Tikal National Park — Attraction in Flores

The place it's AMAZING! But: the local people who live there and work, are rude so much, group of scammers . Since i step at that place, they offer me a guy who's gonna take me to the mayas place with a price 500 que. I didn't accept at front bcs was a big rain, so I waited for a while watching around. Then some random guy who work there too offer me price 350 que, I accepted, explaining me like you don't know the trail, you can be lost, can take over 6 ours. If you go with him should be "3 ours". Then the first guy who asked me at front, offer me for 250 que, (I didn't accept), so looks like no regular price, they trying to scam you as much they can.

Next thing, u start walking, passing the ramp, and then 10 feet's after he say, there is optional for a big car they can drive us and save about 30 min walking, you pay him with tip (but you don't need to pay nothing bcs including in your price that u pay for entrance at front). The car drop us like 3 min walking from main point there, you have sings and u can do by yourself easy, and a lot of groups of people (weekends) that you can folow. So actually without car it's walking 40 min max in one way.

Next thing, restaurant next to ramp. After u order a drink or food (expensive), you will ask for WI-FI obviously, bcs you are in the middle of jungle, and your internet it's not gonna work. They say, you have to pay for internet extra, no matter bcs u order something. But before that, they told me, order and you gonna get internet.

Buses, if you doing tours by yourself, from airport to Tikal, you don't have regular bus, just "taxi" local groups of people trying to charge a big amount of money. First offer 500, second 400, then I accepted for 350, ( some of them doing for less, I found that later).

Commercial bus for way back to Flores it's not gonna move if is not full of people, so you could wait over 3 ours (like me), bcs it's not taxi or some like that.

The guy who lead me to main point in Jungle, offers me YAXHA, for next day for 2 of us 1300 que. 3 ours later if found at Google you can find options for 200 each que... But he said usually they charge 2k que 🤣🤣

The way how they talk to you, watching you, and talking at your back bcs they thought I can't understand Spanish it's horrible.

In the end, place it's amazing, jungle, animals...Get the tour with some agency if you don't wanna deal with those people, and you dony have to worry about transportation, leaders for jungle, and anything there. And make reservations from some of apps at flores, dont ask in a front, they overcharge for everything, special if you are not Hispanic 😁 (Local people 25 que entrance,...

One of the most unforgettable places I have ever visited on planet Earth is Tikal, nestled deep within the heart of a lush, vibrant jungle in Guatemala. We arrived there just after a refreshing rainstorm, which had left the entire area smelling fresh and the greenery even more alive and vivid. The air was filled with the sounds of dripping leaves and distant calls of exotic birds, creating an atmosphere that felt almost magical.

What made the experience truly special was that we had almost the entire site to ourselves, allowing us to explore the ancient ruins in a peaceful, almost reverent silence. Walking among the towering pyramids, temples, and plazas that once stood as a thriving city of the ancient Maya was awe-inspiring. The intricate carvings and massive stone structures told stories of a rich history and advanced civilization that thrived over a thousand years ago. Every step felt like stepping back in time, and I couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the ancient builders.

During our exploration, we also enjoyed the lively sounds of the jungle, and to our delight, we saw howler monkeys and spider monkeys swinging effortlessly through the treetops. Watching these playful creatures in their natural habitat added an extra layer of wonder to the experience, reminding us of the jungle’s vibrant biodiversity. Their calls echoed through the canopy, blending seamlessly with the sounds of the rain and the wind.

Visiting Tikal was more than just an archaeological tour; it was a journey into history, nature, and adventure all rolled into one incredible experience. The sense of mystery and ancient grandeur combined with the lively jungle environment made it a truly unforgettable destination. I left with a deep appreciation for the ancient Maya civilization and a renewed love for the natural world surrounding it. It’s a place I will always cherish and look forward to visiting...

The unbelievable lost city of Tikal or how to feel like Indiana Jones for a day...

Located in the middle of the rainforest of Petén (North of Guatemala), the ruin of the ancient city that used to be called "Yax Mutal" is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. The site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage in 1979.

Archaeologists found traces of early agriculture at the site dating as far back as 1000 BC. Major constructions of Tikal were reported to be dated around 400–300 BC, including the building of major pyramids and platforms. At its peak (700 to 830 AD), the population within a radius of 25 km around Tikal is estimated to have reached 425'000 habitants! This number, although considered too high by some specialists, is particularly impressive knowing the extensive swamplands in this region that were unsuitable for agriculture or habitation.

Tikal and its immediate surroundings seem to have lost most of their population between 830 and 950 AD and central authority seems to have collapsed rapidly. However, no one knows for certain what caused its demise so the mystery remains.

Knowledge of the site was never completely lost by the local people. Because of its remoteness from modern towns, however, no explorers visited Tikal until Modesto Méndez and Ambrosio Tut, respectively the commissioner and the governor of Petén, in 1848.

Fun facts: George Lucas used Tikal location for the fictional planetary moon of Yavin IV in the first ever released Star Wars film, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977). The main pyramide of Tikal was also used in the James Bond film Moonraker (1979), staring Roger Moore. More recently, Tikal was the basis for Mel Gibson’s Mayan film...