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Home  /  Home Page Slider  /  UNESCO site offers an amazing look at Guatemala history

UNESCO site offers an amazing look at Guatemala history

From the top of a Maya pyramid the view of the jungle and other pyramids was something I imagined other adventure travelers witnessing; not me. But I was here with the help of a manmade staircase alongside the ancient structure and encouraging guides. It was from this vantage point George Lucas filmed scenes for his first Star Wars movie in 1977.

I sat for a long time taking in the magic of the moment. Magic is actually a perfect word for Guatemala, the Maya Culture and Tikal National Park located almost 200 miles north of Guatemala City. Visiting the ruins of the ancient city was one of many Maya discoveries I made with Bella Guatemala Travel, a California-based tour company specializing in Guatemala culture, history and natural beauty.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centers of pre-Columbian Maya civilizations. Dating to 4th century BC, the city dominated much of the Maya region. Population estimates vary from 10,000 to as high as 90,000.

The causes of the Maya empire’s collapse remain a mystery. Wars, famine, overpopulation and resource depletion have all been blamed. Tikal, according to historians and archeologists, began to suffer from deforestation, erosion and a decline in population. The site was completely abandoned by the end of the 10th century and the rainforest claimed the ruins for nearly a thousand years.

Exploring Tikal

From the parking area we walked along a narrow dirt road cutting through the jungle. My Bella Guatemala Travel guides Jose Antonio Gonzalez, an archeologist, and Emilio Faillace, a naturalist, helped everyone in the tour group understand the jungle and the Maya ruins all around us.

When the jungle opened up Gonzalez and Faillace pointed out palaces, temples and ball courts; some are covered with vegetation and others have been restored. Still others are hidden by trees and would be impossible to identify without the help of our expert guides.

The Temple of the Grand Jaguar (Temple I) and the Temple of the Masks (Temple II) are located on opposite sides of the Great Palace, a vast expanse ringed by terraces, palaces and ball courts.

Temple I rises 165 feet above the jungle floor. There are nine tiers corresponding to the nine levels of the Maya underworld. Archeologists discovered the tomb of Ah Cacau inside the tomb. Festooned with jade ornaments, the skeleton was also surrounded by offerings of pottery, alabaster and pearls.

Temple II is almost as tall as Temple I and just as impressive.

Other temples include Temple III or the Temple of the Jaguar Priest; Temple V, a mortuary pyramid of an unidentified ruler; and Temple VI, also known as the Temple of the Inscriptions.

Temple IV, also known as the Temple of the Double Headed Serpent, is the temple I climbed for my spectacular view of the jungle. It is the tallest Tikal pyramid standing 230 feet high. It was built in 740 AD by Jasaw Chan K’awil’s son Yik’in Chan Kawil to honor his father.

Well maintained paths and open space made it easy to stroll
through what was once a thriving commercial, political and military center. We stayed several hours taking in the intrigue and beauty of the setting.

The spirits of the men and women who once worked and raised their families in Tikal live on in the thousands of Maya descendants living in Guatemala. Guatemala is truly an oasis of beauty and culture, and a welcoming respite for any traveler.

For additional articles on Guatemala, click here.

Tags: Bella Guatemala Travel, Guatemala, UNESCO
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marilynjones

Marilyn Jones, a journalist and photographer for more than 30 years, specializes in travel. Her articles and photographs have appeared in major newspapers including Dallas Morning News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore Sun, Chicago Sun-Time and Columbus Dispatch. As well as major magazines including Elks Magazine, Alabama Living, Military Officer, Escapees, Texas Farm and Home, Illinois Country Living, Carolina Country and Renaissance Magazine.

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2 Comments

  1. Marcy Iwanski Reply
    June 20, 2017 at 12:25 am

    Howdy! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance from an established blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Thank you

    • marilynjones Reply
      June 24, 2017 at 11:06 am

      Check out WordPresss for ideas and I can recommend GoDaddy as a good server…good luck!! I hope you are very successful!!

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About Me

Marilyn Jones, a journalist and photographer for more than 30 years, specializes in travel. Her articles and photographs have appeared in major newspapers including Dallas Morning News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Baltimore Sun, Chicago Sun-Time and Columbus Dispatch. As well as major magazines including Elks Magazine, Alabama Living, Military Officer, Escapees, Texas Farm and Home, Illinois Country Living, Carolina Country and Renaissance Magazine.

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