Tikal National Park

Tikal National Park
Photo by Els Slots.

Tikal National Park comprises the remains of a major center of the Maya civilization, located within a forest that is rich in animal and plant diversity.

Tikal was one of the most important political, economic and military centres of the Ancient Maya, who reigned over large parts of the region during its heydays between 200 and 900. The site shows different stages of their evolution, resulting in monumental structures such as pyramids, temples, ball courts, stone stelae, water reservoirs and a network of causeways (sacbe). Animals include jaguar, puma, tapir, howler monkeys, anteaters, crocodiles, and more than 300 bird species.

Community Perspective: "You get it all at Tikal": the main ruins are spectacular and its rainforest environment is still intact. Allow at least 2 days. It is also directly accessible by public transport.

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Els Slots

The Netherlands - 21-Mar-22 -

Tikal National Park by Els Slots

Since my previous visit, 25 years ago, I had forgotten what Tikal looked like. It has a real ‘lost city’ feel, especially at the main plaza. With its white stucco elements and honeycomb towers, it has a different architectural style than the other Maya sites. There’s much more to see than the pyramids: I encountered petroglyphs, steam baths, water reservoirs (Tikal had no access to water other than what was collected from rainwater), stelae, giant stucco masks, and historical graffiti too. Howler monkeys, Geoffroy’s spider monkeys, coatis (pizotes), and agoutis are mammals that are easily seen as well.

This time I explored the park in 2 sessions, from 14-17 on the first day and the next day from 6-10. I stayed overnight near the entrance at the Tikal Inn. I walked 10 and 12kms respectively during these visits, and believe to have covered all there is to see. Maps.me works and will show the approximate location of all structures (the connecting smaller paths aren’t displayed that accurately). The way to the Exit (Salida) is always signposted. There aren’t special Covid measures at the site, which is mostly unsupervised anyway. Especially the morning session was very quiet, with hardly any other visitors around.

My Highlights

  • View above the canopy from the Mundo Perdido pyramid (it’s also the only place where your phone will pick up a 4g signal),
  • Palace of the Grooves (building with grooved vertical panels, entered via a narrow passageway),
  • Complex Q (twin pyramids built to celebrate the end of a katun, a 20-year period; including stelae and altars),
  • Temple V (the first big temple to be built, in 600 AD; pictured),
  • The twin towers at the Main Plaza.

Getting there on public transport
Minivans by a company called Atim leave a few times per day from the central bus terminal in Santa Elena (Flores). Enter the terminal, exit again unto the parking lot of the buses and go all the way to the left, around the corner. The office of Atim is the penultimate, next to Cristobal Colon. Don’t listen to people telling you that the public buses won’t run or “have just left”, especially not to that guy from Mundo Maya who has a loud presence at the bus station. When you can’t find it, ask around for buses to Remate, as the word “Tikal” alone brings dollar signs into the eyes of many. My 10 a.m. bus took 1.5 hours, cost 50Q and it stopped at the park gate to let you buy the entrance tickets to Tikal.

Read more from Els Slots here.


Frédéric M

Canada - 10-Nov-19 -

Tikal National Park by Frédéric M

Tikal was the last major prehispanic archeological site I visited on my Mexico-Guatemala-Belize trip last winter. And it was the best one!

The size of the site (gigantic), the number of pyramids and structure (numerous), the quality of the pyramids (amazing) and the wildlife (abundant) cannot be compared with other sites (even with Palenque). Me and my friend visited on a tour book at our hostel in Flores. We didn't took the sunrise tour, but rather the early bird one arriving in Tikal for opening. I think it's the best time to visit as it is not a ridiculously early wake-up, the crowds are still manageable and the wildlife is active. Our tour last half a day, and we head back to Flores at noon.

The most interesting complexes are la Gran Plaza, el Mundo Perdido, la Plaza de los Siete Templos and el Templo IV. It's a good idea to have a guide here to truly understand the site. Many pyramids and temples can be climbed on wooden structures. The view from la Gran Piramide de Mundo Perdido and from el Templo IV are nice. It's also nice to climb on Templo II and on both Acropolis Norte y Central to get the view over la Gran Plaza.

Wildlife we spotted include a lot of coatis, an agouti and howler and spider monkeys. Even without binoculars, we spotted 19 bird species, including cool ones such as great curassow, ocellated turkey, limpkin, slaty-tailed trogon, black-headed trogon, collared aracari, keel-billed toucan, orange-breasted falcon, red-lored amazon and montezuma oropendola.

In brief, Tikal deserves its world wonder status as one of the greatest prehispanic archeological site and a hotspot for North American tropical biodiversity. A must-see!


Dennis Nicklaus

19-Feb-19 -

Tikal National Park by Dennis Nicklaus

Tikal was the first ancient Maya site that I ever visited, and it remains my favorite one. I've since visited about 20 others, but Tikal still stands above them all.   The combination of the lush jungle and the steep pyramids poking above the canopy with their delicate roof combs above the  top temple rooms was just fantastic.  I loved the combination of the imposing pyramids with the detailed hieroglyphic stellae and the occasional giant stucco mask.  You get it all at Tikal, whereas other places, like Calakmul, for example, disappointed me a little because it didn't have much of the finer art, like stellae, while it had plenty of impressive massive buildings.  When we visited Tikal (1988) you could still climb on any of the structures, although a couple of them required getting up some rickety wooden ladders. I still remember how scary it was to climb the very narrow steps and having respect for the ancient Maya who had to ascend and descend these staircases routinely


Clyde

Malta - 20-Feb-16 -

Tikal National Park by Clyde

I visited this WHS in December 2015. I drove from Palenque to Tikal by car through the El Ceibo border. Tikal is definitely Guatemala's highlight and one of the best WHS I've visited so far. The rainforest environment is still intact although the central plaza has been cleared. However, 'VIP service' buses/vans should not be allowed inside the historical area proper as is currently done from the back roads for the older wealthy tourists. However, apart from this practice, the main ruins are spectacular as are the minor ones still full of scrub and overcome by the jungle. Tikal is the best preserved example of an ancient Mayan city. Climbing is prohibited mainly on Temple I although access to the other main temple structures is gained by climbing wooden stairs on the back of the structures. As always, birdlife and fauna is most 'active' at sunrise/sunset. It's worth staying at least 2-3 days to be able to enjoy the park at different times of the day. The sunrise hype can easily be skipped as it's the only time when the site is really packed and since it is frequently misty, there is nothing you'd miss if instead you stay in the lodge in the national park (except the crowds and the early wake up call at 03:30!).


Emilia Bautista King

U.S.A. - 27-Feb-06 -

Tikal was a highlight of my 2-week stay in Guatemala. Before I left for Guatemala, I saw a travel program on TV about pyramids and it stated that the pyramids at Tikal were superior to those in Egypt. Since I haven't been to Egypt, I can't say I agree or disagree. The view from Temple IV is amazing. I also enjoyed the walk through the jungle in order to get to the North Acropolis. I was delighted by the spider monkeys and toucans!


Site Info

Full Name
Tikal National Park
Unesco ID
64
Country
Guatemala
Inscribed
1979
Type
Mixed
Criteria
1 3 4 9 10
Categories
Archaeological site - Pre-Columbian
Link
By ID

Site History

1979 Inscribed

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The site has 1 locations

Tikal National Park

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A. Mehmet Haksever ALS Adam Hancock Alberto Rodriguez Gutierrez Alfons and Riki Verstraeten Ali Zingstra Alicemears AndreaTLV Andrew Wembridge Ani AniaCh Artur Anuszewski Ask Gudmundsen Atila Ege Bamse Bas Bob Parda Boroka Szamosi Bram de Bruin Carlo Medina Carlos Caminando Carlos Sotelo CascadianRain Christine Schmit Cirene Moraes ClaireSpeedie Clem C Comensal Coppi Ctravel DOn Szumowski Dan Pettigrew Dan1306 Dani Cyr Daniela Hohmann Dave wood Dennis Nicklaus Djohns03 Don Irwin Donald M Parrish Jr Donia Donnico Dutchbirder EDC Els Slots Emilia Bautista King Eric Lurio Eric PK Erik Jelinek Eternalarrival Eva Kisgyorgy FGKJR1492X Fan Yibo Fderuet Feldhase Fernweh Fmannucci Francky D'Hoop Frédéric M G.L. Ingraham Garrett Gary Arndt Geographybuff George Evangelou GeorgeIng61 GerhardM Gerlach Gernot Gi Glendaviste Gordon Mitchell Hanming Harald T. Harry Mitsidis Hdhuntphotography Homadism Howard Howard Brayer Hsjamsil Hungarian Geographic Iain Jackson Ilya Burlak Irena Klementov Iriss Izzet Ege J Mitchell Janklak Jarek Pokrzywnicki Jaroslav Klement Javier Coro Jennifer Prout Jens Jezza Jgera Jon Bauer Jonathanfr Jos Schmitz Jose Josef Mikus Joshuakirbens Josie Borst João Aender Jrsbrgmn Jsalda Jsrinivasan Judith Tanner JudyWalsh KAO Kasienka5 Kasper Keith90245 Kelly Henry Kelseyyurek Keqi Kinstell Kjdavis Kurt Lauer LaVale Lameduck99 Larry F Leontine Helleman Loic Pedras Longdutch Lorenzo Mejino Loscuernos@gmx.de Lovinfosse@gmail.com Lucas Del Puppo Lukasz Palczewski MMM Mahuhe Malcolm Turner Malgorzata Kopczynska Marcobrey Mardigny Markus Marleen Speelman-Kooijmans Marta Lempert Matthewsharris MaxHeAnouBen Maxine Eisenberg Michael Ayers Michael Cummings Michael Novins Michael Turtle Michael anak Kenyalang Michal Kozok Michal Marciniak Mikek Mikeupowers Mikko Milan Jirasek Miriam laschever Misswanderlust MoPython Monika and Rini Morodhi Mr20170 Nanvano Nihal Ege Nomad99 Pascal Cauliez Patrick Matgen Patrik Paul RYKEN Paul Schofield Paw90 Persian Globetrotter Philipp Leu Pieter Dijkshoorn Pink Bunny Plutomu Pontobaggins Ralf Rotheimer Randi Thomsen Ray matlock Red Reza Richardleesa Rickard Alfredsson RobRos Roberto Diaz Roger Ourset Roland Roman Bruehwiler Roman Raab Royacurt Rswood Ruben Mend Rudegirl Rvieira Ryan Oliver Ryan watkins Ryan09sb S1m0n3t4 SHIHE HUANG Santiago Lafuente Sascha Grabow Seadie Sergio Arjona Shannon O'Donnell Simmot2019Z Simonf Sliny Sncjob Solivagant Stanislaw Warwas Sumo446595@hotmail.com Susan Stair Sutul Suzanne Suzy OBrien Svein Elias Szucs Tamas Tamara Ratz Tammy Gouldstone Timothy C Easton Tonioto Traveling Girl Trevni Trine Truls Brekke Tsunami Uwebart ValiaVeweth Vanessacmc Viaje al Patrimonio Vidiot Vino4vino Virp VisionMX123 Walter Waxwing Westwards Wieland Willc1515 Wolfgang Sander Worldstuwim Wouter Xavier b Yellowjohn Zizmondka Zoë Sheng