Mayan Ruins

Before making the long bus rides across El Salvador and Honduras to reach Nicaragua, we visited two significant Mayan ruins. The first was Tikal which is located deep in the jungle in the north of Guatemala. Then on the way back to Guatemala City we took a quick detour across the Honduran border to visit Copan Ruins.

Although Tikal is definitely not the easiest destination to reach, it is worth the effort. Once one of the largest Mayan cities, sometime in the 10th century the city fell into decline. Surely it didn't take much time for the jungle to reclaim the stone structures. It was almost 1,000 years later that the western world would learn about it's existence. Now the city and wildlife inhabiting it can be explored with an extensive trail network of limestone roads that were used by archaeologists during excavation and restoration. The highlight of the ruins are the well restored temples rising above the tree canopy.

A day's travel to the south across the border of Honduras lies the ruins of another great ancient city. Although the temples are not as high as Tikal's, Copan has some of the best preserved stone carvings from the Mayan era. With lawns spreading between a highly concentrated layout of buildings it is hard not to try imagining what it would have been like to be in that space over a millennium ago.

To see photos of Tikal click the play button below for a slideshow which can be viewed in fullscreen. If the slideshow does not show up on your screen, click here for direct link to the photo album.

To see photos of Copan click the play button below for a slideshow which can be viewed in fullscreen. If the slideshow does not show up on your screen, click here for direct link to the photo album.

Semuc Champey

After leaving Monterrico we made our way to the far north end of the country to visit the Mayan ruins of Tikal. While it is possible to get there in a day with a very long bus ride from Guatemala City, it is best to break this journey up with a stopover in Semuc Champey which is located, almost literally, in Guatemala's middle of nowhere.

Consisting of a series of fresh water pools, what is not immediately apparent is that they sit above a massive limestone bridge, almost 1,000' in length. Beneath the picturesque cascading pools and landbridge flows the Cahabón River.

Offering a great place to hike around, swim and relax, this stop is well worth the detour.  For more photos, click the play button below to see a slideshow which can be viewed in fullscreen. If the slideshow does not show up on your screen, click here for direct link to the photo album.

Here is a video of the fun to be had, including an underwater cave:

Antigua and Monterrico

Situated outside of Guatemala City is the old capital which is simply called Antigua. Filled with colonial architecture both restored and in ruins, Antigua has a rich urban texture very different from other Guatemalan cities. While it offers many museums, markets and cafes to visit, one of the best things about Antigua is simply walking the streets and taking in the sights, especially early in the day as the morning light changes rapidly.

After a few relaxing days in Antigua we headed for the coast to the town of Monterrico.  Besides beaches, a hot sun and hotels with pools, Monterrico offers great opportunities to view wildlife.  Each evening at sunset, the local turtle conservation organization releases all the baby turtles that have hatched that day.  For $1.50 you can hold and release your own baby turtle. Although only a small percentage of them will survive in the wild, it is a beautiful scene as they all waddle their way into the waves.

Also nearby is a nature preserve that encompasses the extensive network of mangroves. It is best viewed in the predawn hours by paddle boat when the birds awake. Although we unfortunately did not have a clear view of the volcanoes, the activity of wildlife was well worth the early wake up.

For photos of Antigua, click the play button below for a slideshow which can be viewed in fullscreen. If the slideshow does not show up on your screen, click here for direct link to the photo album.

For photos of Monterrico click the play button below for a slideshow which can be viewed in fullscreen. If the slideshow does not show up on your screen, click here for direct link to the photo album.

Here are a couple video clips of the wildlife in Monterrico: