Visiting the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal in Guatemala was the definate highlight of my trip. I got a bus from Belize City to Flores, Guatemala for $20 US. Flores is an interesting place to visit and great base for day trips to the Tikal National Park. Its a small island on a freshwater lake with lots of tourist amenities See the map and aerial photo below.
Flores is about an hours drive from Tikal National Park
The small island of Flores - very walkable
Once our bus arrived in Flores, I found an inexpensive hotel for $9 per night. I arrived in Flores late in the afternoon, and decided not to go to Tikal the next morning. The next day was spent exploring this small island and checking out connections to Tikal and my onward tickets.
In checking around, I discovered that the one-day entrance ticket to Tikal National Park was $20 US and that if my admission was purchased after 3pm, it was also good for the following day. I decided to take an afternoon bus to the ruins and also arrange transport to the park for the following day. The bus was $9 with an open schedule for returning. It was about an hour ride each way to get from Flores to Tikal.
I got to Tikal about 4 pm in the afternoon (park closes at 6pm) and left the parking lot with a brisk walk. I didn't want to waste too much time. The parking lot and visitor center is not close to the main ruins - it is about a 15 to 20 minute walk on a rocky trail through the jungle to get to the ruins. The jungle trail had lots of tree cover and it was approaching sunset. In the distance I could see an open area with sunlight streaming through. When I got to this sunny meadow, I got my first view of the main ruins -- the back side of the of the main Tikal temple - the Jaguar Tower. It was very impressive at 44 meters high.
After finishing the approach trail through the jungle you arrive at the base of the Jaguar Tower (back side)
The ruins of Tikal cover a huge area and most of the structures remain unexcavated. The Mayan city had between 100,000 and 200,00 inhabitants at its peak during the fifth century AD, more than London, Rome, or Paris. The residential area of the city is estimated to cover over 20 square miles.
A short walk took me to the Great Plaza. I climbed on the north Acropolis and Tower II. I heard many howler monkeys close-by in the jungle. As the sun went down, most tourists were making their way out of the plaza and things started getting very still. Now there were only about a half dozen tourists around in the dimming light and I thought I had better start walking back to the trail since I didn't bring my flashlight. I made it back to the parking lot just as darkness hit. Our bus stayed till the last people arrived at the parking lot and we were the last vehicle to leave that day.
My Next Morning and Day at Tikal
The next day I had an early morning pickup to return to Tikal. I left my hotel at 5:30 and we circulated Flores for awhile picking up other passengers. Our small bus got to the park about 7 am and I had a full breakfast at the park's restaurant. Then it was another 20 minute walk on the trail to get to the Great Plaza. On the jungle trail there was only one guy in front of me but when I arrived at the plaza, he decided to go further on to Temple IV for the view from the highest temple. That left me alone -- the only person in the middle of Tikal's Great Plaza -- for about 15 minutes until the next group of tourists appeared. Un-peopled, quiet and serene, great early-morning light, lots of birdsong. This was the type of unique and magical experience which makes world travel so special !
Jaguar Tower - 44 meters high
North Acropolis from the Grand Plaza
Looking to North Acropolis and the Grand Plaza - Jaguar Tower on the right
North Acropolis from Tower II
Tower IV(66 meters high) emerging from the jungle - View from Tower II
I spent all morning and much of the afternoon exploring the ruins, climbing on temples and pyramids and taking photos. I looked at my park map and found an area of ruins that I had not explored. This was called "Mundo Perdido" or "lost world". My favorite building area of this place was Temple V. It was a steep pyramid with a wooden staircase on the side for tourists to ascend and decend. I met a group of Italian college students and they were having an outragous time climbing these stairs and goofing around on top. I had reservations about climbing to the top, but after pondering this for awhile, concluded ther was no way I could walk away and not experience this temple from the top. Climbing it was so steep that the stair was more of a ladder than a stair, but it was well constructed of solid mohagany wood so it was very stable. I actually got the feeling of being very exposed to altitude from the top - there were no safety railings here and the angle was very steep. The view from here of the other Tikal temples rising above the jungle canopy was great.
Stairway brings you to the top of Temple V
Jungle and temple view from the top of Temple V
I got back to Flores around 5 pm in the afternoon and concluded this was a very successful travel day. Wow.
On Top of Tower II at Tikal National Park - Jaguar Tower behind me
The next day I had an early morning (5 am) minibus pickup to leave Flores for Honduras. Continue the trip descrption on to Copan.