Guatemala Travel Blog

Tikal, Guatemala

A short visit.  A short Blog.

My stop in Guatemala isn’t a proper visit,,  it’s just a one day adventure.  No scuba diving,,, just exploring.

Starting and ending my day in San Ignacio, Belize. Not even the same country !

I have arranged a private tour of Tikal.  The ancient Mayan ruins located in Northern Guatemala.  .. so at sunrise,  I’m picked up at my hotel.. and another adventure begins.

A short 30 minute car ride, and I’m at the border of Belize and Guatemala. My driver says goodbye .. and assures me – someone will meet me on the other side.

This is an old-school, African style border crossing. 

I find my way to an outside corridor;  typical, with an overhead cover.. I queue up with other travelers ....  In a few minutes, I get to a Belize Immigration officer.. pay an exit fee ($20) - cash only, get an exit stamp..  walk on to the next building/corridor.

Repeating the steps, with Guatemalan Immigration.  Passport stamped.   I’m in another country.  Maybe 20 minutes total.  I was told,, in peak tourist season – the queue can be horrible.  Guess I was fortunate.

Exiting Guatemala immigration, I’m greeted by a local guide and driver..  They have a giant, quality van. Thankfully.  The long 2.5 hour drive turns out to be a bumpy one.

Only eventful part of the drive to Tikal...  Is passing a Triathlon,  in progress.. in the middle of a jungle city, on a giant lake. Wow, absolutely cool.  Reminds me of doing so many Triathlons,  a life time ago

Tikal.

A huge complex of Mayan Ruins.  5-6 giant pyramids, with tons of smaller structures.  Hundreds of earth mounds surround the plaza’s and pyramids ... covering more ruins.  A giant city in the jungle.  This was an ancient City to millions and millions of people;   1000BC thru 1700AD ..    An astonishing thought.

I climb 4 pyramids to their view points.   Getting looks down upon the green plaza’s and the surrounding lush jungle.  The views make me feel small on a giant ball.

This UNESCO Heritage site is huge.  I see a ton of people there – but, since the site is large, it never feels crowded.  Only a few people are on all day trips from Belize – like me.  Most are on tours from other parts of Guatemala.

Experiencing the Mayan Ruins has been a long overdue adventure.  I search out the ruins of ancient civilizations around the world ...  I am lucky to have already seen:

-         The Great Wall of China, Ankor Wat of Cambodia, Petra of Jordon,  Giza Pyramids of Egypt, Machu Picchu of Peru, Stonehenge of England, Terracotta Warriors of China, Sigiriya of Sri Lanka, Karnak of Egypt, Pompeii of Italy, Ephesus of Turkey, Bagan of Myanmar, Acropolis of Greece, The Coliseum of Italy.

Now;  Tikal of Guatemala.

Ceremonial altars, rock carvings, and history lessons from my guide – time here flies by.

Visiting Tikal is 3 hours of hiking.  But the pathways are well maintained, and some of the pyramids have proper stairs.  By the finish.. you know you had a workout !!

Back in the Van;  I’m taken to an outstanding Guatemalan restaurant for a late lunch;   then to an ATM for local cash (tip money),,  and finally a long drive back to the border.

Reverse the land crossing.  More passport stamps.. and ‘home’ at 6pm.. Back at my San Ignacio, Belize hotel.

Tikal and back.

Not a visit of Guatemala City, or their Pacific coast villages.  Just a great view of their Northern mountains and jungles.. and a visit to their most famous Mayan ruin.

Guatemala Travel Blog.