WORLD TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS:   GUATEMALA

Tikal, Plaza Mayor Temple I

Tikal is the Capital of the Maya Empire, one of the greatest civilizations in the world. The Mayan Empire developed about 250 B.C. in the tropical lands of northern Guatemala and adjacent Belize reaching its peak from about 250 to 900 A.D.

Abandoned by 900 A.D., Tikal lay overgrown by the humid tropical jungle until its ruins were discovered in 1848. It was another 100 years before archeologists excavated and reconstructed the site which today invites visitors from throughout the world.

Temple I, known as the Temple of the Great Jaguar, looks to the west through the plaza from a height of over 50 metres (170 feet).

Tikal is also the refuge for most of the mammals in Guatemala, and it is a place where they can be easily seen. In the walks along the paths, spider and howler monkeys are visible to the visitor who, with a bit of luck, will also be able to see red coatis, racoons and white-tailed deer.