Tikal

Tikal is why people come to Flores. The trek to Peten, up in the north of the country, a rural hinterland which contains one of the largest Mayan national parks in the world. For those who want the full spec, here's the detail

http://www.tikalnationalpark.org

An hours drive outside this tiny isle of Flores lays this mysterious vast network jungle wilderness where a climb reveals stone pyramids jutting out of the treetops, jungle paths wind round temples looming amidst monkey filled trees.

The ruins at Tikal

Our group from the hostel arrived in the early afternoon, as I opted for sunset not sunrise...I like my sleep...and the weather was perfect. The sun’s rays cooled by a breeze as we trekked through the deep forest. Snakes slithered past, spider monkeys leapt above our heads, howler monkeys frightened the life out of me. There are jaguars here, and that's what they sound like!

Tikal temple

Time to explore at will, to clamber the soaring stone steps to the temples and to sit and contemplate life here centuries ago when the complex at its wealthy height was home to hundreds of thousands of people. No one knows why this empire declined at the end of the ninth century, possibly famine, natural disasters, the air of mystery adds to the magic of this ancient site.

Standing in an astrologically lucky place, according to Mayan culture

At Tikal ...the centre of the complex

Atop temple ruins at Tikal

The massive stone faces in the temple walls

At sunset we gingerly negotiated a derelict tower, forking out our 20q (They know how to make money here!) to perch on a ledge high above the trees whilst the most glorious sunset unfurled before us. The sky was a multicoloured canvas of golden rays sparking purple and pink streaks. The darkening skies brought flocks of birds swirling around us as we descended for the night walk out of the park. No jaguars in sight, but who knows what lurked in the blackness.

Sunset at Tikal

Archaeologists know there is masses here to uncover, it is a vast park, we barely touched the surface. It is a weird feeling to walk the steps of these ancestral people, for whilst nature has reclaimed their empire it still echoes with ghosts of its glorious past. Tikal’s modern day fame may owe as much now to its use in the Star Wars franchise as to the Maya but the Mayans still haunt this sacred site, it belongs to them, they created it, they own it and their presence is everywhere.

Tikal...the star wars shot!