National park · Guatemala
Tikal National ParkParque Nacional Tikal
Go at 06:00 opening with a Q150 day ticket, climb Temple IV's wooden stairs for the canopy view, and walk the causeways before 10:00; add the Q100 sunrise bracelet only if you sleep at the park, since guides are required before dawn.Go at 6:00 AM opening with a Q150 day ticket, climb Temple IV's wooden stairs for the canopy view, and walk the causeways before 10:00 AM; add the Q100 sunrise bracelet only if you sleep at the park, since guides are required before dawn.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
576 km²222 sq mi
approximate
Established
1955
Best months
Dec–Mar
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 6Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Guatemala ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Guatemala's Migration Institute or a Guatemalan consulate. Guatemala shares a Central America border agreement (CA-4) with El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua, so your permitted stay may count across all four.
- Guatemala ↗Hike volcanoes (Acatenango, Pacaya) only with registered guides and check eruption alerts; Fuego is highly active.
- Guatemala ↗Avoid public chicken buses between cities: they are frequent targets of robbery. Use tourist shuttles or private transport.
At a glance
- Country
- Guatemala
- Area
- 576 km²222 sq mi
- The national park boundary is about 576 km²; the mapped and restored visitor core is far smaller (check).
- Established
- 1955
- Best months
- Dec–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
Tikal is the largest Classic-period Maya city, spread over roughly 16 km² of rainforest in Petén with thousands of structures, only a fraction excavated. It is a walking site: dirt causeways and shaded forest paths link the Great Plaza, Mundo Perdido and Temple IV, which stands about 70 m and has a wooden staircase to a viewdeck above the canopy. UNESCO listed it in 1979, and it sits inside the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Distances are real — the far end is about 40 minutes on foot from the gate — so plan the heat, not the crowds.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 1979Tikal National Park, mixed cultural and natural listing.
Size and age
576 km²222 sq mi · national park since 1955
The national park boundary is about 576 km²; the mapped and restored visitor core is far smaller (check).
Why go
- The tallest pre-Columbian structures in the Americas, still half-swallowed by forest.
- Temple IV's viewdeck looks over unbroken canopy to other temple tops.
- Spider and howler monkeys, ocellated turkeys and coatis on the trails, not in a zoo.
- You can watch excavation work in progress; many mounds remain unopened.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepAvoid
- OctCaution
- NovGo
- DecBest
- JanDry, cooler nights; clear mornings
- FebDry and bright
- MarDry; haze builds
- AprHot; first rains possible
- MayWet season starts; mud
- JunAfternoon downpours
- JulWet; humidity high
- AugWet; trails slick
- SepWettest month; storms
- OctRain easing late in month
- NovDrying out; green forest
- DecDry, busy with holiday travel
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spider monkeysAll year · Best on sunny mornings soon after waking. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Howler monkeysAll year · Often near the Temple IV area. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Ocellated turkeys and coatisAll year · Common around the plazas and picnic areas. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Toucans and parrotsFeb–May · Canopy birding is best in the drier months. | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| JaguarsAll year · Rare; sightings happen on remote trails and have occurred near the parking area. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Flores / Santa Elena
Tourist minibus from Flores island or second-class bus from the Santa Elena terminal, both on the paved road to the gate.
1.5–2 h
From El Remate
Lakeside lodges arrange shuttle pick-up; about half the drive from Flores.
45–60 min
From Guatemala City
Fly to Flores (about 1 h) then shuttle, or overnight bus to Santa Elena.
1 h flight plus 1.5–2 h road
Open the page →
From Belize border
Shuttle or bus via Melchor de Mencos to Santa Elena, then the Tikal road.
3–4 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Great Plaza and acropolises | Temple I and Temple II facing each other, with the North and Central Acropolis behind. | Open with a day ticket; stone steps closed, Temple II has a wooden stair to a viewdeck. |
| Mundo Perdido | Preclassic ceremonial complex with the biggest structure you can climb to the top of. | Open; wooden staircase to the summit. |
| Temple IV and the west end | The tallest temple, about 70 m, on higher ground with the widest canopy view. | Open; wooden stairs to the viewdeck, about 40 minutes' walk from the gate. |
| Outer forest trails | Small shaded paths and old causeways off the main axis. | Open inside the ticketed area; the Sendero Caoba Felipe outside it is closed. |
Sketch map
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry, foreign adult | GTQ 150 | person | Day ticket; 2026 estimate, paid online or at the booth about 12 km before the gate. |
| Sunrise bracelet | GTQ 100 | person | On top of the day ticket; guide required, guide fee separate. |
| Stelae museums | GTQ 30 | person | 2026 estimate. |
| Camping permit | GTQ 50 | person | Equipment rental extra and cash only on site. |
| Shuttle from Flores, one way | GTQ 60–120 | person | Tourist minibus; second-class bus is cheaper. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Day entry ticket permit or guide
Sunrise entry permit or guide
Camping permit permit or guide
Park rules
- Climbing
- Do not climb the original stone steps of the large temples; use the wooden staircases provided.
- Opening hours
- The ruins open about 06:00 and close about 17:00, with staff clearing the site by 17:30; the official site has quoted 18:00, so confirm on arrival (check).The ruins open about 6:00 AM and close about 5:00 PM, with staff clearing the site by 5:30 PM; the official site has quoted 6:00 PM, so confirm on arrival (check).check
- Sunrise access
- Before normal opening you must be with a guide and hold the sunrise bracelet.
- Closed trail
- The Sendero Caoba Felipe outside the ticketed area is closed; fines apply to walkers who ignore it.
- Cash and ATMs
- There is no ATM at Tikal; bring quetzals for tickets, camping gear and food stalls.
- Wildlife
- Do not feed monkeys or coatis; food theft and bites are the usual result.
Where to stay
In the park
Park hotels at the gate
Three simple hotels within a few minutes' walk of the entrance; the only way to be inside for sunrise without a pre-dawn drive.
In the park
Park campground
Permit-based camping by the parking area; hammocks and tents rented on site for cash.
Near the park
Flores and Santa Elena
Hostels and hotels of every level, 1.5–2 h away, with the earliest shuttles leaving around 04:00.Hostels and hotels of every level, 1.5–2 h away, with the earliest shuttles leaving around 4:00 AM.
Near the park
El Remate
Cheaper lakeside lodges roughly halfway, with shuttle pick-up arranged by the hotel.
Safety
Heat and dehydration high
Getting lost on side trails medium
Slippery wooden stairs medium
Wildlife encounters low
Accessibility
- The visitor centre, museums, restaurants and the first plazas are reachable on wide hard-packed roads with short walks.
- Temple staircases and the long causeway walks are steep, uneven and not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Buy tickets through the official channel so entry fees fund park staff and excavation.
- Carry out all rubbish; the forest trails have no bins.
- Hire local Petén guides rather than informal touts at the gate.
- Keep to marked paths to limit erosion on the causeways.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Tikal?
A foreign adult day ticket is about Q150 (2026 estimate), bought online or at the booth roughly 12 km before the gate. The sunrise bracelet is a further Q100 and a guide fee is separate. The small stelae museums cost about Q30 extra. There is no ATM at the park, so bring cash if you are not paying online.
What are the best hikes in Tikal?
There is no long trekking route here — the walking is between ruins. The best routes are the Great Plaza and Temple II viewdeck, the causeway west to Temple IV for the widest canopy view, and Mundo Perdido for the highest climbable structure. The Sendero Caoba Felipe outside the ticketed area is closed.
When is the best time to visit Tikal?
December to March: dry mornings, cooler nights and clear views from the temples. April and May get hot before the rains. September is the wettest month and the least rewarding. Whatever the month, arrive at 06:00 opening to walk before the heat and the day-trip buses.
Can I climb the temples?
Not the original stone steps. Temple II, Temple IV and Mundo Perdido have wooden staircases at the back leading to viewdecks. They are steep and slippery after rain.
Do I need a guide for the sunrise tour?
Yes. Sunrise entry needs the Q100 bracelet plus a guide, and it only makes sense if you are staying at one of the park hotels or on a pre-dawn tour from Flores.
How do I get to Tikal from Flores?
Tourist minibuses leave Flores island from about 04:00 and take 1.5–2 hours; second-class buses run from the Santa Elena terminal for less. Both use the paved road to the gate.
Can I stay overnight at Tikal?
Yes. Three simple hotels sit by the entrance and there is a permit-based campground near the parking area with hammock and tent rental. Demand often exceeds supply in high season, so book ahead.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go