Guatemala en Vivo

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Archeology

Until few time ago, the ruins of the Mayan cities were peacefully hidden by the same exuberant nature with the one that Mayans cohabited in cordiality. In the XIX century the historians found these cities and today, they are still searching new ruins that are protected by vegetation.

In Guatemala there are approximately 3.000 archeologist places scattered through all the country. The most important archeologist place is Tikal situated in the area of Peten. In this area, at the North of the country, there are found 102 archeologist places and are recognized, because they are surrounded with jungle. Other interesting ruins are Quirigua, where majestic steles are found, which are majestic monoliths with pictures and hieroglyphics.

It is possible that during your visit, the Mayan traces would want you to feel the reality, which they lived and, who knows, if also they decide to reveal you some secret of its enigmatic civilization.

Tikal

Quiriguá

Tikal:

Tikal has an extension of 600 km 2 and is the biggest Maya archeologist place of Guatemala. The Maya city is found within the Reserve of the Maya Biosphere. Is the only place in the world that has been declared at the same time cultural patrimony and natural patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO.

The jungle that surrounded the city has plenty of wild life: variety of tropical jungle vegetation with enormous trees, approximately 300 species of birds (including the quetzal), also great flocks of howling monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, and reptiles, among others.

The city of Tikal remained hidden under the jungle until the beginning of the XX century and today only a 15% of its monuments have been explored. It seems that it was one of the more important cities of the Maya civilization. It is believe that it was inhabited approximately since 800 b.C. until 900 a.C. and in its epoch of greatest splendor there lived 70.000 persons in an area of 576 Kms 2 . The city was built throughout 1.100 years without interruption. It was an important center of mathematic, astronomy and art education; also it dominated in the commercial ambit.

Structure
The city of Tikal has more than 3.000 constructions, including high temples, pyramidal and palaces. The pyramids tower above the jungle and the constructions are joined ones with the others throughout paths that fight against vegetation.

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There are also other interesting architectonic places for example: the Acropolis del Norte [The North Acrópolis], Templo de las Mascaras [Masks Temple], Plaza de los Siete Templos [Plaza of the Seven Temples] and Mundo Perdido[Lost World].

Transportation and services
Tikal is found at 70 kilometers from Ciudad Flores through a pavement road.
We recommend you to come to Tikal at earlier hours of the morning, because you would need up to 2 days to know it well.
In the area are several tourist services like restaurants, food sellers distributed throughout the area, visitors center and two museums.

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Quiriguá:

QUIRIGUA Near the Motagua River, by the Caribbean area, is situated the archeologist place of Quirigua, surrounded by a tropical forest. Quirigua has been declared Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO and is famous for its amazing steles. These steles, together with altars and zoomorphic, are the best engraved during the classic period of the entire Maya world. The greatest stones were engraved after having moved them to their definitive positions from a quarry.

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The most important stele of all is the Stele E that are preserved in Quirigua , which is the biggest stone known until now (almost 11 meters of height and 65 tons of weight). The engrave is of a Maya king with a huge headdress , his body adorned and a strong looking.

The enormous zoomorphic are also very attractive, which are great stones in which they represented detailed engraved animals. The stones are covered with figures and glyphs and represent some of the most complicated engraves of the Maya world

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