After meeting Toni and Scott and a day trip in Guatemala City, we hopped on a plane from Guatemala City to Flores, which is a small village in the north of Guatemala where there are some pretty incredible Mayan ruins in a place called Tikal. This portion of our trip didn't cost any extra as we booked the Panama City to Guatemala City to Flores portion using United MileagePlus miles (10,000 miles plus $55.95 in taxes per person). We had a stopover for about 9 hours in Guatemala City where we met Toni and Scott and were able to explore for a bit.
We arrived super late into Flores and Tikal and had booked a couple nights at one of the local hostels. It was a great location as we were literally able to walk to the ruins from there, but Eliza and Toni were a bit freaked out due to the fact that the place was pretty much in the jungle. Upon arrival, there were no lights...we had to enter using only flashlights as they shut off the generators at about 8:30pm. As we were checking the place out, we found a couple scorpions in the bathroom, which we took care of.
We got up, had breakfast and were then on our way to explore the ruins at Tikal. They were amazing. It could be described as a Machu Picchu type place, but in the middle of overgrown jungle. We spent most of the day running in and out of the structures, climbing the steep staircases, and hiking through the jungle to find more. Allegedly, they've only uncovered a very small portion of the ruins here, and it is said that much of the ancient city is still under the dirt and trees.
Tikal is known to be one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It's located in the northern part of Guatemala. It is believed that Tikal became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the Mayan people and the monuments and architecture dates back to as early as 400 BC. According to the scholars, most of the history of the rulers and wars between the different Mayan kings and cities occurred between 200 and 900 AD. There is evidence that Teotihuacan (the Mayan city in nearby Mexico) conquered Tikal around 400 AD.
Exploring in the jungle/forest around the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Toni and Eliza inside one of the structures at the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Grandma Toni at the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
The Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
The Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
The archaeologists discovered that the residential area of Tikal covers about 60 square kilometers, the majority of which has not been cleared, excavated, or mapped. They have mapped about 16 square kilometers around the core of the site in great detail. The archaeologists have grouped the excavations into architectural groups (the Great Plaza, the Central Acropolis, the North Acropolis, the South Acropolis, the Plaza of the Seven Temples, Mundo Perdido, Group G, and Group H, among others).
At Tikal, there are 9 separate and distinct Twin-Pyramid Complexes consisting of 2 pyramids facing each other on an east-west axis. The pyramids have flat tops and stairways on all 4 sides. Between the pyramids, there was a small "plaza" with a walled enclosure on the north side of the plaza which housed a large stone tablet and an altar. There were also monuments built at the base of the east pyramid. On the south side of the plaza there is a range building that had 9 doorways and a small enclosure on the north side of the building with an altar and tablet.
We climbed Temple I and Temple II to the extent we were allowed (these are the 2 temples that are around the Great Plaza). We then wandered through the jungle and climbed or checked out the other main temples in the area.
Looking down at the courtyard atop one of the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Boys flexing at the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
One of the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Zander, meditating at one of the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Taking a break from climbing the steps at the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
The kids atop one of the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala...if you look to the background you can see others sticking out of the vegetation.
One of the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
The kids in front of one of the bigger Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
We frequently came across bats in the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
There were some pretty nice size spiders throughout the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Huge trees in the jungle/forest around the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
One of the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Lots to explore at the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
The kids climbing on one of the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
One of the main Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Family picture looking back at one of the main Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Cody and the boys at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Hanging out on one of the Mayan temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Our crew, atop one of the temples at Tikal...if you look into the distance, you can see the tops of some other Mayan temples...gives you an idea of the dense jungle that surrounds these structures.
Exploring the vast structures and temples at Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Zander, climbing up the steps of one of the temples at the ruins of Tikal in northern Guatemala.
The kids, climbing up the steps of one of the temples at the ruins of Tikal in northern Guatemala.
A monkey up in the trees above the ruins of Tikal in northern Guatemala.
Walking through the ruins of Tikal in northern Guatemala.
