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Tikal
Tikal is the most impressive city of the ancient Mayan world and an absolute must. It doesn’t get much better than this – an enormous site, encroached by tropical forest with steep pyramid temples that pierce the jungle canopy. Watching the sun set from temple 4 as you hear the booming roar of the Howler Monkeys is a magical experience.
The towering mega temples cover an area of 3 square kilometres and were shrines to the glorious dead and Mayan gods. In its heyday over 100,000 people lived and worshipped here. The decline of the Mayans is a mystery that left the city abandoned in the 10thcentury only to be rediscovered in 1848.
Flores is your gateway to the various Mayan sites and jungle of the Peten region. It is a charming little Spanish colonial town crowded onto an island hill in Lake Peten Itza, only a one hour drive from Tikal. You can fly from the capital or travel overland via Livingston on the beautiful Caribbean coast. THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Below are some examples of what you can do, though we can tailor any itinerary to suit your interests.
Tikal. Tikal is a captivating and fascinating site amid natural beauty. The site can be visited in one day but we recommend you spend two full days. Sunset from the top of temple 4 is a memorable experience. Yaxha. The third largest Mayan site in the country, Yaxha has a twin pyramid complex, nine acropolis and more than 500 structures. Temple 216 offers a wonderful view of the lake and surrounding rainforest. It is located on the shores of a peaceful lake just one hour from Flores. Uaxactun. Uaxactun (pronounced Wash-ak-toon) was a major Mayan city & is situated about 12 miles north of Tikal. Uaxactun was inhabited from the Middle Formative Period but flourished mainly from 500 AD to 900 AD. Along with other evidence, these dates prove that Uaxactun existed longer than any other Mayan city, possibly from as early as 900 BC. It was named Uaxactun, which means “eight stones,”
Ceibal. The impressive ruins of Ceibal are upriver from Sayaxche & served as a tollgate for barges running the river in ancient Maya times. Its beauty has much to do with the jungle surroundings of the rainforest’s seemingly infinite web of life. The site’s archaeological attractions include many restored temples, plazas & intricately carved stelae, each of which show a profound influence predominantly from the Toltec’s.
Recommended lodges in this area:
Tikal
This is one of three Francis Ford Coppala properties, of which La Lancha was the first. Situated on the northern side of the lake and nestled within the surrounding jungle, this is undoubtedly the best option in the area
Tikal
Situated inside the Tikal national park, this is the most convenient option for exploring the ancient Mayan city of Tikal - it is just twenty minutes walk from the centre of the ruins. This means that you can spend the whole day enjoying Tikal
Tikal
For us, the attraction of Villa Maya is its communal areas and location. Situated on the edge of the lake approximately 20 minutes drive from the busy town of Flores, makes it feel like more of a hide away. The open plan of the reception, bar and restaurant
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