Tikal...a dream realized

Words will mostly fail me on this one.  Its something you will have to see in order to really understand.

Here are the basics.  Our bus picked us up at 5 am in front of our hotel.  The hotel even packed us a lunch which we ate for breakfast.  We got to the park about 10 minutes before the park even opened at 6am.

Once we got into the park we got a private tour guide for just the 2 of us.  We explained to him that we wanted a tour that would let us see wildlife and the ruins.  Carlos took us on a different route than most tour guides and it was incredible.  The wildlife we saw on this less traveled trail was astounding...toucans, spider monkeys, woodpeckers, parrots hawks, lizards, naked indian and horse balls trees, we even heard howler monkeys!  This was all in the first 30 minutes of the tour.

parrots at Tikal

Look its Toucan Sam

Then we got to Pyramid IV.  Pyramid IV is 150 meters high and has incredible views!!!  Because of the alternate path that Carlos took us on we were up on the pyramid with only 2 other people.  It was a perfect zen moment, I felt totally at peace.  Silent except for howler monkey and birds. Mist was covering the tree tops and the sun was hidden from view.  We ate a light snack and climbed down the pyramid.

Pyramid IV from the base of the pyramid

view from the top

We say Many more pyramids but one other sticks out because is was almost a vertical climb to get to the top.  At the top we were all alone again, no other tourists at all!

view from the 2nd pyramid we climbed

We went up and down this almost vertical stairway 

There were many more pyramids, temples and buildings.  Each one was impressive and it was so hard to believe these people were considered primitive.  In my view, they were very advanced and technologically savvy just different than what we think of when we think advanced.

After seeing all the best Tikal had to offer it was time to head home.  It was hotter than I expected and the tourist buses from belize were arriving.  It was time to head out and get on the road.

Thanks Grandpa...I love you!