At 3 a.m. our tour to Tikal, the most significant Maya city in the world, starts. With many other Europeans, we sit in the minibus on the way to Tikal. Tikal is located about 60 km away in the middle of the jungle.
Once we arrived there, we walk in the dark through the ruins of the city, all the way up to Temple 4, the tallest temple of the former Mayan empire. It is around 5:15 in the morning when we sit on the stairs and wait for the sunrise, overlooking the city immersed in mist and jungle. While some people meditate, others fall asleep again due to the lack of sleep. The most impressive thing is the sounds we hear from the jungle: the birds, monkeys, and other animals slowly awaken, and a new day begins. The mist clears and the tops of the temples come into view. Shortly before 6, the sun appears, illuminating the temple and creating a truly magical sight. It may not be the best sunrise, but I have never experienced such a soundscape before.
During the tour to the most important place in Tikal, we learn a lot about the history of Tikal. Afterwards, we have time to explore the city on our own.
It was a special honor to witness a baptism ceremony of a Mayan tribe, taking place at the Gran Plaza in front of the famous Temple 1. About 30 people gathered around the fire. For each child baptized, a chicken was sacrificed, a procedure I preferred not to watch.
One thing that made both of us really embarrassed was the behavior of many tourists. There were truly many who filmed the procedure from close proximity or stood next to the child during the baptism with their cell phone. How does it come across when you film at a private celebration where you are not even invited without asking? Somehow, I find it sad that some people apparently don't think about it. The height of disrespect was reached by an American whose conversation we later listened to on the way back. He didn't think it was right for the indigenous people to practice their ceremony in the middle of the square, they could do that outside. At least it was something interesting for the tourists, he said. One would think that traveling makes people cosmopolitan. :(
Despite being up since 3 a.m., having a growling stomach, and it being very hot, we explore the ruins of the city until 2 p.m. After the previous ruins (Teotihuacan, Tajin, and Palenque), Tikal is truly the most impressive city and perhaps the most magical place I have ever been to. Not only because of the large ruins themselves, but above all because of the location in the middle of the jungle, the sounds of nature, and the fact that at some places we are the only people. It is also pleasant that there are no street vendors here. In Mexico, one was practically overwhelmed by the numerous vendors after coming down the temple stairs.
I definitely recommend doing the tour to Tikal at 3 a.m. It is simply an unbelievable atmosphere when the jungle around you awakens, and you have plenty of time to explore Tikal on your own. We spent a total of 8 hours in the park, and the time flew by.
