Tikal National Park
Tikal National Park is one of the most important Mayan sites. It is located in the Peten department and was created in May 1955. In 1979 it was declared Cultural and Natural World Heritage by UNESCO. It occupies an area of 576 KM². Tikal is considered one of the most important natural and cultural reserves in Guatemala due to its great variety of flora and fauna, and also the countless Mayan remains found there.

Inside the park you will find the Tikal Archeological Sites. The mapped area is 16 KM² and has over 4,000 structures or buildings of various kinds. The first evidences of occupation go back to 800 BC. This period of time is identified as Middle Pre-classic. The youngest constructions found correspond to the Late Classic period, about 900 years after Christ. These 1,500 consecutive years of occupation gave Tikal high cultural, artistic and architectural status. And it was among the most developed in terms of urban, mathematical, astronomical, agricultural and commercial knowledge.

Discover Tikal National Park
There are several squares in Tikal. Between the most important squares you will find are: Gran Plaza (Grand Square), this is the main plaza and is the center of the entire archeological site (we suggest to visit this square at the end of your visit so you go first to the less important temples and end with the best of them). Other squares include the great pyramid or Lost World, the Square of the Seven Temples, the East Square and the West Square.

In Tikal there are six big temples, all of them built during the Late Classic period: Temple I called Temple of the Grand Jaguar, Temple II called Temple of the Masks, Temple III called Temple of the Great Priest, Temple IV, called Temple of the two-headed Snake, Temple V and Temple called Temple of the Inscriptions.

There are also several Complexes, acropolis, roadways and places of interest that complete the archeological site.

Tourist assistance phone number: 1500

Highlights
The must see places in Tikal are the Grand square, Lost World and Temple IV. If you have time or you are lodging inside the park you can go to the entrance of the park at 16 km from the parking lot, and enjoy the canopy tour which will give you an entirely new perspective of this vast tropical rain forest.

The essentials of Tikal:
1) Grand Square
2) Temple IV
3) Canopy
4) Museum
5) Flores Island

Grand Square
It’s located at the epicenter of the entire site and is the most spectacular part of the architectural complex of Tikal, the product of more than a thousand years of constructive activities. To the North, the square is bordered by a row of carved stelae and altars, which contain a big part of the dynastic sequence of Tikal. Immediately to the North stands the complex of ceremonial buildings named the North Acropolis, which also functioned as a mausoleum of the governing families. To the South, and against the ceremonial part, stands another complex of structures like palaces, named Central Acropolis, which was a residential and/ or administrative quarter. The East side is occupied by Temple I or Grand Jaguar and a ball court of small dimensions, and to the West stands Temple II or Temple of the Masks.

Temple IV
It’s also called Temple of the two-headed Snake. It’s located to the West of the Grand Square and is 65 m high, being the tallest structure in Tikal. It was built around 740 A.C. by the ruling Yik’in Chan K’awiil (also known as Yaxkin Caan Chac, Señor B, 734-746). The visitor can climb to the base of the crest and have a beautiful view of Tikal. To the South of this temple there is a rest house with toilets.

Canopy
Fly from one tree to another, Tarzan like, but safely and with the support of harnesses and two professional guides. The ride covers a distance of 1.3 kilometers or a little less than a mile. The Tikal Canopy Tour consists of a total of 10 platforms connecting 9 zip lines of 75, 100, 150 and 200 meters long, at an altitude of 25 to 30 meters above the forest floor!

Museums in Tikal
There are two museums inside the Tikal National Park; the Stelae museum and the Sylvannus G. Morley Museum.

The Sylvannus G. Morley museum is situated to your left as you face the entrance to the site. Here you will be able to find a reconstruction of the tomb and burial goods of Ha Sawa Chaan K’awil one of the great builders of Tikal. Replica of the jade found in the tomb can also be seen here (the original can be found in the National Museum, Guatemala City)

The Stelae Museum was a project to rescue important stelae from the natural elements. You'll also find a reproduction of one of Tikal's most famous images, the bound captive. The bound captive is a powerful warrior, standing, seen in profile, which looks down with chagrin to his bound wrists.

Both museums are open from 8:00am to 6:00pm. The Steal Museum has a cost of 10 GTQ (around US$1.30)

Flores Island
The Island of Flores is located at approximately 60km from Tikal on Lake Peten Itza and it is a great option for a short visit. It possesses 19^th and 20^th Century architecture: with Moorish influence, English Victorian and Caribbean influence and other styles of the place. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway.  Flores hosts a historic church and aa plaza, many charming hotels, restaurants and bars, as well as a ceramics museum and a small zoo situated nearby the island. The island is a good option for night life with several restaurants and bars.

Full-day excursions

Tikal Tour
The best way to see the ruins is with a guide so you do not get lost and miss some of the temples and sites, you will also be able to learn more about the site.

Canopy Tour
Reserving your Canopy tour is the best way to enjoy your trip, if you are staying inside Tikal the administration of the Canopy picks you up from the hotel. If you are staying in Flores, the best way is to do the Canopy tour before going inside the park so you will enjoy it more.

Tour to other Archeological sites
There are other archeological sites in the Peten area, tours are available on request. Between the sites you will find: Ceibal, Aguateca, Yaxha and Topoxte, El Mirador (by helicopter), and Uaxactun.

Sunrise or Sunset tours
The best moment to enjoy the birds and animals is early morning or late afternoon, when the park has fewer people. This tours are great options if you are staying overnight inside the park. Just have in mind that seen the Sunrise or Sunset could be hard since most of the times its cloudy.