A Complete Guide to Visiting Tikal in Guatemala

Tikal is one of the most impressive ancient ruins in Central America. In fact, it’s one of the largest Maya archaeological sites in all of Mesoamerica and is home to the tallest Maya temple ever built. So, visiting Tikal Ruins in Guatemala should definitely be on your itinerary.

In this guide we’ll tell you everything you need to know before visiting Tikal, including information about entry fees, the best times to visit, whether to go on your own or with a tour, where to stay and what to bring with you. In addition, we’ll tell you about the best structures to see within the site, as well as which temples you can and can’t climb on.

If you’d like to see our visit to Tikal, then make sure to watch our video on our YouTube channel. For more Guatemala videos, you can also check out our Guatemala series.

About Tikal Maya Ruins in Guatemala

Tikal Ruins are located in the heart of the jungle within Tikal National Park in Northern Guatemala, close to the border with Mexico and Belize.

The name ‘Tikal’ means ‘at the water hole’, although the original name of the site was most likely ‘Yax Mutul’, meaning ‘First Mutul’. Apparently Tikal was first inhabited by the Maya around the year 900 BC. By 300 BC it was already a thriving city and the capital of one of the most important kingdoms of the ancient Maya world.

It is believed that at its peak in the 8th century AD, Tikal’s population could’ve reached around 90,000 people. However, in just 100 years Tikal went from flourishing to being completely abandoned.

Whilst Tikal was never truly ‘lost’, the site was re-discovered in 1848. However, major excavations by the University of Pennsylvania only started in 1956. Many monuments in Tikal were found to have similar architectural elements to other sites, such as Teotihuacan in Mexico, Copan in Honduras, and Caracol in Belize.

In 1931, Tikal was declared a national monument, then a national park in 1955. Since 1979, it’s also been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Did you know? Tikal was a filming location for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

Practical Information About Visiting Tikal in Guatemala

Entry Fee and Opening Times

Tikal is open every day between 6AM and 6PM. However, if you’re on either a sunrise or sunset tour, you can access the site before or after opening hours.

The entry fee to Tikal is currently Q150 for foreign visitors. If you signed up to a sunrise or sunset tour, then you’ll have to purchase an additional ticket which costs Q100 per person.

Luckily, you can buy your ticket online now by going to this website. Note that there will be a 2.3% surcharge for any transactions using international cards. Alternatively, you can also pay at the entrance, but you’ll need to have enough cash with you.

How to Get to Tikal: Tour or Independent Visit

Independent Visit

If you decide to stay for a night or so at one of the hotels near the entrance to Tikal, then it’ll be very easy for you to visit the site independently. However, you can always hire a guide on site if you want to learn more about its history.

Now, if you’re staying in El Remate or Flores, it’ll be a little bit more of an adventure to get to the site on public transport. Based on our research, there should be a bus departing from Santa Elena bus station to Tikal every hour. However, after traveling extensively in Latin America, we know that the set times and lengths of these journeys can be unreliable, so it’s worth asking some locals or your hotel/hostel staff if they know about the up-to-date times.

Organised Tour

Organised tours on the other hand would normally depart from Isla de Flores, then pick people up in El Remate before heading to Tikal. It’s easy and convenient as you won’t need to worry about getting there and returning back to your accommodation. You’ll also be able to access the site at sunrise and sunset, as well as learn about the history of the place. As always, the con is that you’ll be with a group of people, although the guides gave us some free time to wander around on our own which was greatly appreciated.

Below are a few popular travel agencies you can book your tours with.

• Los Amigos Hostel
• Getaway Travels
• Tikal Go

‘Transport Only’ Tour

There’s actually an in-between option if you want to wander around Tikal on your own, but don’t want the hassle of getting there by public transport. Some tour companies offer a ‘transport only’ option, which means that you’ll travel with the tour group on the bus to Tikal but at the entrance you can go off on your own. Just make sure to return at the time the tour is due to leave back to Flores.

The pros of this option are that you’ll get to and from Tikal without any issues and you can walk around the site at your own pace. Now, the cons are that you’ll still have a time limit and unfortunately you can only join the early bird or daytime tour options, but not the sunrise or sunset ones.

Best Time of the Year to Visit Tikal in Guatemala

You can visit Tikal all year round, as it will be hot and humid no matter when you come. However, there are two main seasons in Guatemala: dry and rainy.

We recommend visiting Tikal in the dry or shoulder season. The dry season lasts from November to April in Guatemala.

During the rainy season you can expect heavy showers, especially in the afternoon. The site could become pretty muddy too, so bear that in mind.

Best Time of the Day to Visit Tikal in Guatemala

If you’re visiting Tikal independently, you can access the site between 6AM and 6PM. If you book a tour, you’ll have four different options to choose from.

Sunrise Tikal Tour

A very popular time to visit Tikal is at sunrise. This means that you’ll be inside the site and on top of Temple IV just before the sun comes up.

Sunrise tours usually depart from Flores at 3AM, which means a super early start. You’ll walk through the site in the dark, head up to Temple IV and watch the sunrise. Afterwards, you’ll get a proper tour of Tikal. The tour departs at 11AM, so you’ll be back in Flores by lunchtime.

Since you’ll be entering the site before opening time, you’ll need to have your ticket already purchased (both a general Tikal and additional sunrise ticket), as the staff won’t have arrived yet.

Pros of visiting Tikal at sunrise:

• Watching the sunrise from the top of Temple IV.
• The light is really nice for photos.
• More chances of spotting wildlife.
• Temperatures are more bearable.
• Chance to visit Yaxha ruins at sunset.

Cons of visiting Tikal at sunrise:

• A super early start.
• You’ll have to pay an additional Q100 on top of the regular entrance fee of Q150.
• The sunrise tour is normally the most expensive tour option.
• There’s normally no ‘transport only’ option.
• It’s a popular time amongst visitors, so it can be busy on top of the temple.
• Later tours and independent visitors will arrive at the time you’ll be starting your tour around Tikal, so the site might feel pretty busy.

Early Bird Tikal Tour

If a 3AM departure is just too early for you, then you could hit the snooze button and join the early bird tour. This one leaves around 4:30AM from Flores and departs Tikal around 12:30PM.

Pros of visiting Tikal in the early morning:

• Enjoy a slightly later alarm call.
• Light is still nice for photos to begin with.
• Temperatures are still cooler.
• You can still spot wildlife.
• You don’t need to pay the extra Q100 on top of your regular entry fee.
• You can opt for a ‘transport only’ tour option, which is normally cheaper than the guided ones.

Cons of visiting Tikal in the early morning:

• You’ll miss the sunrise.
• It’ll be pretty hot by the end of your tour.
• The light will get very bright for photos.
• The site can be busy by the end.
• Unless it’s a dedicated combined tour, you probably won’t have time to visit Yaxha on the same day.

Daytime Tikal Tour

If a 4AM departure is still too early for you, then consider the daytime slot. Depending on the company you book with, departure times could be 6AM, 8AM or 10AM. The bus would return between 2PM and 3PM.

Pros of visiting Tikal in the daytime:

• Enjoy an even later alarm call.
• You can still spot some wildlife.
• You don’t need to pay an extra Q100 on top of your regular entry fee.
• You can opt for a ‘transport only’ tour option, which is normally cheaper than the guided ones.

Cons of visiting Tikal in the daytime:

• You’ll miss the sunrise.
• The temperatures will be very hot and humid.
• The light will be very bright for photos.
• The site will be busy.
• Unless it’s a dedicated combined tour, you probably won’t have time to visit Yaxha on the same day.

Sunset Tikal Tour

The last timeslot you can visit Tikal at is the sunset slot, which is what we decided to go for. This tour actually leaves at 12PM from Flores, but you won’t start the tour until about 2PM. You’ll get your guided tour around the site first, then watch the sunset from the top of Mundo Perdido pyramid before walking back through the site at dusk. The tour leaves Tikal around 6:30PM.

Pros of visiting Tikal at sunset:

• Watching the sunset from the top of Mundo Perdido pyramid.
• The light is really nice for photos.
• More chances of spotting wildlife.
• Temperatures are more bearable.
• Less people.
• Sunset tours are slightly cheaper than the sunrise ones.

Cons of visiting Tikal at sunset:

• Middle of the day start means you need to have an early lunch.
• It’ll still be hot at the start of your tour.
• You’ll have to pay an additional Q100 on top of your regular entrance fee of Q150.
• The sunset tour is more expensive than the early bird or daytime tours.
• There’s normally no ‘transport only’ option.
• You can’t visit Yaxha and Tikal on the same day.

Where to Stay Around Tikal

Tikal National Park. If you’d prefer to explore Tikal on your own, you should consider staying a night just outside the ruins. There are a few hotel options you can book. Alternatively, you can even book a night’s stay at the campground and sleep in a hammock. Although it may not be the best option if you have a lot of bags with you. Book your stay in Tikal National Park here.

El Remate. This small town is located on the eastern shores of Lake Peten Itza, about a 40 minute drive from Tikal. Most tours that leave from Flores stop here to pick you up and drop you off. There’s definitely more amenities here compared with a nights stay right on Tikal’s doorstep. Book your stay in El Remate here.

Flores / Isla de Flores. A popular place for most visitors to stay is Flores. Here you can sign up for all the main tours, as well as have access to way more amenities. There’s also quite a few things to do in Flores, not to mention that most of the tourist shuttles depart from Flores to places like Semuc Champey, Antigua, Livingston, or even Belize and Mexico. Flores also has an airport, so is where you would fly in to if your coming from Guatemala City. Book your stay in Flores here.

What to Bring With You to Tikal

• Wear something lightweight and quick-dry.
• Wear comfortable closed-toed shoes.
• Don’t forget SPF and other sun protection.
• Bring a lot of water and make sure to stay hydrated.
• Bring some snacks and food. There are no vendors inside the site, although there are some eateries at the entrance.
• Have bug repellent with you, especially during the sunrise and sunset tours, or in the rainy season.
• You could also bring a headlamp if you’re doing either the sunrise or sunset tour. However, your phone’s flashlight will be equally sufficient.
• In the rainy or shoulder season don’t forget to bring a rain jacket or poncho.
• Enough cash to cover your entry fee if you didn’t buy it online, and to cover any additional expenses such as food, drinks and tips.
• Bring your camera gear to capture some beautiful photos.
• Leave No Trace! If you bring your items in, then make sure to take them home too.

Highlights of Visiting Tikal in Guatemala: Things to See and Do

Even though there’s only a small percentage of Tikal that’s been excavated, the parts of the site you can see still cover a pretty large area. The archeological site consists of 5 plazas (squares), 6 temples, 5 complexes, 3 acropolis’ and many other structures. The best part is that you can actually climb a few of the pyramids, from where you can really appreciate the scale of the structures and the jungle that’s engulfed them and spreads out as far as the eye can see.

The Grand Plaza

The Grand Plaza is essentially the main square of Tikal. It consists of Temple I to the east, Temple II to the west, the North Acropolis to the north and the Central Acropolis to the south. There’s also a ball court between Temple I and the Central Acropolis.

Temple I is also known as the Temple of the Great Jaguar and is the most famous temple in Tikal. The 47 m (154 feet) tall temple faces towards the setting sun and the tomb of King Jasaw Chan K’awiil was found inside. You can’t climb this temple!

Temple II is also known as the Temple of the Masks. This 38 m (125 feet) tall temple faces the rising sun and was dedicated to the wife of Jasaw Chan K’awiil. There’s a wooden staircase around the back of the temple that leads to a viewing platform. From there you can enjoy the views of the Gran Plaza.

The Central Acropolis housed a series of administrative and residential palaces. Probably the most outstanding buildings in the complex are the Maler Palace and the Five Level Palace. From here you can get some nice views of the Gran Plaza too.

The North Acropolis is apparently one of the most studied Maya complexes. It served as a royal necropolis and was a centre for funerary activity. Again, you can get another great angle of the Gran Plaza, and the two temples within it, from here.

Temple III

This temple is located to the east of the Gran Plaza. It is known as the Temple of the Jaguar Priest because of the image on the wooden lintel found inside it. The 55 m (180 feet) tall temple is actually the largest structure on the site, and was also the last temple built in Tikal. It only contains two rooms instead of the usual three.

Temple IV

Also known as The Temple of the Doubled Headed Serpent, Temple IV is located at the western end of the archeological site. At 65 m (213 feet) high, it is actually the tallest temple ever built by the Maya.

It’s another temple that you climb via a set of wooden stairs, although it’s definitely a long way to the top. If you’re on the sunrise tour, then this is the temple where you’ll watch the rising sun from. The views are incredible from here, as you can see for miles.

Temple V

Located just south of The Grand Plaza, Temple V was probably our personal favourite. At 57 m (187 feet) high, it is the second-tallest temple in Tikal. It can be reached via a short path through the jungle, which opens up to a huge square with the temple in the middle. That first glimpse of Temple V through the jungle made us feel like we were in an Indiana Jones movie.

You can walk down to the temple to appreciate the scale of this structure, but you can’t climb to the top of it.

Mundo Perdido (The Lost World)

The Lost World complex is located to the southwest of the Gran Plaza and covers about 60,000 square metres. It contains 38 structures, with the Great Pyramid being the most significant one, rising to 30 m.

It has been rebuilt many times over the years and its style was even influenced by the Teotihuacan Pyramids, which are located just outside of Mexico City.

This is another climbable pyramid in Tikal and, if you’re on the sunset tour, this is where you’ll watch the sun go down from.

Wildlife at Tikal Ruins

Tikal National Park has a rich and diverse plethora of flora and fauna. There are hundreds of species of mammals, birds, reptiles and snakes that call the national park home, so you’ll definitely see a few of them during your tour around the site.

Wildlife will be more active early in the morning or later in the evening, so you’ll have more chance of seeing them if you go on the sunrise or sunset tour. According to our tour guide, park workers have spotted jaguars around the park early in the morning. How crazy would it be to see a wild jaguar?!

Although we didn’t see any jaguars during our visit, we saw a few birds, coatis, howler monkeys and spider monkeys. At the end of our sunset tour, we walked back through the park in the dark and were able to see a few night creatures such as spiders too.

Don’t feed the animals! Luckily we personally didn’t witness this, however we saw some posts on social media where people were luring coatis with food even though there are clear signs everywhere about not feeding the wildlife.

Final Thoughts on Visiting Tikal in Guatemala

Tikal in Guatemala became one of our favourite Maya Ruins that we visited in Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico. We really loved that we could climb some of the temples and the fact that it was nowhere near as crowded as other sites, like Chichen Itza in Mexico. Going on the sunset tour was also a great decision, not just due to the lack of people, but also because of the slightly cooler temperatures and the natural light being perfect for photography. Although we ended up seeing more wildlife in Yaxha, and the sunset was definitely nicer the following day from there too, we still had a great time walking around the ruins. Overall, we highly recommend visiting Tikal in Guatemala either during sunrise or sunset.

Have you ever been to Tikal in Guatemala before? If so, what time of the day did you visit at? What was your experience? If not, would you add a visit to Tikal to your Guatemala itinerary? Let us know in the comments below.