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Tikal

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The Maya settled in Tikal around 700 BC and began to build the stone ceremonial structures in 200BC. Set in the middle of the Jungle up in Peten, Guatemala. In the mid 6th century Tikal took up 30 sq km and had a population of 100, 000. Tikals greatness waned around 900, part of the general mysterious collapse of Mayan civilization.

Tikal

The map of the area at the entrance

Tikal

and then came the amazingly enormous temples, this is part of the Acropolis Central

Tikal

Tikal

Tikal

Tikal

Templo I - The Grand Jaguar

Tikal

Tikal

Tikal

Templo II

Tikal

Me climbing up the scary stairs of Templo II

Tikal

I'm not scared honestly!

Tikal

Over looking the Grand Plaza from the top of Templo II

Tikal

Making breakfast on top of Templo II (it was our offering to the gods, I think we must have left a bit of ham or cheese up there for them!)

Tikal

Templo III peering out from between the trees

Tikal

Mayan Carvings

Tikal

Tikal

The breath taking view from the top of Templo IV ,Also in Star Wars.

Tikal

The rickety stairs you have to climb to get to the top of Templo IV

Tikal

There was lots of unusual flora and fauna

Tikal

Roots from all the trees, it was really weird and looked like lots of big snakes

Tikal

Tikal

Tikal

Tikal

Tikal

A real set of Tarzan vines

 

Tikal

and it was one of these monsters webs that Stuart went face first into, so you can understand the need for the girly dance!

Tikal

Tikal

A crazy Dougal like caterpillar

Tikal

Monkeys swinging through the trees, it was very difficult to get a picture, these we the only ones we managed to get.

Tikal

You have to be very vigilant whilst walking through the jungle path, in making sure that the monkeys don't wee on your head!

Tikal

The leaf cutter ants were everywhere and really interesting to watch

Tikal

Tikal

Tikal

All the ants in a long line making there way to where ever it is they go. God knows what they do with all these leaves!

Tikal

Mundo Perdido

Tikal

Tikal

The pyramid in Mundo Perdido

Tikal

I was a bit rubbish and only made it half way up, the steps got a bit more corroded as you got to the top.

Tikal

Views of the surrounding jungle from the pyramid

Tikal

Tikal

Tikal

A view of Templo III from Mundo Perdido

Tikal

Then half way down we stopped for lunch

Tikal

Templo V

Tikal

Tikal

This was the one a decided I wouldn't climb, the stairs are just far too steep

BackTikal

Tikal

A views of the other temples from the top of Templo V

Tikal

Tikal

'No were NOT lost! Of course I know where we are!'

Tikal

We found an exciting little cave which we went for an adventure in. It was a dead end and full of bats, we did have a bit of an Indi moment here, when Stuart shined the torch and a load of bats all started flying towards us!

Tikal

Bat Cave

Tikal

Tikal

Grupo G

Tikal

The jungle paths that you had to walk through to get to the next set of temples

Tikal

A whole monkey skeleton, which looked quite erie laid out on one of the temples

Tikal

This is one of the temples that hasn't been excavated, there are loads of these around, its quite exciting to think what may lie beneath

Tikal

Tikal

Grupo F

Tikal

Tikal

We even saw a small crocodile

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