Tikal, a Mayan city in Guatemala, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest cities in the Classic Maya world. It was conquered by Caracol but regained independence under Jasaw Chan K’awiil. The site has six step pyramids and thousands of structures, making it a popular tourist destination.
Tikal is a ruined Mayan city in Guatemala. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been since 1979. It is perhaps the most famous Maya site outside of Mexico and is one of the largest cities in the Classic Maya world.
The Maya civilization flourished in its classical period from about the 3rd century to the 10th century, and during that time it built the most amazing cities and temples and erected magnificent stone pillars, or stelae, adorned with carvings and hieroglyphs. Tikal was, and is, one of the most striking of these sites and has captivated visitors ever since its rediscovery.
Major construction on the site appears to have begun in the 4th century BC, well before the start of the Classic Period of Maya civilization, and Tikal is thought to have been one of the new civilization’s first major cities. It quickly became one of the dominant forces in the Maya lowlands and was constantly at war with neighboring states of Maya civilization.
For almost a century there was no construction on Tikal, from the late 6th century to the late 7th century. For a time this was not understood by archaeologists, but it eventually became clear from hieroglyphic descriptions of the time that the city was conquered by the neighboring state of Caracol, and remained under their control until Jasaw Chan K’awiil rose to reclaim the independence of Tikal and strength in the region.
Like most Mayan sites, Tikal was never truly a lost city, as a continuity was maintained by descendants of the Classic Maya, who remembered their city’s location. In the 17th century, references to the city began appearing in Western writings and a number of writers reported rumors of this lost city. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century, however, that the West finally made contact with it, when Modesto Mendez made his way to the ruins. An airstrip was established in the early 1917s, allowing easier access to this remote site, and archaeological work began soon after.
Tikal is an absolutely monumental site, with literally thousands of structures in the park, most of which have not even been excavated, despite more than fifty years of archaeological work in the area. The visual highlight of the site is the collection of six step pyramids, with their temples adorning their summits. The tallest of these pyramids is more than 200 feet (60m) tall, and they create the iconic images that people have come to associate with the Mayans.
The city has become one of the most popular tourist sites in the Mayan world, due to the integrity of the ruins and their prolific nature. A large tourist infrastructure has been built around it and there are numerous options available for transport, accommodation, catering and guides. Many people find a single day sufficient to explore Tikal, while others are easily able to spend a week browsing the ruins, examining the glyphs engraved on the structures, and exploring the beautiful rainforest that surrounds the city itself.
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