Tikal is among world's travel wonders - even today the local hotels
(3!) offer rustic comfort with only 10 hours of generated
electricity each day. Staying ovenright is economical and highly
advised.
Miguel Angel Asturias wrote "Only Guatemala is comparable to
itself" he described a land of natural dreamscapes...mysterious
presences and absences" Tikal, the largest known Mayan City, is
inconmparable in the same way; its size imposing and intimidating,
its setting lush and teeming with wildlife.
The imagination reels, there are reliefs, pyramids, temples of
the extinguished city. The damp murmur of the arryos, voices,
crepitations of the intertangling vines, the sound of flapping
wings, all trickle into immense sea of silence. Everything
palpitates, breathes, exhausting itself in green above the vast
roof of Peten..."
The local wildlife have a bad habit of making traditional caches
disapear, and given that this is a National Park of Guatemala I
have decided to honor this historic and sacred site through the use
of a virtual cache.
Visit the above coordinates (sunset is a great time to go and
listen to the howler monkeys while you're trekking to the site) and
be very careful climbing the steep steps! Standing with the setting
sun behind you, count the number of stone structures you can see
above the jungle canopy. Email me this number (and a picture if you
can swing it) to validate your find.
Total time should be 90 minutes to 2 hours. Remember the park
closes as soon as sunset occurs, and for your safety it is best to
accompany the Park guide who will guide you to the exit. Take a
water AND a flashlight for the hike out.