Where We Be
This is the closest we've ever been to a wild parrot. We were climbing to the top
of Temple 4 when it landed right near us and started chowing down on berries.
Jungle Life of Tikal, Guatemala
As we entered Tikal National Park for the first
time, we passed a huge ceiba tree, the sacred
tree of life to the Mayans. Not far beyond we
heard howler monkeys howling back and forth,
very close at hand, and it really sounded like
something out of Jurassic Park. We also saw
coatis crossing the path, parrots and parakeets
by the dozen, spider monkeys, and a curassow
and chachalaca (both pheasant-like). Our initial
afternoon visit (3:30 - 6:00 pm) was obviously a
great time to explore in terms of animal activity.

The next morning was equally good for wildlife
sightings. During the walk in we saw about ten
wild piglets and a sow who darted into the
forest as soon as they saw us. Only the male
boar stayed behind to make sure they got away
safely, then he ran too. Just beyond we saw
another great curassow, then a fox in an open
glade. At Temple 5 we watched rambunctious
coatis frolicking right in front of us near the
steps of the pyramid. On our final outing that
afternoon, we heard a huge ruckus from even
more howler monkeys than before. They were
easily visible in the tall trees right above us.
Nearby we could see spider monkeys swinging
through the branches. There really are a lot of
howler and spider monkeys around here!
Our favorite midday activity was swimming in the awesome pool at Jungle Lodge Hotel. We met some
great people here from all around the world, all in love with Tikal -- both the temples and the wildlife.
This scale model of Tikal sits right across from the entrance gate near a collection of handicraft shops.
At the center is the Great Plaza with Temples 1 and 2, and Temple 3 looming right behind. Temple 4
is at the far back. Temple 5 is tall and to the left. Temple 6 is out of the photo but towards the front left.
Another welcome surprise was the meals at Jungle Lodge -- the pasta dishes were quite good. We've never had pasta with
avocado before, but since avocados originated in Guatemala and southern Mexico, this seemed like the right place to try it.
Standing outside our cabana, ready to go exploring
Robin holds up a map of Tikal just
before our first outing. So excited!
Coatis were another favorite. They socialized and played right in front of us. At other places like Iguazu Falls
they can be aggressive around humans, especially if food is at hand, but here they completely ignored us.
Wow, did we ever see -- and especially hear! -- a lot of
howler monkeys. Tikal is the place to come for them.
The ceiba tree was sacred to the Mayans. They called it the Tree of Life and it figured very much
in their cosmology, connecting heaven to earth to underworld. If you look at Robin standing at
the base, then look at the other photo, you get a sense of just how immense these trees are.
And spider monkeys too. Not as noisy as the howlers, but when tree
branches suddenly spring to life out of nowhere you know they're around!
We enjoyed our room at Jungle Lodge Hotel. No AC was surprisingly okay here, maybe because
of the thick walls and ceiling fan. Electricity was only for set hours, but hey, this IS the jungle.