The Famed Ruins of Tikal

The Famed Ruins Of Tikal

e-mail a friend add to trip planner

Tikal is a spectacular place to tour if you want to see one of the most famous ruined cities of the Classic Period of the Maya. It is located in north central Petén, Guatemala, about 50 miles northwest of the border with Belize. Tikal is the largest and possibly the oldest of the Maya cities. Set in a high canopy jungle, the site encompasses at least 3,000 buildings, including a handful of impressively tall temples that loom above the forest. It consists of nine groups of courts and plazas built on hilly land above surrounding swamps (which may have been lakes in former times) and interconnected by bridges and causeways. The main civic and religious center of the city covers about 500 acres (200 hectares).

At its peak some 1,500 years ago, Tikal was home to an estimated 100,000 Maya. In addition to its numerous well-excavated temples and pyramids, Tikal presents an excellent opportunity for animal and bird watching. Along the paths, spider and howler monkeys, gray foxes and red coatis are visible to the visitor.

Between 600 AD and 800 AD, for what may prove to be a multitude of reasons, the great Maya centers of the southern lowlands fell into ruin - abandoned and left to be adopted by the surrounding rainforest. Many theories have tried to explain this disruption, including over-population, extensive warfare, revolt of the farmer/laborer class, or any number of devastating natural disasters. Whatever the reason, its most severe effect was limited to the central regions and therefore the northern lowlands continued to prosper during what is called the Late Classic period.