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Guatemala

6

Reasons To
Visit Guatemala

  • Indigenous Culture

    Guatemala is all about its people, especially in the highland regions. Their tightly knit Mayan communities, centuries old in tradition with their colourful cultures and costumes, are fascinating for the visitor and getting an insight into the lives of these wonderful, friendly people is one of the main reasons to visit this incredible country.

    Indigenous Culture

  • Semana Santa

    Easter week is a colourful and fascinating time to be in Antigua. Thousands of visitors come each year to watch the processions and religious festivities. Lavishly decorated floats are carried through the streets followed by musicians and the residents create elaborate carpets of flowers along the route for the processions to walk over.

    Semana Santa

  • Jungle wildlife

    A quarter of Guatemala is covered by forest and the wildlife, especially in the El Peten region, is prolific. Barking howler monkeys, swinging spider monkeys, screeching parrots and nosy coatis are just some of the wonderful species you will experience here.

    Jungle wildlife

  • Markets

    Most days of the week you’ll find a market open somewhere in the highlands of Guatemala. They are the main economic focus for scattered mountain communities and locals flock in their hoards in search of a bargain. Everything is sold here, from food to souvenirs to clothing and livestock - you name it, you can guarantee you’ll find it in a market!

    Markets

  • Mayan ruins

    Spend a day at the Mayan ruins at Tikal. Surrounded by rainforest, not only is it a haven for wildlife including spider monkeys, howler monkeys and many tropical birds, but there are remains of royal palaces and temples that can be climbed for magnificent views.

    Mayan ruins

  • Views and volcanoes

    Clear, still lakes, steaming volcanoes, lush rainforests and spectacular highland views all make up the stunning and diverse scenery you can experience in Guatemala. It is an absolute joy to travel around the country.

    Views and volcanoes

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Excursions in Guatemala: Tikal Tour

Tikal is most definitely the most impressive of all the Mayan sites in Central America not only for its historical remains but because it is also a haven for wildlife, making the trip to Tikal all the more enchanting.

Tikal, Guatemala
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Tikal Tour

Tikal & El Petén, Guatemala
  • Culture & History
  • Walking & Biking
  • Wildlife & Nature

Tikal is most definitely the most impressive of all the Mayan sites in Central America not only for its historical remains but because it is also a haven for wildlife, making the trip to Tikal all the more enchanting.

The ruins lie within the 576 square kilometre Tikal National Park, declared a World Heritage site in 1979. The site's mapped district covers 16 square kilometres and comprises more than 3,000 individual structures, temples, and courtyard groups. For centuries Tikal was left undiscovered lost to the sprawling lowland rainforests that grew over and around it.

As you explore the ruins you have a good chance of seeing some of the 54 species of mammals in the park most commonly the spider monkeys, Pizotes (coatimundi) and howler monkeys.

At its peak some 1,500 years ago, Tikal was home to an estimated 100,000 Maya and one of the more important urban centres of its time particularly during the classic and late classic periods, (AD 200-900) when it dominated the Maya controlled area of Central America politically, militarily and economically. This is evident in the more than 3,000 structures extending over six square miles, many of which were built to pay tribute to past rulers and to hopefully please the deities.

For largely unknown reasons a gradual decline in population ended in the abandonment of the site by the end of the 10th century leaving Tikal to the jungle that subsequently swallowed it, only for it to be rediscovered centuries later.

Today there are remains of royal palaces, residences of important Mayans, ball courts and five main protruding temples, that rise over 60 metres, which the fit and brave can climb (at your own risk), for magnificent views, as well as thousands more remaining structures amongst them some still hidden under mounds of earth, awaiting discovery.

Other countries in Central America, Mexico & Cuba:
BelizeCosta RicaCubaHondurasMexicoNicaraguaPanama

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