Guatemala and Tikal

We left the Barton Creek Outpost and made our way west to the Guatemala Border.  A quick exit fee from Belize ($30.00), we turned in our bike documents and were on to the Guatemala side.  Immigration took 1 minute, handed over our passports, a quick stamp, and we were shuffled off to the Customs line for the bike import documents.

There we stood for about 20 minutes, while a couple overworked customs agents, filled out a massive form, scanned stickers, inspected our bikes etc. etc. etc.  We were reminded of Russia.

After signing 3 or 4 different papers that were thrust our way, we got the bikes stickered and were through the gates and into Guatemala.

One of the border guards with his bike, and our sticker, which he was very proud to receive.

Riding through the main town at the border, we were looking for a bank, which we found, along with a group of 6-7 fully armed Guatemalan soldiers.  They were walking the streets patrolling.  We didn't ask for what.

Military patrol

We made it out of there without incident, and rode inland (west) to our destination for the day... Tikal.

Our third ruin site is a wonder to behold and a real high point of the trip so far.

Tikal (or Tik’al) is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization.

The site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in 1979 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya, it was at it's height during 200 to 900 AD.

There is evidence that Tikal interacted with Teotihuacan during this period, even though they were separated by a vast (at the time) distance.

It is one of the best understood of the large Maya cities, and has a well researched and long dynastic ruler list that is well documented.

We began our tour at 7:00 am in the crisp, cool morning, after going to bed very early in preparation (Cory and I aren't the earliest risers, but if you go to bed at 8:00 pm, you tend get up earlier)

My tent and bike under a Palapa.

We had met Marie, a women from France who was volunteering at the Barton Creek Outpost, who was leaving the same day we were and needed a ride to Guatamala, and she wanted to visit Tikal as well.

Our new friend Marie, from France, and a "Jaguar crossing" sign.

So the three made our way to the entrance, past the small lake with a "beware of Crocodiles" sign, paid the $150 quetzal ($25 quetzal for Guatemalans, about $3.00 US) and started walking.

Beware of Crocodiles

Tikal was buried for centuries under the jungle, and Unlike Teotihaucan or Chichen Itza, archeologists have yet to uncover a lot of the site.  The Pyramids that have been excavated, are in some cases only partially complete, and the jungle envelopes the entire site.    We were treated to Spider Monkeys in the trees overhead all day.

Walking to the ruins.

Guatemalan Jungle.

It is for this reason that the ruins are so special.  It doesn't feel like a tourist site.  It is a little off the main route, so there are far less people here than the more popular Mayan ruins in Mexico.  We had a lot of the park early in the morning all to ourselves.

You can walk within 20 feet of a massive pyramid and not realize it's there, the jungle is so thick.

Other ruins from the top of Temple IV.

Cory running up a Pyramid

A ruin with wild pigs in the foreground

The temples are VERY steep.  

Ocellated Turkey

After leaving Tikal, we made our way to Flores by the lake