Tikal is a Classic Maya city that reached its zenith from 200 A.D. to 900 A.D., after which it was mysteriously abandoned. The city’s ruins cover about 125 square kilometers although it has not all been excavated. The site is famous for its towering pyramids and its lush jungle surroundings. Tikal is one of the most famous of the Mayan sites and hosts over 200,000 visitors each year.
Tikal is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1959 the government of Guatemala set aside some 574 square miles of rain forest surrounding the site as the country’s first national park. Tikal National Park is now a haven for wildlife. Visitors to Tikal will encounter howler monkeys, spider monkeys, numerous birds including parrots and toucans, crocodiles, iguanas, and coatimundis.
Getting to Tikal
Tikal is located in the northern state of Guatemala known as the Petén. This area is accessible by road or by airplane. It is possible to drive here via Guatemala City or from Mexico through Belize. Tour buses arrive here daily from Belize and Guatemala City, as well as the famous chicken buses making the trip from Guatemala City. The trip from Guatemala City to Flores, 45 minutes from the ruins, takes about 10 hours. A quicker way is to fly from Guatemala City to Flores. Daily flights are available and the trip takes only about an hour.
Where to Camp In Tikal
There are two basic choices of camping grounds near Tikal. Camping sites are available inside the park itself near to the parking lot. It is possible to pitch a tent or rent a hammock to sleep in. Cooking is possible in a wood fire cooking pit. There are no grocery stores located at the park so any food needs to be purchased outside the park and brought in. The park is home to a hotel, however, so there are several restaurants to dine at. Bathrooms and cold water showers are available as well.
The other choice of camping is at El Remate, a small village at the crossroads from Flores to Tikal. It is located on the shores of Lake Petén, making is a great spot for lake camping. Camping sites are available from the numerous hotels located on the lake shores. Camping grounds can be primitive or with access to showers and bathrooms. To get to El Remate, take a bus from Flores. Hotels are located along one main strip bordering the lake.
What to Bring for a Camping Trip in the Petén
The Petén is hot all year long. During rainy season, from May to November, downpours can occur daily in the afternoon. Humidity is high and there are more bugs, especially mosquitoes, noticeable during this time. Bring mosquito repellent to keep from being eaten alive. At night, it is advisable to use mosquito netting, especially when planning on hammock camping. During the dry season, mosquitoes are not such a problem. Humidity is lower and temperatures fall during the night, making camping a more comfortable experience.
Supplies are limited even in El Remate, so it is a good idea to bring food to cook when camping here. There are numerous restaurants and hotels, and it is possible to purchase drinking water from a number of tiendas, or convenient stores.
Bring swimming and fishing gear if you plan on camping at El Remate. Swimming in Lago Petén is highly advisable. The waters are clean and warm near El Remate and very refreshing after a long day of hiking through the jungles of Tikal National Park. Fishing is also permitted and fresh lake caught fish can be cooked over an open fire on the camping grounds.
Safety Concerns When Visiting Tikal
Camping used to be allowed in the Tikal National Park but is now limited to the camping grounds near the parking lot or at El Remate. Some people still try to sneak in and camp in the jungle, as it is large and easy to escape being noticed. However, in recent years attacks against tourists have been reported in some of Tikal’s more remote areas. For this reason, it is not advisable to camp outside of the designated camping areas.
That said, despite the negative attention these attacks have brought the area, Tikal is still a safe site to visit as long as visitors pay attention to their surroundings. Tikal is an amazing site that should not be missed by those who are fascinated by Mayan culture.
References
Nations, James D. The Maya Tropical Forest. Austin: The University of Texas Press, 2006.
CAM101
Andrea Julian - As a child I was always fascinated with ancient worlds and far away lands. After completing a Bachelors Degree in Biology at Texas State ...
