Tikal
Trip Start
Nov 29, 2007
1
94
115
Trip End
Jun 24, 2008
Where I stayed
Hotel Mirador de Lago
Tikal National Park,
Tikal National Park,
Guatemala
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
We are so glad we did as the Palenque ruins were beautiful, peaceful
and really interesting. The Mayan people date back to 100BC and by the
Preclassic Period (around AD250) the Maya people were already building
temple pyramids, of which there are many still remaining in Tikal. A
typical Maya city functioned as the religious, political and market hub
for surrounding farming hamlets. The Mayan empire stretched from Mexico
down to northern Guatemala and Honduras
A Toucan!!!! Finally!!!!
. There is a famous route, knownas the Ruta Maya that you can follow to see all the main Mayan sites in
these countries, but we are only going to be seeing 3 of the main sites.
The
setting at Tikal is probably one of the most stunning things about it.
It is set in the heart of thick jungle and many animals still live in
the jungles around the ruins. You can walk up many of the ruins to get
a better view over the whole city and the surrounding jungle, it really
is stunning. But the pyramids are high and it was hot, very hot!!!
We
spent over 4 hours walking around this magnificent national park and
whilst doing so we saw loads of amazing birds, including a type of
Toucan!!!
Spider Monkeys
! It was not the classic type that we all know but it was coolnon the less! We saw loads of Spider Monkeys, really close up and a
Howler Monkey too.
I would highly recommend this park, it was
beautiful, but really big and spread out, so really peaceful too and
loads of wildlife to see. We did not have a guide, we had our book and
enjoyed learning about the Maya culture.
These Maya ruins, dating back to 100BC, I think it is probably the oldest ruins I have ever been to.
They were amazing, if you get the chance, do go, but don`t stay in Flores, just go for the day!!!!
