Where is Tikal located?
Located in the wilds of Tikal National Park about 200 miles north of Guatemala City in the southern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, it was settled as early as 600 B.C. Most of the major buildings viewable today date to its heyday, A.D. 550-900.
What should you know about Tikal before you visit Guatemala?
Here’s what you should know before you travel. Guatemala is dotted with Mayan ruins, but Tikal is among the most impressive. The kingdom is thought to have been one of the most powerful of the ancient Maya, and dominated much of the Mesoamerican region from 200BC to 900AD.
Do you need cash to visit Tikal National Park?
At the entrance to Tikal National Park (about 5 kilometers from the ruins), there is a road-block where all passengers must disembark and buy tickets before being allowed to proceed. Cash and cards are both accepted here, but being in the jungle, WiFi is spotty at best, so, as in elsewhere in Guatemala, cash is king.
What is the architecture of Tikal made of?
5.) The architecture of Tikal is built from limestone and includes the remains of temples that tower over 70 meters high, large royal palaces and a number of smaller pyramids, palaces, residences, administrative buildings, platforms and inscribed stone monuments.
How big is Tikal National Park in Guatemala?
Tikal National Park in Guatemala measures more than 220 square miles (575 square kilometers) in size, most of it pristine jungle.
What is the most mysterious find ever discovered in Tikal?
Probably the most mysterious find ever discovered in Tikal are stone pillars that describe an event that happened in eastern Guatemala more than 400 million years ago.
Why was Tikal so important to the Mayans?
According to Archaeologists, Tikal was the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. 8.) Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, ca 200 to 900 AD during this time the city dominated much of the Mesoamerican region politically, economically and militarily.