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Tikal & Flores,

Includes  Why Go? ...... 234 The glory and splendors of the ancient Maya world await Yaxhá ...... 240 you, just over the border in the lush rainforests of Eastern ...... 241 Guatemala. The region is especially important to the Maya people, being home to many temples, pyramids and ruins El Remate ...... 241 with significance to the alignment of 12/21/2012, which re- Flores & cently completed a major cycle of the and Santa Elena...... 243 began another. The most fabled (and easiest to reach) of Guatemala’s slice of La Ruta Maya is Tikal. Larger and more complete- ly restored than any of the Maya sites in , Tikal of- Best Places to Eat fers visitors the unique opportunity to spend the night at the ruins, waking up in the middle of the jungle, thanks ¨ ¨Las Orquideas (p243) to its in-park campground and lodges. Alternatively, the ¨¨Las Mesitas (p249) nearby lakeside villages of Flores and El Remate are ¨¨Terrazzo (p249) peaceful, picturesque places to recover from some inten- sive archaeological exploration. ¨¨Cool Beans (p249)

When to Go Best Places to ¨¨Jan–Mar Few bugs and little rain make for optimum jungle Sleep travel conditions. ¨¨Tikal Inn (p239) ¨¨Dec The Unificación Maya Festival takes place at Maya ¨¨Alice Guesthouse (p242) sites throughout the area. ¨¨Posada del Cerro (p242) ¨¨Hotel Santa Barbara (p247) ¨¨Hotel Isla de Flores (p248)

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2 1 a 360-degree for lV Temple the jungle-shrouded of view ruins Tikal & Flores, GuatemalaHighlights Reserva de La Libertad Biósfera Maya El Perú Sayaxché (20mi) (18mi) the delight of touring the site comes from canopy of rainforest amid the rich, loamycanopy of rainforest of aromas of earth Much and vegetation. restored, but as you walk from one build restored, but as you densethe beneath pass you another to ing distinguishes setting. it is its jungle Its been cleared of trees and plazas have many and partiallyvines, its temples uncovered is its towering,its is steep-sided risingtemples, feet,what but to heights of more than 144 The most of striking feature 2837; Tikal

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Tikal & Flores, Gua 234