Tikal National Park, Guatemala Tikal National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth to visit. Nestled in the heart of a vast biosphere reserve, this park melds incredible ancient history with wild jungle nature. Here are the absolute best spots and places to visit inside this huge park if you want an unforgettable holiday.
The Grand Plaza: The Best Central Place to Hit
The Grand Plaza is the most spectacular place to visit inside the park. This is the old nucleus of the city. In the middle of the open square you find yourself surrounded by two giant pyramids, Temple I and Temple II. It is a great place to visit to feel the huge power of the old Maya kings and to take some iconic travel photos.
Temple IV: The Highest Place to Look
For the best view of the jungle, visit Temple IV.” This is the tallest temple in the park. You can walk up wooden stairs to a high platform, way above the trees. A legendary place to visit on a sunrise tour as you watch the morning mist clear over the jungle canopy.
The Lost World of Ancient Pyramids Complex
If you're a true history buff, you will love the Mundo Perdido (Lost World). One of the oldest sections of the park, it was used to study stars and planets. The huge Great Pyramid here is completely different to the other temples and it is a very interesting place to visit to see how the building styles of the Maya changed over hundreds of years.
The Jungle trails of the Twin Pyramid Complexes
Walking the dirt paths beneath the towering trees, you will come across special areas known as Twin Pyramid Complexes. If you want to avoid the big crowds these are great places to go. They have flat topped pyramids facing each other, stone monuments and altars, all covered with old carvings.
Wildlife Viewing in the Dense Rain Forest
As a huge wildlife sanctuary, the whole park is a great place for animal lovers and every trail is a wonderful place to visit. Here you don’t just look at old stones; you walk right under noisy howler monkeys and spider monkeys playing in the canopy. Keep an eye out for colourful toucans and coatimundis running through the bush.
