From its rich history to its incredible scenery, Tikal National Park is often regarded as one of the greatest locations in the Mayan world. This ancient city is Guatemala’s most famous archaeological site and perhaps the most fascinating destination in the entire country.
To visit Tikal is to take a step back in time to the days of an ancient civilization that predates both the Aztecs and the Incas by over a thousand years. It allows you to witness firsthand the sophistication and grandeur of the Maya that populated this city as well as providing insights into their diverse customs and beliefs.
In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about visiting Tikal National Park in Guatemala.
Tikal History
Tikal was once home to one of the largest and most powerful settlements in the entire Maya civilization. Unlike the Aztec and the Inca Empires, the Maya were a civilization of numerous kingdoms that often fought wars with one another in an effort to obtain valuable resources.
This ancient city dates as far back as the 4th century BC but its population peaked from approximately 200 to 900 AD. Tikal wielded an enormous amount of political, economic, and military power for hundreds of years before falling into decline during the 10th century, which is around the same time that most Mayan cities began to collapse.
The reason for this collapse across much of the Mayan world is still debated to this day. However, most archaeologists attribute the collapse to overpopulation, unsustainable agricultural methods, long periods of draught, and perpetual warfare.
Tikal was eventually abandoned during the beginning of the Postclassic Period, which refers to the period from 900 to 1521 AD in Mesoamerican chronology.
Tikal Mayan Ruins Overview
The thing that makes Tikal so unique is the fact that the ruins are situated within a dense jungle and visitors must traverse this jungle in order to reach the various structures. This is a stark contrast to the majority of Mayan ruins where almost all of the significant structures are located in a relatively small area.
Speaking of these structures, which we often call Mayan ruins, it’s estimated that there are around 3,000 total. However, as is the case with most ancient Mayan cities, only a small percentage of them have been located and properly excavated. That means that there are more structures buried within the jungle that may be discovered in the near future.
Although there are a variety of buildings located throughout Tikal, the most prominent ones are the six major pyramids that are simply labelled as temples one through six. Not very creative naming conventions, I know.
Aside from these enormous pyramids, Tikal also holds various altars, tombs, causeways, and stelae, which are elaborate stone carvings that give us valuable information about the history of this ancient city.
Overall, visiting Tikal National Park is easily one of the best things to do in Guatemala.
How To Get To Tikal National Park
Most people who visit Tikal National Park start their journey either from Belize to the east or from Guatemala City to the south. Unless you’re doing a day tour from Belize, you’ll probably want to travel over to the nearby island of Flores first. You can settle in for the day and book a trip to Tikal (for the next day, two days later, etc.) from one of the numerous tour companies located on the island. Your hotel or hostel will be more than happy to help out with this.
Now that you know how to get to Tikal from Flores, we’ll discuss how to get to Flores in the first place.
From Guatemala City you have two options: you can either take a 8-12 hour bus ride or a 45 minute flight. Obviously the flight is more expensive but it will certainly save you a lot of time. You can find flights from Guatemala City to Flores here.
If you’d prefer to save money by taking a bus, I would recommend contacting your hotel or hostel to have them handle the logistics. You can easily reserve a bus from Guatemala City, Antigua, or Lake Atitlan. However, the bus will likely pass through Guatemala City no matter where you start from.
In order to reach Tikal from Belize, you’ll have to find transportation over to the Guatemalan border and then cross on foot. From Belize City, you can catch a public bus over to the western town of Benque Viejo and then take a taxi another two miles or so to the border. Similarly, you can catch a taxi in San Ignacio that will take you to the border, which is about 15 minutes away.
Once you’ve crossed into the Guatemalan border town of Melchor de Mencos, you’ll need to take a colectivo (shared shuttle) over to the Santa Elena bus station, which is near Flores. The colectivo station in Melchor de Mencos is located directly to the left once you cross the white bridge next to the migration buildings. However, you can certainly ask any of the Belizean or Guatemalan migration officials exactly where the station is if you’re unsure.
Once you arrive to the Santa Elena bus station, you’ll need to hire a Tuk Tuk (a small taxi) to take you to Flores. It’s only about ten minutes away and the ride shouldn’t cost you any more than $3.
Where To Stay In Tikal
Most people visiting Tikal stay in Flores as the island has a lot of tourist infrastructure and fun activities. However, there are three hotels located directly next to Tikal that offer easy access to the National Park, which could be a good option if you plan to do a sunrise or sunset tour. The downside to this is that there’s no town nearby if you get bored of the quiet jungle environment surrounding the park.
On the other hand, Flores has a diversity of options ranging from budget hostels to charming hotels. For context, it takes about an hour and a half to drive from Flores to Tikal and vice versa.
I personally stayed in a youth hostel called Los Amigos, which is a popular choice among backpackers visiting the region. Their facilities were clean and it was very easy to meet other backpackers at this hostel. The cost for a dorm room with AC was $15 per night.
Regardless of what accommodation you choose, you certainly won’t have any problems getting to Tikal National Park from your hotel or hostel.
What To Do In Tikal
If you’re wondering what there is to do in Tikal, the answer is walk around and admire the park’s incredible Mayan ruins. That’s it.
The real question is what is there to do in and around Flores?
You might be surprised to learn that Flores offers a myriad of fun activities aside from just visiting Tikal.
Here are my top recommendations of things to do in and around Flores:
- Visit the ARCAS animal rescue & rehabilitation center
- Climb to the top of El Mirador and enjoy panoramic views of Flores and Lake Peten Itza
- Spend a relaxing day by the beach at Gecko restaurant (at the base of El Mirador)
- Visit the Yaxha National Park, which is a smaller and less crowded version of Tikal
For more information about each of these activities, see our helpful guide on Flores, Guatemala.
Tikal Star Wars?
Aside from being the home to a sophisticated ancient civilization, Tikal’s other claim to fame is the fact that it was briefly featured in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. The story goes that George Lucas saw a poster for Tikal at a travel agency in Britain. He was so interested by the location that he sent a crew to shoot some footage there, which later became the scenery for the rebel base Yavin 4.
Seems like a good spot to be a rebel.
Mayan Ruins In Guatemala
As you can hopefully see, Tikal is an incredible archaeological site unlike anywhere else in the world. From its towering pyramids to its jungle environment, this ancient city will certainly be the highlight of any trip to Guatemala.
Plan Your Trip To Guatemala
Accommodations: We recommend using Booking.com and Hostelwo
Flights: We recommend using Kiwi to find cheap flights. Their interface is user friendly and they help you find the best deals on flights to any destination.
The closest airport to Tikal is the Mundo Maya International Airport in Flores:
Travel Insurance: We recommend purchasing travel insurance from World Nomads. They’re one of the most trusted travel insurance providers and their plans cover a wide range of claims from overseas medical care to emergency evacuation. World Nomads will even allow you to purchase a plan if you’re already traveling abroad.
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This seems like a great place to visit. I love the information you shared, really makes me want to take a trip!
Thanks for the comment Jody, I’m glad that you enjoyed the article!
Fantastic post with a great combination of history and practical tips. I really like the photo of Flores. So colorful!
It’s not every day you get both history and practical tips in the same article! Anyways thanks for reading and leaving a comment Kevin.
Great post Michael! I loved all the history and very detailed descriptions of how to get around.
Thanks for the comment Stefanie, glad that you enjoyed the article!
It seems like a very interesting place to visit and such an informative post. I loved learning more about the history.
Thanks Wendy, I’m very happy to hear that you enjoyed it!