Sights of Tikal :: Guatemala’s Unrivaled Mayan Ruins

If you choose to vacation in Belize and will be near the San Ignacio area, I highly recommend that you take at least one day to visit this amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site in Guatemala. If you have the time, take a couple days and check out the surrounding area of Lake Peten Itza and its little island town, Flores.

Some complain that Tikal is too much of a tourist trap. Yes, it’s crowded. Yes, it’s touristy. But there’s a reason why, and anyone who tells you not to bother because it’s too “commercial” needs to lay off the crack pipe. Some of the structures are believed to have been built as far back as the 4th century BC. You are walking among buildings that are over 2,000 years old, people! And if that’s not enough, you can personally visit the location that depicted Yavin IV in the original 1977 Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope. 🙂

Yavin IV vs Reality (Top: Screenshot from Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope; Bottom: The Gassy Squirrel)

A note on fitness: While the walk through the jungle to go from structure to structure is not that difficult, if you want to get to the top of any of the structures to experience the awesome views, you will have to climb a lot of stairs. You have been warned.

Finally, before we get to the gallery, check out our post if you’re wondering what the border crossing experience is like from Belize to Guatemala. And without further ado…

The Gassy Squirrel’s

Sights of Tikal

Click on any pic for full size gallery.

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