Discover Tikal and the Mayan World

Discover Tikal and the Mayan World

Traveling through Guatemala is a constant discovery of dazzling nature, incredible beauty, culture, and history. You find all this in wonderful destinations such as Lake Atitlán, or Antigua Guatemala, but it blends in a special way when you visit Tikal and the heart of the Mayan world.

Tikal is located in Peten, Guatemala, home to one of the most important rainforests in the Americas and the most important Mayan legacy on planet earth. The first thing you will notice when you enter this region of Guatemala is that it is covered with dense rainforest everywhere you look. This is really special because when you arrive to Tikal, Yahxá, or any Mayan ruin you visit, you will find a natural and wild scenery, along with Mayan structures with more than a thousand years of history.

Tikal National Park

Without a doubt Tikal is one of the places you have to visit in Guatemala. The Mayan ruins and ceremonial temples that this park houses and the nature that surrounds it is truly impressive. That's why Tikal National Park is considered a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Tikal is located in the north of Guatemala, 45 minutes by car from the island of Flores, 40 minutes from the Mundo Maya Airport, and 1 hour from San Ignacio, Belize. These are commonly the places that people take as a base for lodging, food and shopping when visiting Tikal. The reality is that the park is located in the middle of the jungle, literally, so although there are hotels inside the park, the vast majority of tourists seek to start from Flores or San Ignacio.

Currently, Tikal is an archeological site of great importance for Guatemala and for the Mayan history. However, at the time, Tikal was the most important city that the Mayas had in the region, practically building an advanced civilization with political, religious and social systems.

Tikal dates back to 1000 BC, but it is estimated that its origins date back to the fourth century BC. Over the centuries, what was once a great city was hidden beneath the jungle of Guatemala. It was not until the middle of the 19th century that excavation work began to recover the Mayan legacy of the site. And it was from that date that Tikal was declared a national park and has been promoted as a cultural, historical and tourist vestige for humanity.

When should you visit visit Tikal?

One thing you should know about Tikal, and in general about all the nearby archaeological sites, is that they are outdoors. You will be walking under trees hundreds of years old, and roads completely immersed in a tropical jungle. So the climate is a very important variable to take into account when visiting this destination.

In Guatemala there are primarily two seasons: the rainy season (winter) and the dry season (summer). The first generally lasts from May to October each year, and is a difficult time to visit Tikal. The rains start around noon and can last for several hours. So if you are outdoors, in a jungle, and without a rain shelter, it may be a less than pleasant experience.

Now the dry season in Guatemala is not as hot as in other parts of the tropics, but just in the northern part of Guatemala the story is different. In this part of the country the heat is intense, and being in a tropical zone the thermal sensation is even more intense. However, that doesn't mean you won't enjoy your visit, but you will definitely be sweating a lot during the whole visit.

So when is the best time to visit Tikal? It is definitely during January, February and March. It's just between the rainy season and the dry season in Guatemala, and it is also a time when there is not a large influx of tourists. So the experience can be enjoyed even more.

Upon arrival, you will find ruins more than 47 meters high.

What else to visit besides Tikal?

When you arrive in Tikal you will see that there are other famous reserves and attractions relatively close to where you are. These destinations are usually not as well known or marketed to foreigners, so you may not have heard of them. However, they are almost, if not quite as impressive as Tikal.

• Yahxá National Park

Yahxá Park is located very close to the Belize border, between the island of Flores and Melchor de Mencos Border. As with Tikal, you can reach the park from Flores or from San Ignacio, Belize. This park was once the capital of an extensive Mayan domain over the region, with pyramidal temples, epic urbanizations, palaces for rulers and religious temples.

The park is truly beautiful because it allows you to appreciate a delicate balance between nature, with its lagoons, wetlands and rainforest. And at the same time a pre-Hispanic cultural heritage that remains as a memory of what was once the great Mayan power. In addition, Yaxhá is considered one of the most beautiful sunsets in all of Central America.

• Crater Azul

Crater Azul in Petén is one of the least known tourist destinations by the general public. However, thanks to videos on social networks, like TikTok or Instagram, this destination has taken a great popularity among young people and backpackers who enjoy a unique destination in Guatemala.

This "crater" is more like a turquoise lagoon that connects with the La Pasión river, which allows an underwater garden to grow and beautify the landscape in a spectacular way. Visiting this tourist destination you will realize that the river tour is a worthwhile experience in itself, with birds, monkeys, lizards and other wildlife seen in their natural habitat.

Créditos: Banco Industrial de Guatemala

• Flores Island

Flores Island is a picturesque island at the head of Petén. It could be said that it is the capital of the state or department of Petén, so besides being an important tourist site it is also one of the closest cities to parks like Tikal or Yahxá.

That is why most tourists visiting Tikal and the Mayan world stay in hotels or hostels located in Flores. In addition, it has become a colorful town with fun bars, hostels and entertainment centers. And it is recognized for having a wide gastronomic variety within the island.

Créditos: Diario de Centro América

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