TIKAL BY FOOT AND AIR
Unlike most other notable Mayan sites, Tikal is situated fairly deep in the jungle. Walking from one site to another often requires one to pass beneath the dense canopy of the rain forest. In fact it is a bit of a walk before reaching the first pyramid, but the first glimpse of Temple I is awe inspiring. It is situated at the east end of the Gran Plaza, which is also home to Temple II and the Acropolis del Norte. Temple II is climbable, so I climb it with my new friend Claudine. It is a steep climb, so on our way down she asks me to go first as my height will prevent her from seeing just how steep it is.Up until now the path is fairly well maintained and the jungle is kept at bay, but to reach the next area, it is necessary to go into the jungle. Here we catch a glimpse of Temple III along with various other ruins. But the hallmark of any visit to Tikal is Temple IV, the largest of the pyramids at 44 m in height. The view from its top is exquisite.
After hours of climbing and exploring, a group of us decides to take a canopy tour via zip-line. After braking too soon twice and getting my glove caught in the pulley once, I start to get the hang of it. No camera--it seems to be more of an experiential outing.
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