Up one level Guatemala and Honduras » Tikal

Tikal
Tikal lived up to my expectations. I think it is as spectacular as Machu Picchu, but in a different way. We got up early for the sunrise tour (well worth the money because you get to Tikal before most other people get there), and spent a couple of hours sitting at the top of Temple IV shrouded in mist. It seems that you rarely get a good sunrise in Tikal because of the fog but the sunrise tour is still well worth the money. Sitting at the top of Temple IV listening to the birds and howler monkeys in stereo sound while being surrounded by mist is a magnificent experience (Listen to howler monkeys and birds!). Temple IV is the highest temple in Tikal at 64 m (210 ft) and the view of the tops of the other temples emerging above the jungle canopy is stunning. Equally stunning (and perhaps more so than Temple IV) is the view from the top of Temple V (58 m / 190 ft). The great thing about visiting Tikal in the low season is that we often got the views from the temple tops all to ourselves. We also saw a lot of birds and monkeys hanging out in trees, including spider monkeys and toucans.

_mg_0615 Serene and me at the top of the pyramid. Shrouded in fog behind us is Temple IV. _mg_0631 Lichen covered ruin in the El Mundo Perdido part of Tikal. _mg_0653 A moody Temple V just after sunrise. _mg_0726 Tourists in the North Acropolis in the Great Plaza. _mg_0733 Temple II (38 m / 125 ft) in the Great Plaza. _mg_0832 Serene and me at the top of Temple IV with Temple I, II, and III in the background. _mg_0850 Temple I, II, and III from the top of Temple IV. _mg_0862 Leaf cutter ants across the path. _mg_0878 Jungle canopy. _mg_0892 Temple I and II from the top of Temple V. _mg_0901 Temple I (44 m / 144 ft) in the Great Plaza.