The north of Guatemala, known as El Petén, is an area of lush lowland jungle whose depths conceal countless Mayan ruins, half-buried and entwined by tree-roots and lianas. The most impressive and famous of these lost cities is Tikal; a stunning collection of mighty temples at the heart of a vast national park. It is not only fascinating for its historic remains but is also a haven for wildlife, making the trip to Tikal all the more enchanting. There is little to beat the magical experience of tramping through the hot and sticky jungle, especially in the early morning mist. You are surrounded by the eerie roar of nearby howler monkeys and the call of tropical birds, approaching temples that tower above you as they rise straight from the forest floor through the tree canopy.
There are five main protruding temples making up Tikal, which the fit and brave can climb for magnificent views, as well as thousands more remaining structures still hidden under mounds of earth, awaiting discovery. Of the many other archaeological sites in the area, Yaxhá is easily accessible and is especially beautiful seen at sunset. The scale of these ruins suggests that it was undoubtedly a very important city during the Mayan reign. Excavation only began here in the last few years so you are able to see the archaeologists at work. For those wanting to delve further into history, expeditions can be arranged to many other sites such as El Mirador, Yaxchilan or Uaxactun.