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Guatemala is not complete without visiting Tikal and Flores. After doing Semuc Champey, next morning I took a bus (minivan) from Lanquín to Flores. Flores is the gateway to the Petén, Guatemala’s vast northern rainforest region, because it’s the main transport hub. I reached Flores late afternoon. Isla de Flores is a cute, colourful area clustered onto a small island in Lake Petén Itza, and connected to the mainland via a short causeway. It’s a small walkable island .
I reached late afternoon . Due to my luggage , I took a tuk-tuk to my hotel. I was just staying for a night Casa Maya Itza which was a comfortable stay. I was waked up around 3AM for Tikal sunrise tour. The ancient Maya city of Tikal, Guatemala is one of the most spectacular, and the largest excavated Mayan site on the continent. Dating back to between 600BC and 900AD, the ruins of around two dozen huge pyramids and structures can be found in the rainforest of northern Guatemala. This ancient city is one of the largest archaeological sites of the pre-Colombian civilisation. Temple VI – the best spot for sunrise, was actually the largest pre-Colombian structure in the Americas. A UNESCO World Heritage site, population estimates are at around 90,000-100,000 inhabitants, with the most likely figure being at the top end of these numbers. The dynasty who ruled over the site potentially spanned 800 years and 33 rulers in that time. The grounds of the national park span around 575 square kms, with around 16 square kms making up Tikal itself. But interestingly, just 100 years after the site was built, the Maya civilisation collapsed and the structures were left to be reclaimed by the jungle. It wasn’t until 1848 that the lost city of Tikal, Guatemala was rediscovered.
The sunrise Tikal tour left at about 3am from Flores and took me by minibus to the park. There was a guide to take me to Temple VI for sunrise. However it was super cloudy , so I had no luck with sunrise. After sunrise, I was given a tour of the park by the expert guide who spoke about the history and traditions and the fascinating growth and disappearance of the Mayans. They also spoke about wildlife, the temples . I managed hold Tarantulas which felt docile.
I spent time at the great plaza . The Great Plaza is flanked by Temple I (Great Jaguar Temple) and Temple II (Temple of the Masks) on opposite sides. The plaza is considered the epicentre of life at Tikal and a key area for understanding the city’s layout and importance. The plaza is bordered by the North Acropolis and the Central Acropolis, which housed royal residences. Tikal, a prominent Mayan city, contains several structures that functioned as astronomical observatories. The most notable of these is the Mundo Perdido (Lost World) complex, which includes a large pyramid and platforms used to observe the sun’s position during equinoxes and solstices. Additionally, Temple I, also known as the Temple of the Great Jaguar, is believed to have been used as a celestial observatory, aligning with the sunrise during specific times of the year.
I came back at Flores by 12. I had full day as my flight was in the evening. I spent couple of hours in Flores is by taking a ‘lancha’ (boat) ride on the lake. Lancha drivers park their boats up at several pontoons all the way round the island’s perimeter, and will take you anywhere you want to go. I went to the San Miguel viewpoint, Petencito Zoo. The best views of the Isla de Flores can be had from the San Miguel Mirador, also known as the Mirador del Rey Canek. This is a viewpoint on the San Miguel side of the lake, just opposite the northwest tip of the island. The lancha dropped me off at a jetty on the other side, from where it’s a relatively easy walk up a couple of hundred steps to the colourfully-painted viewing platform. The path is easy to follow . At the bottom of the last staircase a warden who will ask you to sign a register – this is just so they can keep track of visitor numbers. The zoo one can enjoy many species of animals and fauna. It’s Surrounded by two lagoons that are Monifata and Equexejil.
The middle of the Isla de Flores is a hill, with steep streets leading up to the main square at the top. Here one will find a few old Maya stelae dating from before the Spanish conquest. The white-painted cathedral (Catedral Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios y San Pablo Itzá) is also worth a quick visit. Rising above the rest of the old town, it’s one of the oldest churches in Guatemala and was built on the site of the original Maya temple. One can admire the beautiful stained-glass windows and a rare Black figure of Jesus. Sadly, the rest of Flores’ Mayan history has either been taken away to museums, or was lost or destroyed after the Spanish conquest. I had last few hours to walk aimlessly around alleways in the old town . After that I came back to my hotel to collect my luggage and hired a TukTuk to Airport. One french guy tagged along with me so we shared the cost of the TukTuk which was not much anyway.
