I left the highlands of western Guatemala for the warmer jungle area of El Peten. I wanted to revisit the ancient Mayan City of Tikal. It is believed to have been the largest Mayan City State. El Peten is an area that has very heavy and thick jungle. It is located in northern Guatemala, and like the Yucatan of Mexico, it does not have any rivers.
I climbed Temple Number V and had an incredible view of the jungle below. How the Mayan civilization lived in this area is amazing. I was able to hear the sounds of many different types of wildlife like toucans, spider monkeys, and the very loud and scary sounds of the hollering monkey.
My first visit to Tikal several years ago was a very quick visit. This time I wanted to take my time and observe more of the sites; therefore, I decided to hire a Guide to take me on a tour of the sites. This decision was well worth the money. My Guide’s name was Israel, and he was fantastic with a wealth of knowledge. He provided information about the temple site, the wildlife, plants, and birds. All of this information would have been missed without him pointing them out.
I stayed in Flores, an island town, which is a small village located on a lake island on Lago Peten, about 60 kms. south of Tikal. To me, the village was a very interesting little place. Its streets had cobblestones and there were several good restaurants. The village is mostly a place where travelers visiting Tikal can stop.
Tikal, Guatemala
Flores, Guatemala