Comments on: Visiting the Mayan Ruins of Tikal, Guatemala

By: Julie A

Julie A — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 03:46:34 +0000

Tikal is the best place where You can live one of the most important dates in the Mayan Calendar this year, the Baktun 13. They will have many celebrations related to the Mayan prophecies of Baktun 13!

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:48:23 +0000

@Megan: So great that you’re traveling to Tikal this summer of all years (2012)! Good luck with your travels and enjoy!

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 15:06:13 +0000

@Matt: Fascinating. Wasn’t aware of that particular connection, but Audrey and I both noted distinct similarities in facial features between some people we met in Guatemala (and through veins of Latin America) and some people we met in Asia. It’s always been a small world, apparently.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 13:09:04 +0000

Could be an interesting trip for my wife aswell as shes Cebuano (from Cebu,Philippines) where the decendants are from Mayan tribes.

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 09:41:55 +0000

@Matt: Thanks! While they are a challenge to shoot and stitch, panoramas are fun, and in some cases the offer one of the best ways to convey the visual space. Tikal is worth a visit, particularly if you are interested in Mayan culture. Not to mention, Guatemala overall a culturally rich and worthwhile place to visit.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:37:53 +0000

The Panoramic views is a great idea! Haven’t been here yet but looking so forward to taking my wife when we get the opportunity.

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 11:22:11 +0000

@Tony: Glad you’re liking the panoramas. We’ll keep ’em coming. As for Tikal, the edges of the day are great. And there’s nothing like camping with the howler monkeys about.

@Dyanne: Tikal only 10% excavated? Am trying to get my head around that. To think of what we don’t know about the place. I’m hoping we get to see some more archaeological fruits of excavation before 2012 😉

I think you might be right about climbing to the tippy top of Jaguar Temple. Our sunset view was from the top of Temple 5.

Day tripping there from Belize: Good to know. We’d definitely be open to returning, particularly via Belize.

@Dave: Good suggestion regarding purchasing the ticket at the end of the previous day of your visit. We did that. However, we’ve heard that of March 2011, they no longer allow it. So as we understand it, Tikal tickets are only valid on the days for which they are purchased. Too bad, really.

The tip of photographing the map on the wall is also an excellent one. We do this all the time. It’s nice to have a map when writing about the experience after the fact and it’s also nice to save a few bucks ($5 in this case).

Cheers for a very helpful comment.

@H Mahahrens: Funny. If we could achieve that with our panoramas, that would be something. Something like a video perhaps.

By: H. Marahrens

H. Marahrens — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:41:17 +0000

Nice tool. I zoomed at the temple entrance but couldnÂ´t enter. 😉

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 03:01:08 +0000

I also stayed at the Jaguar Inn in a tent for a couple nights. A great experience. Love the howler monkeys.
One other suggestion, assuming it’s still possible, is to take the afternoon bus from Flores which will arrive at around 3 to 3:30. Then purchase a entrance ticket for the following day, as after 4 pm, they will allow you into the park with tomorrows ticket. This gives you some extra time to wander around the park in relative solitude, and take in the Sunset on Temple 4.
Just be aware that when darkness sets in, if you don’t have a light, it will be near impossible to find the trail back to the entrance…a lesson learned the hard way, the jungle is pitch black at night.
Also, if you are really on a tight budget, you can take a picture of the map on the wall of the ticket booth with your digital camera, then just zoom in on the picture to find your way around the ruins. Saves you $5.

Cheers, Dave

By: Dyanne@TravelnLass

Dyanne@TravelnLass — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:45:58 +0000

Ah Tikal, “The NYC of the Maya”. Indeed, just 10% of Tikal has been excavated – just imagine what it must have been like at its peak!

As an int’l tour operator back in the 90’s I ran trips to Belize and Costa Rica and made many visits to Tikal. In those days, you could actually climb to the top of the Temple of the Jaguar (the taller of the 2 temples in the panorama), but I believe that’s – understandably – no longer allowed.

You can also visit Tikal as a day trip from the jungle lodges along the border in Belize.