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Tikal

Temple IV, Tikal, Petén

Tikal (Motul en Maya) was born around 2000 BC its heyday peaked in the classical period, when it reached 100,000 inhabitants. Archaeologists have discovered that since 292 BC until 792 BC 29 sovereigns reigned in Tikal, the last three were the ones who greatly enlarged the city, the largest temples were built in that period (7th and 8th centuries).

Tikal is formed by more than 10,000 structures, many of them overlapping each other in an area of 16 square kilometers. Squares, temples, pyramids, palaces, steam baths, ball games, rooms, water reservoirs, even original wooden lintels!!, can still be seen, despite the more than 1000 years of neglect is what makes Tikal a monumental site declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

In the royal tombs, beautiful objects of jade, obsidian, carved stone and bone, and above all beautiful polychrome ceramic plates have been found.

Tikal was discovered in 1898 and archaeological work began about 60 years later until today. Tikal was the area’s largest political, commercial and religious center, making alliances or waging wars against its neighbors.

But Tikal is not only archaeology it is also flora and fauna, which complement this beautiful visit; howler monkeys, toucans, coatis, spider monkeys, parakeets, foxes, etc. are frequently seen among the hundreds of species of centenarian trees, which gives the visitor an unforgettable day.