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Located in Petén in Northern Guatemala, Tikal National Park is an ancient Mayan civilisation. The national park is a staggering 575 square kilometers of wildlife, ruins and jungle. It’s home to thousands of structures and it’s believed that the Mayans settled around 900 BC. The population was estimated to be around 100,000 people. An incredible tourist site, but also much quieter compared to other Mayan ruins in Latin America such as Chichen Itza. Tikal maintains its sense of charm and mystery by still feeling relatively untouched on the tourist path.
Being in Tikal makes you realise the sheer size of the park and how incredible it would have been back then to see it so alive. Much of the park is still being excavated and it is estimated that only 15-30% has been uncovered so far. While excavation has slowed in recent years, it is still in progress. Tikal National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.
Tikal is a real treat for the senses; seeing the lush jungle colours, being welcomed by sounds of howler monkeys and smelling the rich jungle earth is just the beginning of the adventure through ancient Mayan history.
Must see ruins in Tikal
- Great Plaza: Temple I and Temple II are located here facing each other
- North Acropolis: North of the Great Plaza
- Central Acropolis: South of the Great Plaza
- Temple IV: Tallest temple in Tikal at 65 metres. Also featured in Star Wars!
- Mundo Perdido (Lost World): Contains a 32 metre pyramid. Believed to be one of the oldest areas
- Temple V: Second highest temple at 57 metres
- Temple VI: Known as the temple of inscriptions
How to get to Tikal
Tikal is located in the Petén region of Guatemala. Most visitors tend to stay in the nearby island of Flores which is a great hub for transport, restaurants and accommodation options. I stayed at Ahau Tikal Hostel – they also organised Tikal tours at the hostel. Flores is around a 90 minute drive from the Tikal entrance. Multiple tour operators are available but I booked with Get Your Guide and had an incredible experience with a very informative guide! The tour included a round trip transfer from Flores to Tikal and it really was a seamless experience. We also had a breakfast stop when we arrived at the park.
Another option is to actually stay within the national park. There are a few options including Hotel Tikal Inn, Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal, Jungle Lodge Hotel and Hostal Jungle Lodge Tikal.
How much does it cost
Tikal is an affordable day trip. The price of tours can vary but for a guided tour including return transport from Flores, I paid £18 per person. The tours don’t include the entrance fee to Tikal which is 150 Quetzales (£15). If you decide to visit for sunrise or sunset, the additional entrance fee is another 100 Quetzales (£10).
Tickets can be purchased online or paid for at the park entrance in cash. If purchasing online, make sure you select the Entrada al parque (Extranjeros) option to include park entry for foreign visitors.
What time of day to visit
When booking a tour to Tikal, there are multiple options and it’s important to book for the best time of day. It’s worth noting that due to Tikal being located in the jungle the weather can have a significant impact on your experience. If possible, you want to avoid the hottest hours of the day as trust me, it can be very difficult.
Sunrise tours are a popular option but they do cost more since both the tour and entrance fees are higher. For a sunrise tour, expect to be picked up extremely early (around 3am) since the transfer is around 90 minutes. Plus, the weather in the mornings can often be cloudy so you may not get the dreamy sunrise view you may be hoping for.
To meet in the middle, we opted for a tour starting at 6am. This meant that most of our exploring around Tikal was before the hottest point at midday, and we didn’t have to quite wake up in the middle of the night (bonus!). So I would definitely recommend this if you’re not as much of an early riser. The full tour including transfers lasts around 8 hours.
Sunset is another popular option as the heat starts to cool down and again, it is not as expensive as the sunrise tour! Tikal National Park is open daily from 6am to 5pm.
What should I pack
The weather gets hot. So I would recommend wearing comfy clothes that keep you as cool as possible. I wore a hat to keep the sun off my face. Some parts of the tour are walking through the jungle so you’re in the shade, but other areas especially around the Main Plaza don’t have as much shade. Comfortable shoes are a must, I wore my hiking shoes that I also wore on the Acatenango hike.
Mosquitos can be very fiesty here too, so I’d really recommend bringing a good mosquito repellent to keep them away. That being said, I still came away with bites!
Be sure to bring enough cash for the day as there are no ATMs at Tikal and card is not accepted. You will need enough cash to cover your entrance fee (if not purchased online beforehand), a tip for your guide and also to buy any extra drinks and snacks.
Bring plenty of water as you’ll be doing a lot of walking! As mentioned above, there will be opportunity to buy more drinks if needed. I would also bring some snacks to keep you going for the day too.
Can I climb the temples
Surprisingly, yes! Some of the temples in Tikal you can actually climb. And yes, they are pretty steep. The most notable temples that you can climb are:
- Temple IV
- Temple V
- Temple II
Some have a staircase to the side to climb up, whereas others do not and you climb up the temple itself. Not all temples can be climbed such as Temple I where it is prohibited. So be sure to follow the signs and to listen to your guide before climbing any temples!
What animals will I see
Wildlife is absolutely part of the magic at Tikal. Of course, while it’s never confirmed what you will and won’t see, there’s a real chance that you’re in for a treat.
Your guide will help you be on the lookout for any wildlife so you don’t miss anything! Our guide helped us spot some spider monkeys swinging through the trees. Jaguars also live in the park and there have been reports of tourists seeing them during tours. I believe this is more likely during the sunrise tours. Tikal is also home to howler monkeys, toucans, macaws, coatis and multiple bird species.
Where should Tikal fit into a Guatemala itinerary
If you’re starting your trip by landing into Guatemala City, then you could either visit Tikal after Antigua or you could head to Flores and Tikal first. Flores can be easily connected to Guatemala by a short internal flight from GUA Airport or by bus (from Antigua/Guatemala City). Or, if you’re entering Guatemala from Belize, then you can also take a bus to reach Flores.
During my Guatemala trip, I used Bookaway for all of my transportation. It’s easy, reliable and shows you all transport options for your journey. On the journeys I booked, it also showed a range of durations and budgets so you can easily find the best option.
When leaving Flores/Tikal, you have a range of options again for your onward journey. My Guatemala itinerary was Antigua, Flores and Tikal, Lake Atitlán and then back to Antigua.
Tikal is truly a magical experience and it should have a very well-deserved spot on any Guatemala itinerary. I hope this guide has been helpful in planning your journey. If you haven’t already, check out my other Guatemala blog posts for a full breakdown of my time in the country!