Discover the heart of the Maya travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

Located 548km (341 miles) north of Guatemala City, the ancient site of Tikal was once home to an estimated 100,000 Maya. Unlike many other ancient Mayan sites, the wonders of Tikal are hidden deep within the rainforest. Every year, visitors come to gaze at its towering 70m- (230ft) high pyramid and ancient plazas to the accompaniment of jungle sounds. The site has more than 3000 structures including temples and palaces and is located in Tikal National Park, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to many species of wildlife. There is also an on-site museum, which contains a collection of objects found during excavations at the site.

You will find another quality of the Tikal area to be its abundance of wildlife. Tikal is surrounded by an immense and lush rain forest with an amazing diversity of flora and fauna. You can spend days to a week or more exploring and watching the animals, birds and insects. For best explanations you can get Tikal National Park Guides to show you around. The Monkeys and toucans are common but most common are the Coatimundis. Your trek in Tikal will be one of the most impressive parts of your travels.