Tikal is for toucans

The drizzling rain didn't matter as soon as we entered Tikal National Park. Right away, an agouti scampered across the road, and then a turkey. A coatimundi was scavenging along the ruins, while oropendola flitted in their hanging nests.

Tikal was the biggest Mayan city, with a peak population of about 1 million. It means "The Place of the Spirit Voices". Here, too, the buildings were painted red, and detailed murals have been found at the top of temples.

Here above the trees, I saw my first ever toucan! I was totally distracted with watching it that it took a while to realise the view was pretty amazing too. 

There were several steep ascents to reach the tops of buildings and gaze out at the city hidden beneath the trees that once would have been razed.

One of the main architects is known as King Cocoa. All the buildings were planned out long before construction, and since it was a dynasty, the children of kings made sure it happened. 

A model of what Temple IV would have looked like.

One temple has been eroded in a way that shows several layers, built up over the years, with a staircase periodically topped.

Here again is evidence of incredible astronomical knowledge. The site was laid out reflecting the constellations above, and buildings line up for special effects on the solstices and equinoxes. 

This city was active between 800 BC and 900 AD, spanning 65 square kilometers. We saw limestone quarries where they would melt the lime to make a mortar. They also used caves in the limestone to store food. Again, there is evidence that they ran out of water and had to move elsewhere.

There is so much to learn here, and every Mayan settlement uncovers something different. It is wild to imagine this massive, intelligent civilization at its peak and consider its impact on the world around it.

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