The city and surrounding area is now a protected national park, and visitors are welcome to explore the ruins.The epicenter of Mayan culture in Central America, Guatemala is renowned for its dramatic volcanoes, black-sand beaches, biodiverse jungles, thriving Mayan townships and the stunning ruins of Tikal. However, they left a part of themselves behind in the ruins. Scientists are not sure whether war, disease, famine or some other reason caused the Mayans to leave Tikal. The last recorded date on a monument in Tikal is 869 A.D., and historians believe that by 950 A.D. Another innovation used by the Mayans were sacbes, which were raised causeways paved with lime-based cement, connecting Tikal’s ceremonial nodes. Water conservation was important to the Mayans at this site, and they engineered reservoir and culvert systems to help with the storage and usage of water. In addition to the towering temples and other unique architectural works, Tikal is well known for the carved inscriptions and exceptional polychrome ceramics found there. Temple I and Temple II lie to the east and west of the Great Plaza. Temple VI has an immense display of hieroglyphics that narrate the history of the city. Visitors can scale it by using protruding roots and wooden ladders. There are six temple pyramids, with the tallest one, Temple IV, standing 65 meters (212 feet) high. The Central Acropolis encompasses 700 feet of long buildings with many rooms, often called palaces. Some are carved with images of rulers and hieroglyphs. The North Acropolis holds seventy slabs of stone, called stelae, that stand in a double row with altars set in front of them. These include the North Acropolis and the Central Acropolis. In time, other structures were built surrounding the Plaza. Approximately 3000 sites have been uncovered and nearly 10,000 still need to be revealed.Īt the center is the Great Plaza, a large area with a plaster-like floor. The portion of the city now excavated is quite impressive. Due to the growth of the jungle, archaeologists did not rediscover it until 1848. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, the Mayans abandoned the city around 900 A.D. Just outside Antigua, tourists can hike up the volcanoes or hop on a bus to tour coffee farms, cacao plantations and traditional villages. Museums and art galleries showcase Antigua’s history, culture and art, while the Hill of the Cross presents panoramic views of the city. The heart of the city is Central Park, a large green space with trees, walking paths, monuments and fountains, where people can relax or hire taxis to get around the city.Ī must-do is get lost in the city’s huge market with its maze of tropical fruit stalls and flowers. Just a simple stroll through the city center awards views of spectacular architecture, historic churches and prominent landmarks like the Santa Catalina Arch. Nevertheless, Antigua still retains an outstanding collection of well-preserved Spanish architecture, which furnishes the city with an enchanting and romantic atmosphere.Ī major center for learning the Spanish language as well as a popular base for exploring other parts of Guatemala, Antigua provides a plethora of impressive sights and activities. Once the noble capital of the Spanish Empire in Central America, Antigua was severely damaged during a major earthquake in 1773, causing the city to lose its sovereignty to what is now modern-day Guatemala City. Set against the pictorial backdrop of three imposing volcanoes in the central highlands of Guatemala, the beautiful, old colonial town of Antigua is one of the country’s top tourist destinations. Also close by, the Ixpanpajul Natural Park is a great place for forest hikes, ziplining, canopy tours, horseback riding and wildlife viewing. The Petencito Zoo offers encounters with native animals like jaguars and monkeys. With several piers along the lake, tourists can do like the locals and jump off to take a refreshing swim. Boat cruises can be taken across Lake Peten to view picturesque scenery and a variety of birds. Walks through the Old Town offer the sights of beautiful old Spanish churches and colonial buildings. But the island city itself is a great place to visit in Guatemala, filled with colonial, red-roofed buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, a historic church and many hotels and restaurants. It was here, on the island of Flores, that the last independent Maya state held out against the Spanish conquerors.įor many tourist, the main reason to visit Flores is its proximity to the famous Maya ruins of Tikal. Flores is a located on Lake Petén Itzá and connected to land by a causeway, on the other side of which lie the twin towns Santa Elena and San Benito.
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