Guatemala Travel Guide
Tikal

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Peeking over one million hectares of jungle reserve the stately Tikal pyramids have an earthy, dark and mysterious atmosphere like no other pyramid group except perhaps Palenque in Mexico. The only sounds will be of deep jungle, particularly the appalling roar of the howler monkeys, the squawking of parakeets or the shrieking of tour groups, while the primo sight is of a toucan hurtling like a guided missile across the central plaza.
However, to really experience this magical location you will need to stay nearby, preferably in one of the hotels within walking distance of the site, in order to bypass the seething hordes of daytime arrivistes.
Many visitors stay in the small conurbation of Flores, one and a half hours drive from Tikal. This is composed of three towns beside the lake of Petén Itza - Flores, Santa Elena and San Benito, with the first, Flores, offering reasonably attractive, old world surroundings, while the other two are noisome, recent and disorganized.
Halfway to Tikal but still on the lake shore El Remate is developing into a pleasant little base for Tikal trips.
From Flores travel to other less well-known, more distant Maya ruins are also possible, El Mirador, El Zotz and Rio Azul - still in Guatemala - and a much longer drive can take you across the border in Mexico, en route for Palenque.
See also Mexico Pictures of Uxmal and Chichen Itza, and World Wonders.

Guatemala Travel Pictures © Denzil Watson