Puerto Quetzal
The Maya World has many faces, some of them as ancient as the carved images that adorn the remains of their towering jungle temples. Others, perhaps more accessible, can be seen in the faces of contemporary Guatemalans. Many of the people descended from the mighty Mayan civilization, from which ancient customs and traditions still form the basic fabric of contemporary life. El Peten is Guatemala’s northernmost department (state), and was once at the very center of el mundo Maya (“world of the Maya”). Remains from the Mayan people can be found across a vast area including more than 125,000 square miles and five modern nations (Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador). They used and developed mathematics, astronomy, agriculture and architecture in daily life - their knowledge was impressive. Great strides were made in the complex areas of sociology, politics, and economics, and the still partially deciphered system of hieroglyphics they developed to record their ideas may help de-mystify their society.
Guatemala is a living museum of history and dramatic landscapes, yet its richest assets are the rich and colorful traditions of its twenty-one ethnic communities, such as the Quiches, Cakchiqueles, Mames, Tzutuhiles, and Kekchies - proud descendents of the Maya. Each group has its own language and folklore, yet they share many common points of ancestral heritage as reflected in their religion, music, dance, food, and even social customs. While Spanish and Indian cultures have blended over the centuries, pure Mayan influences can be found in both the performing and design arts. Guatemalan hand crafted textiles in particular are purely Mayan in origin, even though they now incorporate some Spanish elements in both shape and design. Archaeologists divide Mayan culture development into three distinct periods:
Pre-Classic (2000 BC to 100 AD)
Classic (100 AD to 900 AD)
Post-Classic (900 AD to 1500 AD).
Tikal
In the midst of lush jungle, the ruins of Tikal rise to a height of nearly 150 feet. One of the greatest of the ancient Mayan cities, Tikal is in northern Guatemala, around which the ancient civilization was centered. Though there are many Mayan ruins in the surrounding region, Tikal is one of the largest and is certainly one of the most visited. Archaeologists are still puzzling as to whether Tikal was a city, an important ceremonial center, or both. The area was set aside in 1958 as a national park, and covers more than 220 square miles. Regarded as one of the most important cultural preserves in the world, the park was declared a monument of the world’s heritage by UNESCO in 1917. The ruins, mostly carved stone buildings, rise high over the Peten jungle - the tallest temple is over 200 feet high. Nearly all of the visible buildings were constructed in 700 AD atop even older structures, so the exact date the city was first built has been obscured. In 900, apparently with no warning, the Tikal civilization mysteriously disappeared. The jungle has partially reclaimed the ancient city’s remains creating an almost ghostly atmosphere. The eerie serenity is constantly broken by the sounds of the jungle. Male howler monkeys cry out to claim their territory, while groups of spider monkeys crawl up above the canopy of the dense forest. Giant unseen insects hum off-key melodies, and various species of multi-colored birds call out to declare their presence.
Tikal is open for visitors, and people are even allowed to climb to the top of some of the old temples where they can see the luxuriant foliage and colorful scenery surrounding this compound. If you think some of the flowers are moving, your eyes are probably not playing tricks on you. The jungle canopy is home to an incredible array of tropical birds, including Parrots, Toucans, and Macaws. Look for a native Quetzal with its distinct bright red marking.
Once nearly inaccessible, the archaeological site can be reached in comfort from Flores International Airport at nearby Santa Elena. From there, Tikal is a 45 minute drive along a paved highway. The other roads in the area are difficult for travelers. Usually unpaved, they require use of a four-wheel drive.
Tikal has more than 4000 separate structures. The oldest date from the Pre-classic period of the Mayan civilization, making them nearly two millennia, and many other buildings in the compound date only from the Classic period of the Maya, which ended around 900.
The most important constructions are centered on the Great Plaza and can be explored on foot. Carved altars, ceremonial buildings, residential and government palaces, surround the central plaza.
At the ends of the plaza are huge temples. The Temple of the Great Jaguar, or Temple I, guards one end, and Temple II watches over the other. Of these, the Temple of the Great Jaguar is a little taller, but the two were originally the same height. Both were buit around the year 700 by order of King Ah Cacao, whose tomb was found inside Temple I.
A third temple, the Temple of the Jaguar Priest, is off the main plaza. Newer than the others, it is named for its elaborate carved lintel showing a man adorned in a jaguar skin. At the far side of the site is Temple of the Double-Headed Serpent.
Of great interest to archaeologists is the Temple of the Inscriptions. Set apart from the rest of the compound, its roof decoration shows the longest hieroglyphic record from the Maya that has yet been found. The inscriptions have not been deciphered. It is assumed that the temple was built at the height of the Classic Period, but the inscription was added later.
The largest pyramid at Tikal is part of the famous el Mundo Perdido (”Lost World”). The monument, more than 100 feet high, seems to have aided in planetary measurements. In the nearby Plaza of Seven Temples, a palace with five doors from the Pre-Classic period was used as a foundation for later building.
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Puerto Quetzal
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KK .... GREAT INFO! Thanks so much! 
What did you do when you were there?
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