Tikal Travel Guide

Located in the north of the Department of Petén, 65 kilometers from Flores city, it is part of Mayan Biosphere Reserve. It is the only region of the world that has been declared both Cultural and Natural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO. Tikal was one of the most important urban centers of the Mayan area during its time, if not the most important.

Some 10 square miles of central Tikal have been mapped, revealing over 3000 separate buildings: temples, shrines, ceremonial platforms, small and mid-sized residences, ball courts, terraces, causeways and plazas. Concentrated in and about the ceremonial precincts are over 200 stone monuments; that is, carved and plain stele and altars. Such statistics only hint at the enormity and richness of Tikal, especially when one realizes how small a percentage of the site has been excavated. The massive ruins of Tikal are concentrated at the center of the Tikal National Park (222 square miles). The site is full of roads and trails that lead to all the major archaeological groups.

The lush vegetation of the forest in the area of Tikal ranges from huge trees measuring up to 150 feet in height, to a great variety of dwarf and tall palms. Looped throughout the forest are endless hanging vines known as lianas. Two hundred and eighty-five species of birds have been recorded to date in Tikal. These include blue and white herons, hawks, parrots, turkeys, buzzards and hummingbirds. Large bands of spider monkeys populate Tikal. Beyond the Tikal settlement are plentiful populations of jaguar, puma and ocelot, as well as peccary, small deer and, as may be expected, snakes, for the most part harmless.