While the top thing to do in Egypt is to see the Great Pyramids, most people would agree that the top thing to do in Guatemala is to see Tikal – The ruins of an ancient Mayan city with its iconic pyramid temples.
I was first introduced to the Mayan sites when I visited Belize, situated northeast of Guatemala, in 2015: Riding a speed boat through the rainforest with a group of Costa Ricans to the ancient Mayan city Laminai, for the first time I had the opportunity to see what a Mayan temple looks like; from Belize City, a 5-hour bus ride to the west would have easily taken me to Tikal, although I didn’t have enough time to do so during that trip.
This time, I had my second chance to visit Tikal: The Tikal dynasty dominated Peten’s central region between 800 B.C. and 900 A.D. with over 80,000 inhabitants. After that Tikal became a place of pilgrimage until it was covered by the surrounding thick forest. Tikal was later discovered in 1848 and was opened to the public in 1955. Tikal in Mayan means “in the lagoon”, but it is more famously known as “the place of the spirit voices”.
Temple I “The Big Jaguar”. The tomb of the governor who built the temple in 700 A.D. was found inside the temple.
@Tikal
Guatemala has 33 volcanoes, of which 3 are active. The city of Antigua is surrounded by the Fuego (fire), Agua (water), and Acatenango Volcanoes. The Fuego Volcano continues to release smoke daily, with its last major eruption of lava and ash in 2007.
@Antigua
Guatemala has 33 volcanoes, of which 3 are active. The city of Antigua is surrounded by the Fuego (fire), Agua (water), and Acatenango Volcanoes. The Fuego Volcano continues to release smoke daily, with its last major eruption of lava and ash in 2007.
@Antigua
Antigua is famous for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, Spanish schools, salsa lessons, bars, and tourists. Yes, tourists.
@Antigua
Antigua is famous for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, Spanish schools, salsa lessons, bars, and tourists. Yes, tourists.
@Antigua
Museum of Archeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City. I came here before heading north to Tikal, and this model provided a good perspective of what the city of Tikal looked like some 1000+ years ago before it became the ruins we see today.
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To the right of the lagoon, there are Temple I/II and Central/North Acropolis. To the left there are Temple V and the Lost World. All the way deep into the forest is Temple IV, a popular spot to view sunrise/sunset.
@GuatemalaCity
Museum of Archeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City. I came here before heading north to Tikal, and this model provided a good perspective of what the city of Tikal looked like some 1000+ years ago before it became the ruins we see today.
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To the right of the lagoon, there are Temple I/II and Central/North Acropolis. To the left there are Temple V and the Lost World. All the way deep into the forest is Temple IV, a popular spot to view sunrise/sunset.
@GuatemalaCity
Museum of Archeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City. I came here before heading north to Tikal, and this model provided a good perspective of what the city of Tikal looked like some 1000+ years ago before it became the ruins we see today.
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To the right of the lagoon, there are Temple I/II and Central/North Acropolis. To the left there are Temple V and the Lost World. All the way deep into the forest is Temple IV, a popular spot to view sunrise/sunset.
@GuatemalaCity
Temple I “The Big Jaguar”. The tomb of the governor who built the temple in 700 A.D. was found inside the temple.
@Tikal
View from top of Temple IV, the Two-Headed Snake Temple. It is the tallest temple in Tikal and in all Mesoamerica, and is considered the best spot to see sunrise / sunset. The temple is a good 45-minute walk deep into the forest and there is absolutely no street light here after dark (but there are jaguars).
@Tikal
View from top of Temple IV, the Two-Headed Snake Temple. It is the tallest temple in Tikal and in all Mesoamerica, and is considered the best spot to see sunrise / sunset. The temple is a good 45-minute walk deep into the forest and there is absolutely no street light here after dark (but there are jaguars).
@Tikal
View from top of Temple IV, the Two-Headed Snake Temple. It is the tallest temple in Tikal and in all Mesoamerica, and is considered the best spot to see sunrise / sunset. The temple is a good 45-minute walk deep into the forest and there is absolutely no street light here after dark (but there are jaguars).
@Tikal
Mandatory selfie at Temple IV.
@Tikal
Spanish 101: Cerveza (beer).
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People in all Central and South American countries speak Spanish (except Brazilians speak Portuguese). Originally I planned on staying in Antigua for an extra week to go to Spanish school. Later I scratched that idea after realizing most people spend at least a month there – One week wouldn’t be enough so I decided to move on and pick up new Spanish words as I go.
@Antigua
Spanish 101: Cerveza (beer).
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People in all Central and South American countries speak Spanish (except Brazilians speak Portuguese). Originally I planned on staying in Antigua for an extra week to go to Spanish school. Later I scratched that idea after realizing most people spend at least a month there – One week wouldn’t be enough so I decided to move on and pick up new Spanish words as I go.
@Antigua
Guatemala doesn’t have an official national dish. The closest thing I experienced was Pepian – A traditional meaty stew that many see as Guatemala’s national dish.
@Antigua
Antigua is famous for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, Spanish schools, salsa lessons, bars, and tourists. Yes, tourists.
@Antigua
Antigua is famous for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, Spanish schools, salsa lessons, bars, and tourists. Yes, tourists.
@Antigua
Antigua is famous for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, Spanish schools, salsa lessons, bars, and tourists. Yes, tourists.
@Antigua
Streets are laid out in avenidas (north to south) and calles (east to west).
@Antigua
Antigua is famous for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, Spanish schools, salsa lessons, bars, and tourists. Yes, tourists.
@Antigua
Flag of Guatemala.
@Antigua
Guatemala has 33 volcanoes, of which 3 are active. The city of Antigua is surrounded by the Fuego (fire), Agua (water), and Acatenango Volcanoes. The Fuego Volcano continues to release smoke daily, with its last major eruption of lava and ash in 2007.
@Antigua
Coatimundi.
@Tikal
Keel-billed toucan.
@Tikal
Small passenger flight between Guatemala City and Flores / Tikal.
@GuatemalaCity
Torre del Reformador, a landmark steel tower built to honor one of its former presidents.
@GuatemalaCity
Torre del Reformador, a landmark steel tower built to honor one of its former presidents.
@GuatemalaCity
$5 Quetzals bill.
@GuatemalaCity
Due to manufacturer issue with the yellow fever vaccination in the US, no one in the states is able to get vaccinated for this calendar year (only alternative vaccine is available). Since I need yellow fever vaccination for South America, I ended up getting vaccinated in Guatemala and it costed me one third of what would have costed in the states.
@GuatemalaCity
