Maya Temple “Tikal” (Guatemala)

• Tours from Cayo

Tikal Maya Temple in Guatemala

With over 3000 structures, Tikal Maya Temple is a National Monument and Cultural World Heritage Site.  It is an extraordinary archaeological Mayan tour to experience.  The temples of Tikal are built from limestone, and include the remains of temples that tower over 70 meters high!  The site also showcases large royal palaces, palaces, residences, administrative buildings, platforms and inscribed stone monuments.  In 1979, Tikal was declared a UNESCO world heritage site.   According to Archaeologists, Tikal was the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya, and one of the largest archaeological sites of the pre-Columbian Maya Civilization.  There are traces of early agriculture in Tikal that dates as far as 1000 BC.  Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period and during this time the city dominated much of the Mesoamerican region politically, economically and militarily.  The dynastic line of Tikal, founded as early as the 1st century AD, spanned 800 years and included at least 33 rulers.  Evidence shows that Tikal was conquered by Teotihuacan in the 4th century CE.  Following the end of the Late Classic Period, no new major monuments were built at Tikal, and there is evidence that elite palaces were burned. These events were coupled with a gradual population decline, culminating with the site’s abandonment by the end of the 10th century.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikal

source: Blog

Tikal Maya Temple from San Ignacio Overview:

Your Tikal Maya Temple tour experience starts with an early morning pickup at your hotel.  After a short drive you will arrive at the Belize / Guatemala border.  Here you will exit the vehicle and head through the quick and easy Immigration process at both the Belize and Guatemala border control agents.  Present your passports and pay your country exit fees.  Upon completion of this process (which may vary in time based on traffic at the border), your guide will introduce you to your Guatemalan driver.  Board this vehicle for the transfer to Tikal which is approximately 2 hours driving distance.  Upon arrival at the Park, enjoy a guided tour of the site with your knowledgeable, English-speaking guide.  Enjoy a traditional Guatemalan lunch before heading back.  On your return at the border, your Belize guide will meet you and escort you through the process of returning to Belize.  The process is simple, quick and easy and enjoyed by thousands of persons every year!

Tikal Maya Temple Tour Location:

Tikal is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala. Situated in the department of El Petén, the site is part of Guatemala’s Tikal National Park.  The Tikal National Park covers an area of 575.83 square kilometers and was created on May 26 1955 under the auspices of the Instituto de Antropologia e Historia and was the first protected area in Guatemala.  Tikal is just two hours away from the Belizean border and remains one of the most popular attractions in Guatemala. Almost any traveler who visits the western part of Belize travels to Guatemala for the day to visit this majestic Maya site.

Level: Easy – Moderate (walking and climbing)