The Tikal ruins are tucked away in the jungle about 30 kms from a main road. It's an easy and relaxing drive getting there from the main highway. The signs on the road state the speed limit is 40kph so to make sure you drive slow one attendant writes the time on a slip when you entered the road, and another attendant at the ruin site checks the time. I'm not sure what the punishment is if you get there too fast. The reason is to slow everyone down to avoid hitting any wild animals.
Tikal is an important tourist draw for this part of Guatemala; the panhandle and state of Peten. Care with preserving this site is of the utmost importance. Bruce, being a lover of animals more than people, is always careful with the wildlife but we found it odd the Guatemalans living, walking and working along the gravel road from the Belize-Guatemala border not being protected. A pinched rock from a tire has enough force to put an eye out and the potholes can cause a swerve into another vehicle causing injuries or casualties of an overloaded bus, truck or wagon. Unfortunately, we later learned, this is the way things are because of the recent history this country has endured.....political and rebelious termoil from 1961-96. We are very lucky to see Tikal at a time of political peace which has only been in the last 12 of 47 years in Guatemala.
Men working on temple, notice the worker/climber with no safety tether....it's a long way down....photo right is the temple they are working on.
Tikal is a large complex with the most impressive and important buildings restored. Unlike Palenque, the grounds are not completely cleared so you have to walk through the well-marked jungle trails to see the ruins. Some buildings are still partially overgrown with jungle flora and there is still ongoing work excavating and restoring. Seeing the monkeys, coati, wild pig-like rodents, birds and listening to the jungle sounds was as much fun as seeing the ruins. There was even a little crocodile in the nearby mini-lagoon.
We camped under a heavily shaded tree on a soccer field next to the ruins and had a candlelight dinner at the adjacent restaurant. The candle was not for the ambiance but to see. The restaurant had no electricity and probably used propane or gas to cook our meals...one of the best spaghetti meals we've had in a while.
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