great Plaza. This towering monument is 47 metres (154 ft) high! Inside this temple the tomb of the ruler Jasaw K’awiil Chan was discovered, whose replica is located in the Ceramic Museum.

Temple II (Temple of the Masks)

Opposite the Great Jaguar Temple you’ll find Temple II (the Temple of the Masks), 38 metres (125 ft) high. You can clearly see the Ball Court from the top of the temple.

Sound effect

Tikal’s architecture isn’t only impressive to see, the Mayans built the design of the complex with a special sound design in mind. When you stand on the Great Plaza and you clap your hands, the echo this produces sounds like the call of a Quetzal Bird, a holy animal for the Mayan people. This is also the case for some of the Mayan temples in Mexico. How CRAZY is that!

Temple III (Temple of the Jaguar Priest)

Temple III (the Temple of the Jaguar Priest) stands 55 metres (180 ft) tall, and was the last of the major structures built at Tikal, around 869 AD.

Temple IV

Temple IV is the tallest and most voluminous buildings of Tikal (even of the whole Maya world), rising 64,5 metres (212 ft) above the ground! You can see the top of the pyramid towering over the rainforest from far away. This temple was used as a filming location (“Yavin 4”) for the movie Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. In the specific scene, temples I, II and III are in the background as the Millennium Falcon is flying towards the camera on Temple IV. Love this :D !

Temple V

Temple V is 57 metres (187 ft) high, and you can reach the top by a very steep ladder on the left side of the pyramid. From the top you have an amazing view over the famous Tikal panorama.

Wildlife

But what makes the Tikal experience so unique are the various sounds of the wildlife calling this place their home. It’s what distincts this mystical site from similar ones around the globe. Many rare species can be spotted in abundance at Tikal National Park. So while you’re wandering around the temples you’ll hear and see howler monkeys, spider monkeys, toucans, white-nosed coatis, parrots, ocellated turkeys and many many more. AWESOME!

Quick Tips:

The best place to visit Tikal National Park from is the vibrant town of Flores. Tikal is just an 1,5 hour busride away from here (price 60 – 100 quetzales).
The park is open from 6:00 am till 6:00 pm and the entrance fee is 150 quetzales.
Good shoes are essential, as the walking time in between temples can be 15-30 minutes!
The earlier you visit the ruins, the better. Watching the sunrise over Tikal and listening to the forest coming to life is an amazing experience. Dawn is also the best time to see birds and animals.

Looking for another place to visit in Guatemala? How about a visit to the beautiful mayan villages around Lake Atitlan!