The heart of the Mayan empire

Towering above the rainforest floor, the spectacular Mayan ruins at Tikal National Park date back to 900 BC -- around the time of the rise of Ancient Greece. Successive periods of building, often one temple on top of another, make this one of the largest archaeological sites in the Americas. There are dozens of excavated plazas, temples and pyramids, and countless others still buried under giant mounds of jungle vegetation.

The Maya were advanced in agriculture, astronomy, calendaring, mathematics and architecture for thousands of years, but gradually their cities were abandoned by around 900 AD. One of the more probable theories? Ironically, in light of today’s global crises, is that the Maya had depleted the environment around them. 

Over the centuries, the Maya used slash-and-burn techniques to clear the rainforest for their cities. They cut down countless additional trees to burn with limestone for the mortar used between blocks. At some point the deforestation became unsustainable for animals and people … a not-so-subtle lesson for today. 

Needless to say, Zeth delighted in scrambling up the steep-sided temples faster than we did. 

But I still have Braggin’ Rights: in the Mayan calendar I was born on a day of the Jaguar, so this amazing structure – the Jaguar Temple – is mine! (Zeth is only a Bat and Jim is a Deer; no cool temples for them ;-) 

There is also great bird watching at Tikal  … 

… as well as the ever-present spider monkeys and large families of the racoon-like coatimundi. Cute, but watch out for those teeth and claws.

Guatemala is rightfully proud of its impressive history, and more than 50% of Guatemala’s population today is of Mayan heritage. This backstrap weaver is carrying on ancient traditions of her people.