We caught a 5.00 am bus from Flores to Tikal. We thought we might be able to see the sunrise over the Pyramids, but it wasn't possible. The ticket office opens at 6.00 am, and then it's another 22 km to the car park and a 20 minute walk from there to the Grand Plaza, so the only way to be there for sunrise is to stay in the park. It was a bit overcast when we got there as well.
Panorama of Tikal from the Gran Piramide.
Temple of the Grand Jaguar from Temple II
Side view of Templo II
Rear of Templo II
Temple V
The Great Plaza from behind Temple II
Temple of the Grand Jaguar
The pyramids at Tikal seemed to be a lot steeper than the others we'd seen, but partly that's due to the Roof Combs over the temples which are about a quarter of the total height.
The Great Plaza from the North Acropolis with Temple V in the background.
Temple II
Temple II. The steps to the platform are on the left-hand side.
The North Acropolis from Temple II.
The Great Plaza is flanked by the North and South Acropolis, Temple of the Grand Jaguar and Temple II. Since a couple of people were killed falling from the Temple of the Grand Jaguar it's been closed, but we climbed Temple II opposite.
Temple of the Grand Jaguar from the North Acropolis
Temple II from the North Acropolis
Temple of the Grand Jaguar with Temple V in the background.
The busiest part of the site is the Great Plaza, when we went to the Plaza of the Seven Temples, the Gran Pyramid and Mundo Perdido we were completely on our own.
Restoration work in the Plaza of the Seven Temples
Shiry in the Mundo Perdido
Temple III through the trees.
A lot of the structures were only restored on one side so we could get an idea of what they looked like before restoration.
Side of the Gran Piramide
The Gran Pyramide. Shiry is a third of the way up, on the right.
Looking at Temple III from the Gran Piramide
For us Tikal and Palenque were the two best sites we visited. The ruins were fantastic and their setting in the rainforest added to the impression.
The unrestored side of Temple III
People on Temple III
One of the pyramids of Complex Q
Pyramid at Complex Q.
The rainforest around the ruins is a nature reserve. We saw monkeys, coatis, crocodiles, lizards and plenty of birds. Unfortunately most of them wouldn't stay still, or let us get close but we got a few pictures.
Coati Mundis in the trees.
This Spider Monkey appeared as I was changing my camera's batteries.
The same Spider Monkey
An Occelated Turkey
This Turkey Vulture scared Shiry
Oriole and nests hanging from a tree in front of the Temple of the Grand Jaguar
The best toilets in mesoamerica.
Shiry thought these toilets were the best of the whole holiday. We heard the next woman who came out say the same to her friends.