The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Tikal in Guatemala (2024)

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Everything You NEED to Know Before Visiting Tikal

This is the ultimate guide to Tikal National Park in Guatemala and will cover everything you need to know before visiting these Ancient Mayan Ruins. We’ll go over costs, transportation, what to bring, the best time to visit, and much more!

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A Brief Overview of Tikal National Park

Tikal National Park hosts a massive ancient Mayan temple complex amidst the beautiful Guatemalan rainforest. This perfect blend of history and nature makes it such a popular attraction for travelers from all over the world. Some temples are fully covered in various trees, grass, and shrubs, while some stand magnificently above the treetops.

The Mayan City’s ruins date back to the 4th century BC, and in 1979, it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is 6.2 square miles (16 square kilometers), but the Tikal National Park spans across 220 square miles (572 square kilometers). Although only 5% of Tikal National Park is open to visitors as it was declared a protected area, there is still TONS to explore. As you summit these beautiful temples and admire the precious views atop the Guatemalan jungle, you’ll realize this is an experience you’ll never forget. Let’s get into this complete guide for visiting Tikal in Guatemala!

How to Get to Tikal National Park

The most common way to visit Tikal National Park is via a tour from Flores. You can either get a guided tour or just pay for transportation, though we highly recommend going with a guide so that you can get more information about what you’re exploring! We did a shared guided tour and paid $20 per person.

For the more adventurous, you can also do a 3-Day, 2-Night trek called Trek El Zotz to Tikal or a 5-Day, 4-Night trek called El Mirador, which both end up at Tikal.

Also, many tour agencies from San Ignacio, Belize offer trips to Tikal as it is only 2.5 hours away.

Check Out This All-Inclusive 9-Day Belize and Tikal Trip!

How Much does a Ticket to Tikal National Park Cost?

Every (non-Guatemalan) person will pay 150 GTQ ($19 USD) to get in. For both sunrise and sunset, you’ll pay an extra 100 GTQ ($13 USD). If you plan on camping, you’ll pay an extra 50 GTQ ($6 USD). If you want to go all the way to Uaxactun, you’ll pay an extra 50 GTQ ($6 USD). The sunrise ticket is from 4:30 AM to 6 AM, the day ticket is from 6 AM to 5 PM, and the sunset ticket is from 5 PM to 8 PM.

Should You get a Tour Guide for Tikal National Park?

While you don’t absolutely need a tour guide for Tikal National Park, we highly recommend using one. Our guide was extremely informative and knowledgeable and even showed us his photo collection of all the crazy wildlife he’s seen over the years. The downside to getting a guide is you won’t have much freedom to explore as you’ll likely be on a tight schedule.

What to Pack for a Visit to Tikal

Bug spray: Mosquitos thrive in the Guatemalan jungle so be prepared!
Long Pants: It’s a little cool here, especially in the morning!
Rain Jacket: It rained when we went, even in the dry season.
Snacks: You’ll definitely be hungry before you can get to a restaurant!
Water/Electrolyte Drinks: Stay hydrated with all the temple-climbing!
Shoes With Good Traction: The moss-covered temples and paths can be super slippery. We recommend this pair of Salomon’s for men and this pair or Jack Wolfskin’s for women.
Sunscreen: There are a few exposed spots around the temples where you might burn.
Binoculars: these will be a tremendous help in spotting wildlife in the treetops!

When is the Best Time to Visit Tikal?

The best time of year to visit Tikal is from November to March, as the rainy season lasts from May to October, and April is incredibly hot. However, we don’t recommend going in late December, as this is the peak of Tikal’s tourism. Up to 10,000 people visit Tikal PER DAY, and wait times to climb the temples can be up to an hour.

The best time of day to visit Tikal depends on your preferences. Would you sacrifice sleep to see more wildlife, less crowds, and a beautiful sunrise? Then start your journey off early and buy a sunrise ticket! Even if you don’t want to go for sunrise, we recommend getting the earliest possible day time ticket (we left Flores at 4:30 for our tour, and it felt like we really had the place to ourselves). This ensures you won’t have to wait in lines to climb the temples or deal with any crazy crowds. If you want to see the sunset and potentially go on a night safari, make sure to get a sunset ticket! Keep in mind that while tours may have the word “Sunrise” in the name, but unless they arrive well before 6 am, you won’t see the sunrise from inside Tikal.

Should I Stay in Flores or Tikal?

If you plan on doing a sunrise or sunset tour, going to Uaxactun, or doing multiple days here, we recommend staying in Tikal. If you are just interested in a day trip, you should stay in Flores.

Where To Stay in Flores

Flores Accommodations

Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel

View More →

Check out the Best Things to Do in Flores!

Where To Stay in Tikal

Tikal Accommodations

BUDGET

Jungle Lodge Tikal Hostal

MID-RANGE

Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal

HIGH-END

Hotel Jungle Lodge Tikal

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Best Things to Do in Tikal

Grand Plaza

The center of the beautiful ancient Mayan city is a courtyard boxed in by the aforementioned structures. Here you can climb Temple II, the center acropolis, and Maler’s Palace, but not Temple I. If you clap your hands in the center of the plaza, the echoes will produce the sound of a Quetzal, Guatemala’s National bird!

Fun Fact: Tikal is named the “City of Voices” or “City of Echoes”

Temple IV

This is the tallest temple at Tikal, standing 70 meters above ground. It also is the most popular temple (after Temple II) to climb because of its magnificent 180-degree views of the other temples. This was also used as the rebel base in Star Wars: A New Hope. This re-opened for visitors in December of 2023.

Temple III

Called Temple of the Jaguar Priest, this was the last pyramid to be built at Tikal. Unfortunately you can’t climb this, as it hasn’t been fully investigated by archaeologists and is not safe to climb.

Temple V

This is the second tallest temple at 57 meters high. Temple V is unique because it seemingly comes out of nowhere as you’re walking through the jungle. It’s a beautiful, large temple that’s definitely one of the most picturesque.

Ball Courts

These don’t have the same beauty as the temples, but the history is amazing. Here the Mayans used to play what I refer to as a mix of soccer and quidditch. They used their elbows, ankles, shoulders, and knees to move a 10 pound rubber ball into the opponents’ rings. Matches usually lasted multiple days, with the reward for the winning team’s victory being the sacrifice of their captain.

Lost World

This temple is awesome because after a short climb, you’ll be met with 360-degree views of Tikal. Seeing the tops of these temples peak out above the lush treetops was truly an amazing sight.

What Wildlife can You See in Tikal National Park?

According to UNESCO, there are 60 species of bat, 100+ mammals including five cats – Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Margay and Jaguar, Monkeys, Ant Eaters & more. The 330+ bird species include the near-threatened Ocellated Turkey, Crested Eagle and Ornate Hawk-Eagle. Of the 100+ reptiles the endangered Central American River Turtle, Morelet’s Crocodile and 38 species of snakes stand out. While there are tons of animals here, many (such as the wildcats) are extremely rare to spot.

We saw a tarantula, howler monkeys, toucans and various other birds, agoutis (mini capybaras), red squirrel, spider monkeys, and TONS of coatis.

What are the Uaxactun Ruins?

Uaxactun is another Ancient Mayan city that is much smaller than Tikal. Uaxactun was rediscovered around ~65 years after Tikal was rediscovered. Overshadowed by Tikal, it doesn’t receive the same tourist or financial attention as Tikal. Guatemala is attempting to bring awareness and visitors to Uaxactun, so make sure to visit if you have time! Uaxactun is only a 40 minute drive north of Tikal!

Can you Camp in Tikal National Park?

Yes, you can camp in Tikal National Park. You need to pay 50 GTQ ($6) for the camping ticket, and we recommend bringing your own gear. There are horror stories of people trying to save money by camping, not getting a tent or a hammock, and ending up sleeping on concrete outside the restaurants.

Rules for Visiting Tikal National Park

No Drones Allowed: With the intention of maintaining a safe ecosystem for the many endangered birds, the government banned drone usage in Tikal.
Obey The Signs: Most of these will be in English as well as Spanish, but if not, “No Subir” means “No Climbing”.
No Trash: You aren’t allowed to dispose of trash inside the Tikal Ancient City as there are no longer any trash cans.
Respect the Wildlife: You cannot touch or take any wildlife with you, as any harm to wildlife in Tikal comes with steep fines.

More Tips For Visiting Tikal

Download the Tikal map on Google maps. This will help you get around, even if you have a guide!
Don’t buy the paper maps they sell near the entrances, just take a picture of the map posted in the park after the second entrance.
Bring all the cash you need as the only ATM is at the first entrance (20 mins from the second entrance). There are a few shops/restaurants at the second entrance and a few places selling drinks around the popular temples.
Bringing “Hidravida” drinks (Central American electrolyte drink) instead of or in addition to water. This will help you stay hydrated without carrying too much weight.
The temples do have lots of stairs and you do a lot of walking so make sure you’re prepared!

Is Tikal Worth Visiting?

Absolutely! You’ll marvel at the natural and historical beauty of these amazing ruins tucked away in the Guatemalan rainforest. People of all ages with in average physical shape are sure to enjoy this!

Can You Climb the Temples at Tikal?

You can climb many of the temples at Tikal. The temples you cannot climb will have signs on them. There are a few temples that will not have signs, but may be very slippery or unsafe, so exercise caution!

What Caused the Downfall of Tikal?

Tikal was one of the biggest cities in the world during it’s peak, which ended up to its detriment. Overpopulation, lack of agricultural, feuds with neighboring Mayan tribes, and poisoned water are speculated causes of the downfall of Tikal.

Keep Exploring Guatemala…

Our Favorite Travel Resources

Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.

Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.

Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.

Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.

International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.

eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.

Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!

The Ultimate Guide To Visiting Tikal in Guatemala