Is Tikal Worth Visiting? Unlock the Answer!
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Are you asking yourself, “Is Tikal worth visiting?” You’re in the right place!
A Little About Tikal
Tikal is a huge and sprawling archaeological site in the jungle of Northern Guatemala. It was described to me as the capital of the Mayan civilization during its time.
For me, it’s certainly the capital of all the sites I’ve visited. I was so impressed by everything I saw during my Tikal experience. It’s awe-inspiring.
It’s one of the largest ruin sites in the world and contains the tallest pre-Columbian pyramid in the western hemisphere, Temple IV. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is believed to have contained over 3,000 structures!
The city covers over six square miles and is surrounded by many more miles of jungle designated as Tikal National Park.
We’ll get into a lot of the details of a trip to Tikal, and tips to have the best experience possible.
After this, you should have no problem deciding if Tikal is worth a visit. Spoiler alert: it is!
Tikal vs Chichen Itza
Tikal isn’t as famous as Chichen Itza, but for my money, it’s a far better experience. For me, it’s not even close. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy Chichen Itza, as some bloggers say. I did enjoy it! I was totally enamored by Tikal though.
Here’s why Tikal beats Chichen Itza for me:
- It’s more beautiful
- It’s much bigger
- There are way fewer people
- The experience felt less touristy and more exploring
- More chances to observe wildlife
It’s also worth noting that the entrance fee is cheaper, though an entire trip to Tikal would likely cost more than an entire trip to Chichen Itza. It’s so far out in the jungle and requires some extra travel steps.
How to Get to Tikal
Let’s start from the beginning. To get to Tikal, you’ll need to do the following:
- Flight to Guatemala City
- Connecting flight to Flores (the country’s second-largest airport)
- From Flores, you can take day tours to Tikal, or get transport to the reserve. There are a few nearby lodging options, but I’d recommend staying on the reserve for its proximity and for its overall experience of staying in the jungle and being amongst the trees and wildlife.
There is a bus that goes from Guatemala City to Flores, but it’s LONG at 11 hours and does go through some shifty areas.
The bus isn’t the worst idea, as it’s the way to see Semuc Champey, but if you’re going to do it, I’d do it on the way back.
You’ll want to spend some time in Flores too. I recommend staying on the island somewhere. I stayed at Casa Azul and loved it!
Options for Visiting Tikal
Once you land in Flores, you’ll have options for how you’d like to visit Tikal. It’s the main attraction in that entire part of the country, so every storefront will have someone who can either get you there or knows how to get you there.
Let’s go over some of the options.
Day Trip From Flores
There will be a lot of options for day trips. Many will include lunch. Some will include another stop. I’m grouping them together because they all run on a similar timetable, and return to Flores at the end.
This is a great way to see Tikal, in fact, it’s what I did. I had a great experience and can’t fault anyone at all for seeing Tikal on a day trip. There’s enough time in the day for most people to see the site the way they want to see it.
There are three different types of entries:
- Sunrise
- Daytime
- Sunset (the sunset tour costs a bit more, but I know that some people will want that experience!)
I recommend going with the sunrise entry, as it gives you time in the morning to explore before it gets too hot. It also leaves you time to grab some food after and head over to Yaxha for sunset. We’ll get back to Yaxha in a moment.
Stay the Night Nearby
Staying the night nearby is a great option for visiting Tikal and is totally worth it. I’d recommend staying in the reserve. There are some nice options for places to stay and you really feel like you’re in the jungle.
You’ll pay more than staying back in Flores, but if you want that full jungle experience, live your dreams! There are spider monkeys swinging by. You can hear the howler monkeys, something I always find fascinating, and take as a sign that I’m in the wild!
Visit From Other Cities in Guatemala
There are tours from other parts of the country like Guatemala City and Antigua. These trips are by air and include the flight.
But, I recommend making the trip up to Flores and spending a few days there. You won’t regret it.
Don’t Miss Out On the Nearby Yaxha
Yaxha is another Mayan ruin site about an hour from Tikal. After spending the day in Tikal and getting some food to refuel, visiting Yaxha will be the perfect end to your day.
The site itself isn’t as excavated as Tikal, but there’s something authentic and wonderous about that. Knowing that under some of the hills you’re seeing, there are more structures waiting to be uncovered.
There are several structures inside Yaxha that are climbable. You might be tired after scurrying all over Tikal all day, but climb them all anyways, it’s a once in a lifetime experience, and every view is worth experiencing.
The climax of your Yaxha trip will be climbing its tallest temple and watching the sunset over Laguna Yaxha. It’s a breathtaking site that you’ll likely share with a handful of other explorers. Take your pictures, but be quiet, and really try to bask in the moment.
This is an underrated and under-talked-about experience. Maybe you’ve never even heard of Yaxha. You’ll thank me for this one, I promise.
Visiting Tikal FAQs
Time to answer those questions. I’ll try to get them all here, but if you have more, feel free to shoot me an email.
Why Should I Visit Tikal?
If you’re interested in Mayan culture at all, Tikal should already be on your list. It was a huge city with a ton of history, lasting longer than many of the other sites you’ll visit.
Its position in the jungle surrounds you with seemingly never-ending views of green. It reminded me of Rey telling Han Solo, “I didn’t know there was this much green in the whole galaxy.”
Speaking of Star Wars, if you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll recognize a view from the original Star Wars movie, A New Hope. Take a picture here as I did and compare it to the shot from the movie that was shot over 50 years ago!
You’ll likely get a peek at some wildlife that you’d have to visit a zoo to see in the states. Keep your eyes peeled for:
- Toucans
- Howler Monkeys
- Spider Monkeys
- Tarantulas
- Coatis (like a raccoon with a long fluffy tail)
- Jaguars (extremely unlikely to see, but they do live there)
There are so many structures to see in Tikal, complexes full of structures. The many temples will have you walking and climbing all day. It’s a ruin experience unlike any other.
Do I Need a Guide to Visit Tikal?
A guide is not necessary for Tikal, but I’d recommend hiring one for this site. It’s so big, and there’s so much to see, you don’t want to miss anything. Having a guide while visiting Tikal is worth it.
I had a wonderful guide in Tikal. He’s a native, was born in a building on the reserve that no longer exists, and knew the grounds like the back of his hand. He took us off the trail where it was safe to do so to get us a better look at some wildlife.
He even coaxed a tarantula out of its underground home and let us hold it (not me of course, yuck!). You can’t get an experience like that without a native guide. Tikal is too big and too open. A guide will ensure you see it all.
How Many Days Should I Spend in Tikal?
A full day is enough to see the Tikal site itself. If you book strategically, you can even move over to Yaxha for the sunset.
Staying on or near the reserve for one night is doable, whether it’s the night before Tikal and Yaxha or staying the night when you’re finished with the experience.
That way, you can see the surrounding areas and sites like Uaxactun the day before, or the day after, before heading back to Flores.
Is Flores, Guatemala Worth Visiting?
As for Flores, it’s worth spending some time there too! I’d recommend at least three nights in Flores. There are some other things you’ll want to check out while you’re in the area like:
- Crater Azul
- Seibal/Ceibal
- Jorge’s Rope Swing
- Boat Tour of Lake Peten Itza
It’s also just a great place to relax. If you follow my lodging recommendation to Hotel Casazul, right on the water, you’ll want to spend some time just basking on the covered balcony.
Is Tikal Safe?
The island of Flores is one of the safest places you’ll be in Guatemala. That’s partly why I took the tour from Flores rather than finding my own way up to Tikal and spending the night.
There are tours that drive you there the night before, but they’re a bit more expensive. Most of the safety concerns in Guatemala aren’t in the cities and towns where you’ll be, especially Flores. The danger often comes from the need to drive through areas where gang violence exists.
I’m not a safety professional by any means, but I’ll tell you I never felt unsafe or like we were in a bad area when I was in Flores, or anywhere around Tikal. The tour companies know the bad areas and will do their best to keep you away from there.
This is another reason I recommend a guide for Tikal. The jungle there is remote. It’s in their best interest to keep you safe. That was my thinking when I was there, anyway, and everything was fine.
Conclusion: Is Tikal Worth Visiting?
Emphatically, bordering on forcefully yes, Tikal is worth visiting. It’s beautiful and interesting, an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your life.
You get heavy doses of Mayan culture, jungle views, and wildlife sightings. Every view is one you’ll want to sit and absorb.
If you’re going to Guatemala, I recommend heading up to Flores for 3-5 days when you land, then if you’re up for it, take the bus to Semuc Champey. It’s about 5 hours or halfway back to Antigua, which should be your next stop.
Tikal, Yaxha, and the jungles and lakes of Peten are most definitely worth visiting!
Have fun out there!