Tikal National Park Vacations 2025/2026

Overview

Take a trip to Tikal National Park on your Guatemala Vacation

Tikal National Park is situated in northern Guatemala in the heart of a jungle and is home to both the remains of one of the major sites of Maya civilization as well as incredible flora and fauna to be enjoyed on a Guatemala vacation.

The park was initially declared a national monument in 1931 and was later named a national park on 26 May 1955. It now protects an area of around 22,100 ha of rainforest and is an incredibly popular tourist destination. The ruins found within the park are what’s left of a Mayan civilization that inhabited the area from the 6th century BC to the 10th century AD. A large excavation project was carried out by the University of Pennsylvania and Guatemala’s Institute of Anthropology and History from 1956-1969 and many temples, palaces and public squares were discovered.

The area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 because it greatly reflected the evolution of the Maya people from hunter-gatherers to a farming society.

While many people in Guatemala vacation home to visit Tikal’s spectacular ruins, many also come to explore the incredible nature opportunities available. Tikal is part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest contiguous tropical rainforests in Central America. It is home to more than 400 bird species as well as 54 mammal species including various monkeys, sloths, jaguars and more. The oldest national park in the country, Tikal is synonymous with Guatemala and is an exciting stop on any trip.

At a Glance