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The ancient Mayan city of Tikal was reported in 1848 by Modesto Méndez and Ambrosio Tut, Corregidor and Gobernador of Petén, respectively. Eusebio Lara, accompanied this first expedition to elaborate the first illustrations of the monuments of Tikal. However, it is known that Tikal was known by some natives of the area and possibly by Spanish missionaries in the late seventeenth century (Soza, 1970; Coe, 1994; Vidal and Muñoz, 1997; Harrison, 1999). In 1853, after the publication of Méndez's journal in the Gaceta de Guatemala, his discovery was made known to the scientific community, through a publication of the Berlin Academy of Sciences.



Tikal National Park was created on May 26, 1955 under the responsibility of the Institute of Anthropology and History, and is constituted as the first protected area of ​​Guatemala, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1979. Surrounded by an exuberant jungle, It houses invaluable riches that are part of the cultural and natural heritage of the country, with an area of ​​575.83 km.





Cradle of the Mayan culture. Here are the majestic temples, Mayan pyramids that were built in the past. The place is surrounded by an impressive jungle. It is located in the department of Petén.



It is estimated that at its peak, it had a population of 100,000 to 150,000 inhabitants. Among the most prominent surviving buildings are six large pyramidal temples and the royal palace, in addition to some smaller pyramids, palaces, residences, and carved stones.



Tikal's residential area covers an estimated 60 km², of which only 16 km² have been cleared or excavated. At present there are doubts about the possible demography that is situated in a wide range of 100,000 to 200,000 inhabitants, exceeding the 49,000 inhabitants estimated by Haviland in 1970. In the Central Acropolis, which was its administrative center, and includes 45 structures is a palace five stories high.





Tikal National Park is located in the department of Petén, in northern Guatemala.

The site can be visited by the public every day of the year. A 76 km asphalt road connects Tikal with Flores, the main city of Petén.

You can get to Tikal by land (eight hours from Guatemala City) and by air.



Tikal was used as the setting for the rebel base in the Star Wars movie and is modeled after the Mayan city in Mel Gibson's movie Apocalypto.



Tikal National Park, the heart of the Mayan jungle, is home to smaller felines such as pumas and jaguars. Toucans and parrots fly through the trees, while monkeys rampage in the branches. Due to its exuberant vegetation, Tikal and its surroundings are called the third lung of the world.

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