With the following description of this Maya site, I am sure this should be the one not to be missed.
Soaring above the jungle canopy, the colossal temple-pyramids of the Maya city seem built to an unearthly scale.
Ringed by a wildlife-rich rainforest reserve, this giant city showcases Classic Maya civilization and its extraordinary scale and beauty.
Five magnificent temple-pyramids soar above he forest canopy, finely carved stelae and altars in the plaza eulogize the city's glorious history, giant stucco masks adorn monuments, and stone-flagged causeways lead toward other ruined cities lying even deeper in the jungle.
Tikal's scale is awesome. In the Classic period its population grew to almost 100,000. Trade routes connected the city with Teotihuacan (near Mexico City), the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.
There were ball courts, sweat baths, colorfully painted royal palaces, and another 4,000 buildings to house the artisans, astrologers, farmers, and warriors of the greatest city of the Classic Maya civilization.
Start the tour
The tour started at 3:00 am. I got up in the dark and waited outside the hotel for the pick-up. There was a security guard sleeping at the lobby and he got up and accompanied me for the wait (thank him so much). I worried whether I was touted and cheated until the van arrived at around 3:10 am.
Tikal National Park
http://www.tikalpark.com
Constructed in successive waves over a period of at least 800 years, Tikal is a vast, complicated site with hundreds of temples, pyramids and stelae.
Temple IV was built to a height of around 65 meters, complete with its enormous roof comb. It is Tikal's tallest structure. Exquisite jade masks, ceramics, jewelry and sculptures were created.
Many guide books recommended to arrive Temple IV in the late afternoon to get magically tinted photos of Temples I, II and III poking through the jungle canopy.
Anyway, I joined the morning tour, tried to witness the electric atmosphere at dawn with different kind of animals echo around the surrounding jungle. It was a steep climb of stairs to the top of Temple IV (at the far west). We stayed there but it's misty and nothing could be spotted.
People sat on the stairs to wait for the mist to be cast away.
Band for admission (one for the normal entry and the other for a morning entry before sunrise)
Many wild animals around - Coatimundi
Temple I
Mundo Perdido
The smaller temple to the west of the great pyramid may look familiar to those who've visited Teotihuacan near Mexico City, with its elegant stepped talud-tableo design, a vivid reminder of that distant kingdom's influence.
Temple III in Grand Plaza
Ball court in the middle (Southern Acropolis)
Central Acropolis
Temple I
North Acropolis
Temple V
It's supposed not to be climbed as the stairs near the top were ruined. However, a couple was found on the top and my guide asked them to get down immediately. The guy was very impolite and used strong and stupid words.
South Acropolis
Other temple has not yet excavated (near Group F)
Ticket booth at the entrance
Plant at the restaurant
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