One of the great Maya cities, Tikal remains a thrilling place to visit and experience on a tour from San Ignacio or Guatemala City.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
The ruins of Tikal, which was once one of the largest cities in the Americas, are today remote, romantic, mysterious and buried deep in the rainforest. The forest rolls on well into Mexico, meaning access to the area is quite limited and a tour from a popular tourism city is often the best, and least stressful, way to visit. One such example is San Ignacio, located across the border in Belize. Otherwise, good tours from Guatemala City are also available. Here are four of the best Tikal tours.
Tikal Maya Site Tour from San Ignacio
The spiritual Maya ruins of Tikal are best accessed on a day trip from San Ignacio in neighboring Belize. In the space of eight hours, you can hop on a bus, cross the border and spend a good three-to-four hours exploring the ruined palaces and buildings of this incredible site. Benefit from the experience and knowledge of your guide to gain a deeper appreciation of how this city once thrived. You’ll be taken for lunch at a restaurant close to the ruins before heading back to Belize. From $140 per person.
(Photo: Viator.com)
Tikal Day Trip with Local Lunch from San Ignacio
Another tour to Tikal from San Ignacio offers even more time to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend around four or five hours at the site, allowing plenty of time to climb the Temple of the Grand Jaguar. As with all tours from San Ignacio, don’t forget to bring your passport and check all Covid rules at least a week in advance of your trip. Your English-speaking guide will lead you around the site and help illuminate the Maya world and society that once inhabited this remarkable empire in the forest. From $145 per person.
Day Trip to Tikal Maya Ruins Including Lunch
Follow your guide into the depths of this fascinating Maya city in the jungle, where over 3,000 different buildings (at least) now exist in various states of decay, waiting to be explored. Your guide’s stories about the Maya civilization are ideal to help bring the ancient ball courts and temples to life. This tour aims to arrive early, so keep an eye out also for wildlife, including wild turkeys and monkeys. Lunch is also provided near the ruins. From $168 per person.
(Photo: Viator.com)
Tikal Day Trip by Air from Guatemala City with Lunch
For a less visa-intensive way to visit Tikal, board a plane in Guatemala City and watch the urban area below you give way to a vast expanse of emerald forest. Beneath the canopy lie relics of the Maya Empire, such as Tikal. Your guide will lead you around the hundreds of structures that have been excavated at the site, like the Central Acropolis. There will also be some free time to explore on your own. Lunch, entry and roundtrip airfare are all covered in the tour fee. From $416 per person.