Tikal
Many people who travel to Belize are repeat visitors. Although each time they visit this diverse country their taste for adventure is satiated, they are left wanting more, and they are lured back to explore more of what holds their heart captive, be it the tropical beaches, the deep blue Caribbean waters or jungles that harbor exotic creatures and nestle the secrets of past civilizations. Belize has left them spellbound…and they hunger for more.
For those who are intrigued by the Mayan mystic, Belize and her neighbors cradle the archeological remains of the ancient Mayan people. The Mundo Maya covers a territory of over 5,000 square kilometers which is now occupied by five southern Mexico states, and the Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. In this land of great contrasts, where rivers and mountains intertwine with jungle and sea, the Mayan civilization developed three thousand years ago. It is one of the most outstanding cultures of ancient times. Today, the massive temples and ceremonial centers built by these people are impressive archeological sites. But the Mayan culture does not belong in a museum; it lives and breathes in the people who populate the Mundo Maya and who adhere to ancient customs through their art, religion and agriculture.
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Tikal is the largest excavated site in the American continent, and is Guatemala’s most famous cultural and natural preserve.
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The world of Maya has many faces; the steaming tropical jungles, gently sloping farmlands and harsh savannah flatlands are as much a part of its character as are the towering mountain ranges, soaring volcanic peaks, and sun kissed Caribbean beaches. It is a utopia for divers, a haven for adventurous travelers and a fertile source of biological and ethnic diversity for historian and ecologists. Charming colonial towns appear at every turn, and ultramodern resorts co-exist with tiny indigenous villages. To explore these lands is to take a step back in time while walking with the very people who are of same Mayan blood that first built these forgotten cities. These people still bear the family resemblance of classic Mayan royalty, portrayed in their sculptured faces and proud stature.
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Stone pathways lead you through lush landscapes at the Hotel Jungle Lodge.
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Perhaps the most impressive of all Mayan ruins is Tikal, located at Tikal National Park in the district of Petén, Guatemala. Tikal is the largest excavated site in the American continent. It is Guatemala’s most famous cultural and natural preserve. Tikal possesses a certain magic…like all puzzles without answers, it fascinates everyone and is so enchanting that once you are there, you will find yourself captivated by the mesmerizing culture and complex society of this intriguing civilization.
Depending on what your time and budget allows, there are a variety of ways that you can travel to Tikal. If you are staying in San Pedro you can either fly or take the water taxi to Belize City. From there you can travel by road in a car or charter ground transportation.
