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Please note: for
updated information, please visit: The ruins in Tikal
National Park in Guatemala is probably the best restored example
of classical Mayan style. Guatemala has the largest Maya
population of any country, and in terms of numbers, they are the
dominant ethnic group. There are at least 15 distinct Mayan
groups in the country, mostly living in the highlands. After
years of civil unrest and violence the leaders in December of 1996
signed a pact with the Guatemalan government guaranteeing land
and political rights, and freedom to practice their traditional
religion. Mayan people produce beautiful textiles, pottery and
baskets. The most
well known Tikal ruin is located in the middle of a Tikal National
Park, a wildlife preserve covering 222 square miles and the first such
park in Central America. The park has been reclaimed by the jungle and
it is with only a good deal of diligence that the restored ruins are
not overgrown with trees and jungle vegetation. The grounds are
rife with tropical plants and wildlife. Trees include zapotes,
from which chicle, a base for chewing gum is derived, Spanish
cedar, ceiba, a tree sacred to the Maya, and mahogany.
There are troops of spider and howler monkeys, 285 species of birds,
209 of which are resident species: including hawks, hummingbirds,
parrots, vultures, and golden turkeys. Outside of the ruins live
jaguar, puma, ocelot, pecarry, small deer, and many other
animals, many rare and endangered. Tikal was
one of the principal cities of the Maya civilization. At least 10,000
people lived within the mapped portion of the city, which encompasses
six square miles. The maps reveals over 3000 separate structures
including temples, palaces, shrines, ceremonial platforms, residences,
ball courts, terraces, causeways, and plazas, most interconnected with
aqueducts and cisterns for holding water. In the main ceremonial
precincts there are 200 stone monuments, known as stelae. Stelae were
elaborately carved with glyphs, a form of writing, and other images
that tell stories about the current and past rulers of that time.
Come visit our bed and breakfast, stay in our guest house or bungalows
and see what a great vacation can be. |
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Tikal History |
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The hotel in El Remate is a
great bed and breakfast and guesthouse for the traveler or person on an
extended vacation. The low daily cost makes it perfect for an
extended visit to Tikal, Flores, El Remate, Lake Itzen, or any of the
Peten area ruins, jungle sights or other attractions. The hotel
is on a clear spring fed natural lake that is over 25 miles long.
It is perfect for swimming, fishing, boating, or just sight
seeing. The staff at the bed and breakfast guesthouse is
great. They can speak enough English for most travelers to easily make
themselves known and the owners are native Floridians .
David and his wife are terrific hosts, making you feel right at home
and have a wealth of knowledge about the area. They can set up tours,
language opportunities, and help with most any emergency. The
local health clinic is directly across the street and the local bus
stops right in front of the hotel. Come visit our bed and
breakfast, stay in our guest house and see what a great vacation can
be. |