Tikal Sunrise Tour: Why bracing 4am was worth it to see the sunrise over legendary Tikal
One attraction near the top of most people’s Guatemala bucket lists is the Mayan ruins of Tikal. The remains of a once great empire are buried deep in the Guatemalan jungle., surrounded by overgrowing vines with the distant cry of howler monkeys in the distance.
If you’re planning on visiting Tikal, you’ve probably discovered there are numerous different tour options. The Tikal sunrise tour, a standard day tour, one at sunset, and of course, just a standard entry to see them by yourself. You might even be wondering is Tikal worth it at all.
In this article, I delve into all the things to expect on the Tikal sunrise tour from Flores, what to expect and why it’s worth bracing for the 4 am pick-up time to visit Tikal at this unearthly hour.
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Sunrise Tour Tikal, Guatemala – Overview
If you’ve followed my blog for a while you’ll start to realise that a little bit of what makes me tick are temples and ruins, and Tikal in Guatemala is up there with best-of-the-best. So, naturally, this stunner of an archaeological site was going to be ranking pretty high on my must-do list during my time in the country.
This article is divided into sections. The first part covers essential information about what to expect on the Tikal sunrise tour. The second section goes into detail about the archaeological site and things to look out for.
Finally, there’s an FAQ section which answers any other questions you might have about planning your trip to Tikal.
About Tikal National Park
Tikal National Park is BIG! It spreads over 57,600 hectares and includes the surrounding forests, wetlands, and savannahs.
Within this area, approximately 1,200 hectares contain some of the best Guatemala ruins in the country and include items of archaeological interest, which are mainly the historical water reservoirs, residential and farming settlements plus a vast chunk that has never been excavated.
The main part of the Mayan ruins at Tikal is located in what is referred to as the ‘inner urban zone’. This area covers about 400 hectares and although this part of the National Park has been extensively excavated, there’s still a lot buried under the centuries of forest growth. You can see all of the highlights of Tikal in a full-day trip.
What are the Tikal Ruins?
Guatemala tourist attractions don’t come much bigger or better than the Tikal Mayan ruins. They attract over 200, 000 visitors a year.
Tikal was inhabited by the Mayans from the 6th century B.C. to the 10th century A.D. and is one of the largest Mayan sites in Guatemala. It became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.
Tikal National Park is located in the Petén Province in northern Guatemala. It’s located in a forested region known as Maya Forest, this forest extends into neighbouring Belize and Mexico. Tikal is relatively close to the Belize border, so it’s easy to do a day trip to Tikal from Belize, you can also visit Tikal on a day trip from Antigua in the south of Guatemala.
Tikal, Guatemala Unearthed
As you’re walking through the jungle and the areas of vegetation, be sure to look around at the multitude of mounds and hills. They aren’t actually mounds of the earth! These are unexcavated parts of the Tikal Temple complex.
They are still buried in centuries worth of jungle, where nature has truly taken over. Only a small proportion of the archaeological site has been fully excavated!
You might wonder why they haven’t been excavated. Part of it is funding and time. Another key reason is that the ruins are protected from the elements (rain, sun, etc).
What is the Tikal Sunrise Tour?
The sunrise tour of Tikal is exactly that. You enter the park super early and walk through the Tikal jungle in darkness to Temple IV. Then you climb to the top of the temples and watch the sunrise over the jungle.
Watching the sunrise is certainly something for your Guatemala bucket list. There’s something really magical in watching the first rays of light hit the tree canopy and hearing the jungle life come alive. It’s 100% worth the insanely and inhumanely early start time.
Also, being at Tikal Archaeological Park, long before the masses of the other Tikal tour groups are even out of bed means you’ll have most of the site to yourself to explore for a couple of hours after you’ve watched the sunrise.
Check Availability: Tikal Sunrise Tour from Flores
Interesting Tikal Facts
- Tikal’s history spans over 800 years, the first settlers came here in 700BC
- The archaeological site consists of thousands of buildings, a large proportion not yet uncovered. These include temples, pyramids, living quarters, ball courts, and stelae (upright stone slabs)
- In 1979, the Parque Nacional Tikal (Tikal National Park) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The abundance of flint in the region was one of the reasons for the first settlers to come to Tikal. The flint was a valuable stone at the time due to it being able to be made into spears and arrowheads as well as tools
- Tikal was used as the backdrop of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
The Tikal Sunrise Tour in Guatemala – Is this the Best Tikal Tour to do?
If you’re not a natural early riser, then true, you’re going to be groggy from lack of sleep but doing a sunrise tour of Tikal and being there so early means that you’ll hear the eerie early morning resounding call of the resident Howler Monkeys echo around as you enter the park as well as dodge the peak crowds.
I remember hearing Howlers, as well as the other early morning birds and creatures, during my stay in a jungle lodge in the Amazon. The first time you hear them, it’s full-on creepy. However, since then it’s become one of my all-time favourite morning sounds; the noise of a Jungle waking up, just as the first light of day is peeping through the clouds.
Being able to experience this is one of the sole reasons why this early tour is the best Tikal tour to go on. That twinned with seeing the sunrise over Tikal archaeological site and having the place to yourself. It’s a no-brainer.
Other Small Group Tours at Tikal
I’m not a big fan of group tours, especially if they are any more than would fit on a mini-bus.
Thankfully, the size of our Tikal tour group was just 9 people. If like me, you hate the crowds, get this clarified before you book. I certainly felt smug about my choice when I saw groups of 20-30 being ushered about later on in the day.
If you really can’t bear the thought of a 4 am start to see sunrise at Tikal, then you might prefer these other small group tours instead.
Visiting Tikal – An Outline of Your Sunrise Tikal Tour
Your sunrise visit to Tikal starts early with a pick-up from your hotel. I was staying in nearby Flores which is 39.7 miles (63.9 km) from Tikal. After picking everyone up, the journey takes around an hour. If you arrive at the site a little early, there is a cafe just outside to pick up coffee and some snacks.
Once inside, close to the entrance, you’ll see a scale model which shows just how vast the Tikal archaeological site is. It’s definitely worth taking a few minutes, and a photo, to orientate yourself with the Tikal Mayan ruins so you know which ones you’ll be visiting and roughly which direction you’ll be heading.
Temples, Pyramids, Palaces, and Ball courts of Tikal
If you’re on a tour, your guide will point out some key building styles to look out for. The main things to see at Tikal are:
- Pyramids – These are flat-topped structures with a stairway leading up from each side. Often the Tikal pyramids come in pairs
- Temples – Similar to the pyramids with the flat-topped structure with stairs leading up from each side, but with the addition of a building (a temple) on the top
- Residential Areas – These are usually small rectangular structures in rows with small doorways in them
- Ball courts – These are the open flat areas where games were played
- Stelae – The large slabs of upright stone, often with imagery or text
Stop 1 – See Sunrise Over Tikal Temple IV
You don’t visit the temples in the order that they are numbered. The first one you will visit is Temple IV (or Temple 4). You’ll arrive at the foot of your first major temple before ascending the zig-zagging wooden steps up to the top.
The wooden stars are a feature of quite a few of the temples at Tikal. In the first instance, they are there to protect the Tikal ruins from the trampling hoofs of thousands of tourists each year. Its second function is to protect people…from falling off! A quick web search will reveal that severe injury and even death from falling off temples isn’t that uncommon!
You’ll feel the leg and lung burn as you reach the top – no pain no gain they say, and it’s worth every part of the effort getting up there. At the top, you sit and wait for the sunrise.
Temple IV is where everyone comes for the Sunrise Tikal Tour, so for this part, you’ll probably find that you are sharing a view with quite a few other early risers, even so, it’s not that busy.
Stop 2 – ‘The Lost World’ Tikal Tour
With the sun now risen and the cooler night air warming up, you’ll move on to an area called ‘The Lost World’. If you’ve been reading other parts of my blog, you’ll know I’m not just a ruin junkie, but a dinosaur nut as well.
So you can guess my vision of ‘The Lost World’ is somewhat different from what it actually is. It’s not a homage to Jurassic Park, and to my disappointment, not a dinosaur in sight. However, keep your eyes peeled, and you’ll spot some of the birdlife in the trees.
This smaller Temple complex, or ‘Lost World’ is much like Temple IV. There is another manmade staircase and an equally manmade platform at the top which will reveal the full 360 panoramic views of surrounding temples popping out from the jungle canopy.
If you didn’t see any wildlife on your walk here, then this is also a great vantage point to try and spot some tree canopy-level wildlife. You’ll probably be able to hear the holler of the howler monkey. Their haunting cries echo from all directions, so they could have been anywhere! But occasionally you’ll see them sitting up in the trees.
Stop 3 – Plaza de Los Siete Templos (Seven Temples)
Leaving the wonderfully named Lost World behind and more jungle trails will lead out to an opening called Plaza de Los Siete Templos (Seven Temples). This is a fairly open area with various smaller buildings and a palace complex.
There are also three ball courts one for Political use, one for Social use, and one for Prisoners. If you’re a little unsure of what went on at the Ball Courts, then I recommend watching Mel Gibson’s epic, Apocalypto, and *wince*. (see more on Apocalypto below)
Plaza de Los Siete Templos was a great place for photography, it’s much quieter than some of the other areas in the archaeological park and the vibrancy of the green foliage and moss against the grey bricks is stunning. If you managed to steer clear of bugs so far, well done, however, you will certainly notice it here. To put it briefly, this area is in the heart of the jungle. Jungles = Bugs & getting bitten.
Apocalypto Movie, 2006
Every time I visit a Mayan Ruin my mind can’t help but think back to Mel Gibson’s 2006 film Apocalypto. Of course, Apocalypto is Hollywood’s take on Mayan civilizations and how they went about their lives, gore and all! But there is some factual basis to it.
All of the Tikal tour guides will reference this movie and how genuine Apocalypto was. Our guide did go on to inform us later that it wasn’t quite as barbaric as the movie made out, however, with the stone-carved images dotted around Tikal, I beg to differ!
If you love ancient South American civilizations, like the Mayans, then I highly recommend watching this film. Truthful or not, Mel Gibson’s take on the Mayan civilization does make for a fascinatingly gory history – and now every time I see a Ball Court I wince as I walk around them.
Stop 4 – Temple V and Temple III (Temple of the Jaguar Priest)
The tour of Tikal continues as you meander your way through more of the jungle. The next ports of call are Temple V and Temple III (Temple of the Jaguar Priest).
Temple III is the one you would have seen the crest of from the panoramic view while you were in The Lost World. Although impressive in size, in my opinion, it’s not as interesting as some of the temples and complexes we had already visited.
It’s still worthwhile visiting, it’s just been overshadowed by some of the other stuff you will have seen so far and things you will go on to see later.
Stop 5 – The Grand Plaza – Temple I (Temple of the Great Jaguar) & Temple II (Temples of the Mask)
Pretty much all the Tikal tour groups will end up here, at The Grand Plaza which is where THE most iconic Temples reside and the one you will see on every tourism shot of Guatemala.
Temple I or Temple of the Great Jaguar are affectionately known to Sci-Fi buffs as The Star Wars Temple and opposite it, Temple II, known as Temple of the Mask. The giant faces on the facade of the temples give Temple of the Mask its name.
The Mask Temple, like several of the others, had wooden stairs and a platform built on it which looked down on The Grand Plaza. It’s also one of the best vantage points to take pictures of the famous Temple of the Great Jaguar and one of the most Instagrammable places in Tikal.
The Grand Plaza is where your tour guide will leave you. Here, you have two options. The first to follow him to the exit and head out of the archaeological site to catch the bus back to Flores. The second option is to stay and explore by yourself and then catch one of the later buses back to Tikal (your guide will give you the times they depart). You’ve probably guessed, I went for option two and stayed at the park.
With such an early start, the tour is done and dusted by about 10 am! It’s still relatively quiet at this time so make the most of it and go back and visit everything again at a slower pace to really peruse over all the details.
Top Tips for Visiting Tikal
- Bring food and water
- Wear comfortable and grippy shoes, there’s a lot of walking and sometimes the old stone steps going up the temples are loose
- Wear layers, early morning is chilly but the peak sun is hot
- Take insect repellent, Tikal is in the Jungle, and there are plenty of opportunities to get bitten!
- If you go solo (and are not part of one of the Tikal tour groups) then you’ll have to buy an additional ticket for Temple IV
Can I Stay In Tikal?
You can opt to stay near the archaeological site, although your choices are limited. There isn’t a great deal to do in the area so you are refined to either what the hotel/hostel has to offer, or whatever you take with you.
Tikal Campground
For a budget option in Tikal, the cheapest is Tikal’s campground. You’ll need a hammock and a mosquito net, If you don’t have your own, then rent them from one of the nearby lodges.
You don’t need to book for this, just show up at the campground, it’s in the large grassy expanse behind the research centre. It’s basic but does come with a shared toilet block.
Tikal Jungle Lodge
Tikal Jungle Lodge is the best option if you need something with more creature comforts. It’s close to the main entrance of Tikal and has an onsite restaurant, free parking, free wifi, and an outdoor swimming pool. Take a look, it’s really a little piece of paradise.
Check availability and top reviews for Tikal Jungle Lodge
Flores Town
This is the option I went for as it was more of a livelier area with more options for places to stay and places to eat. This is also one of the best options for booking various Tikal tours, including the Tikal Jungle Tour which includes more extensive hiking in the surrounding jungles as well as a visit to the Ruin Park.
The colourful UNESCO island town of Flores is well connected to Tikal and regular shuttle buses run daily.
Check availability for accommodation in Flores
Getting to Tikal
Several tours from all over Central America make trips to Tikal. The most popular option is from the nearby towns of Flores, Antigua, and Guatemala City. Because Tikal is so close to the border with Belize, there are also several tour options from here too.
Flores to Tikal
The obvious and easiest choice is the shuttle bus which can be arranged from pretty much every hotel and tourist information centre in Flores.
If you book onto any Tikal tour from Flores, make sure you check if transportation and your entrance ticket have been included in the overall price – some companies were sneakily adding these on as an extra!
The journey from Flores to Tikal takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes on the shuttle bus. If you’ve hired a car, the 65km journey should take just over an hour.
Visit Tikal from Belize
If you are staying in neighbouring Belize, Tikal can be arranged as a full-day trip. The best place to travel to Tikal from Belize is San Ignacio.
The border to Guatemala is just 15 minutes away from this town. DON’T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT! From the border, it’s then a 2-hour drive to get to Tikal.
If you love Mayan ruins and you’re staying in San Ignacio, I totally recommend doing the ATM (Actun Tunichil Muknal) cave tour to see skeletons that were used in sacrificial ceremonies calcified in the rocks. Alternatively, you could extend your trip to Belize and head to the islands to visit the Belize Blue Hole (the world’s largest sinkhole!)
Visiting Tikal from Guatemala City
It’s possible to visit Tikal from Guatemala City. Tag Airlines runs a 40-minute flight from Guatemala City to Mundo Maya International Airport in Santa Elena just outside the small town of Flores.
Visiting Tikal from Antigua, Guatemala
If you’re staying in the south of Guatemala then you can still take an excursion up to the north of the country, check out this full-day trip from Antigua to Tikal.
Tikal Sunrise Tour – FAQs
So I’ve gone into quite a bit of detail about what to expect when you do the sunrise tour of Tikal. This section has the answers to questions that frequently come up about the practicalities of visiting Tikal as well as useful travel tips.
what is tikal famous for?
Tikal is famous for its ancient Mayan temple ruins. They are one of the most visited attractions in Guatemala with over 200, 000 visitors a year.
Tikal was inhabited between the 6th century B.C. to the 10th century A.D. and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.
You might be wondering why is Tikal famous. Tikal is mostly famous for its size as well as the number of pyramids. It’s also been used as the backdrop for numerous films, including Star Wars.
when was Tikal built?
The first settlement on the site of Tikal is said to date from around 300 BC. It wasn’t an expansive city until around 250 BC. The peak inhabitance of Tikal was between the 6th century B.C. to the 10th century A.D.
When is the Best Time To Visit Tikal?
The best time to visit this region of Guatemala is from October through May. This means you’ll avoid the intense summer heat and take advantage of the mild winters.
Because the Mayan City of Tikal is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Guatemala, expect crowds, particularly during peak hours. If you’re doing a Sunrise Tour of Tikal, this shouldn’t be a problem as you’ll arrive before the masses.
You will find heavily discounted tours of Tikal at most outlets in nearby Flores, even during peak season. It’s worth shopping around for the best prices. At low peak season, you can get some absolute steals! However, if you want to plan ahead and be guaranteed a space on a tour on a certain date, then check availability and book your tour of Tikal here.
What Is The Tikal Entry Fee
f you are travelling to Tikal on a self-guided tour, you must purchase your own ticket. At the time of writing, the Tikal Park entrance fee was Q150 per adult (approx. $20) for a standard ticket.
To visit the park earlier than 6 am to see the sunrise or after 6 am to see the sunset, then an additional ticket needs to be purchased for this. The cost of this extra ticket is Q100 per adult (approx. $13).
If you are booking a Tikal Tour for Sunrise, then the entry fee should be included in this.
When Are The Tikal opening hours?
Tikal National Park is open 365 days a year from 6 am until 5 pm.
Can I do A Self-Guided Tikal Tour?
Yes. However, booking a guided sunrise tour of Tikal is by far the easiest option, however, you could choose to visit the UNESCO site on your own and do a self-guided Tikal tour. Be warned though, that it’s easy to get lost the site is ginormous with lots of trails going through the jungle.
From the voice of experience, the signage is minimalistic, sometimes non-existent and it’s pretty easy to get lost and navigate your way around. If you do decide to tour Tikal on your own take plenty of photos of the model at the entrance (Google Maps wasn’t much use).
However, if you’re not on a time restraint, getting lost in the jungle at the park is part of the fun as any of the trails looped back around eventually.
If you do book a guided sunrise Tikal tour you will have the best of both worlds. Your guide will show you all the shortcuts to the main attractions during your tour of Tikal, make a mental note of the route you take, and then go back on your own later.
No doubt during the tour, there will be a ton of Temples that you’ll want to go back to and explore some more. By late morning the group tour finishes, which leaves you the rest of the day to go back to see the Tikal temples by yourself. Win-win if you ask me.
Where can I find A Tikal Map?
I’ve mentioned a few times in this article how signage isn’t great and it’s easy to get lost – after all a lot of the jungle looks the same. Here’s a map of Tikal.
Thinking of Doing the Tikal Sunrise Tour in Guatemala?
Yes, it’s an early start, but the rewards for getting up at this horrendous hour are not only the incredible panoramic view of the jungle as the first sun rays of the day start to peep over the horizon, but being in the park, having the place pretty much to yourself
No picture can really describe what it was like to experience sunrise over Tikal, so I 100% recommend that you go and experience this for yourself.
Although you can do this tour on your own unless you have access to a car or you’re staying close to the site it’s there is no way of getting there by public transport so early. Also, navigating your way around the jungle in the dark can be a bit scary. It’s certainly easier booking a Tikal day trip and then opting to stay longer after the tour has finished.
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