Tikal

About

Tikal was one of the largest and most powerful of the ancient Mayan kingdoms during the 1st millennium AD, and some of its buildings date back to the 4th century BC. Like the rest of the Mayan empire’s lowland cities, Tiak was completely abandoned at the end of the 10th century. Though the site was never fully lost to local knowledge, but official archaeological expeditions didn’t begin until the second half of the 19th century. Today, the ruins are perhaps the most iconic in Guatemala. The steep pyramids towering above the lush jungle aren’t just a beautiful sight for history lovers, Star Wars fans will get a kick out of the view from atop Temple IV - this is the same jungle panorama where we see the ‘Falcon arrive at the rebel base on Yavin IV. It’s recommended you buy a guide book or arrange for a guided tour to fully appreciate the site’s history. Entrance tickets are 150 GTQ and are cash only. There are no ATMs on site, so be sure to take out money in advance. For more information, please visit www.tikalnationalpark.org