Tikal (Guatemala)

...amongst the ferns. At Tikal you find yourself surrounded not only by ancient history, but also by the crazy, thriving beauty of the natural world at its most forceful and vibrant. The Tikal ruins were first seen by Europeans in the late 19th century, lead here by rubber farmers. What these first tourists saw were only great humps in the jungle and the occasional protruding stone. The excavation work (well documented in the visitor’s centre which ...
...systems and the fact that Tikal has no natural water source nearby might convince you. Whatever you believe, the mighty society that crafted this immense city had disappeared by the 10th century, leaving nothing but jungle choked stone in its silent wake. The Tikal ruins are actually set in the centre of a giant nature reserve and so the beasts you see are wild – free to roam the 576 square kilometres of the reserve. As you wander about the giant ...

Hmatt 03.09.2002 (14.10.2002) · Read full review
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Review of Tikal (Guatemala)

which anyone in the area should put at the top of their things to see list. In essence, it's an ancient Mayan city in the middle of the Guatemalan tropical rainforest, where a thousand years ago, a million people lived. It was "rediscovered" (ie everyone in the area knew perfectly well it was there but that didn't count, then a bunch of Europeans found it) earlier this century, I think, by which point most of the buildings had disappeared under vegetation. ...
...if you wander off through the forest you'll find lots of pyramid-shaped little hills, under which undiscovered temples lie. The only thing visibe then was the two huge pyramids of the central temple, an area which has now been completely excavated and restored. The fact that no-one knows anything about the Mayans adds to the experience - there is so much obvious intelligence and mathmatical ability in evidence, and it's an odd feeling to sense it ...

ImogenW 30.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Tikal (Guatemala)

I have visited Tikal twice now - once about 8 years ago and again two years ago. I say this, because I noticed the difference in the amount of birdlife between the two visits. Perhaps I was unlucky, but there seemed to be far fewer birds on this trip. Having said this, I still rate Tikal as one of my favourite ancient sites in the world. Tikal really ought to be better known. Ok, it takes a special trip to get there - a flight from Guatemala city ...
...and little money, I can't imagine that the overnight bus trip is a good plan), but it is worth it. Yes, the hotels aren't cheap, but this is a pretty special place, and it is good to be able to get into the site nice and early. Picture the setting - water droplets gently drip off the large green leaves of the jungle as the early morning mist clears. Ahead, in a clearing, a large, white pyramid looms. Monkeys can be heard climbing in the trees and ...

hrs2004 25.03.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Tikal (Guatemala)