Continuing with our series of discovering lost cities, we are joined by Stephen Alvarez, a tour guide at Tikal National Park in Guatemala.0:03
Welcome to the show, Stephen.0:14
Now, for those of you who don't know, Tikal was one of the largest and most powerful cities in the Mayan Empire.0:17
It dates as far back as 400 BC and prospered until around 900 BC when it was abandoned.0:26
The city lay lost in the jungle for thousands of years until the mid-1800s when it was rediscovered by a local man.0:35
It has since been excavated and is now the number one tourist attraction in Guatemala.0:44
Stephen, What brings people to Tikal today?0:51
Well, while Mayan architecture can be seen in other parts of South America, Tikal is particularly attractive due to its location.0:54
It is nestled among 222 square miles of dense tropical jungle.1:03
Seeing these incredible Mayan temples rise up through the trees is quite a spectacular sight.1:09
And are these temples accessible to visitors?1:18
The ruins are connected via a network of trails that allow visitors to trek from one to another.1:22
However, since they are scattered across an area of 10 square miles, it's not really possible to see everything in one day.1:30
That's why we offer a variety of tour packages.1:38
Tell me about some of your tours, Stephen.1:41
Well, the most popular one, the temple tour, begins at the foot of a giant tree known locally as the Ceiba.1:44
It takes tourists through the jungle from ruin to ruin, allowing visitors to get an idea of how Tikal looked before it was excavated.1:51
What sorts of things can visitors expect to see on the tour?2:01
Tourists are led through the old Tikal marketplace and a variety of buildings that were central to Mayan civilization.2:05
Including palaces and temples.2:13
The most spectacular of these is undoubtedly the Grand Jaguar Temple.2:16
This is located in the main plaza, which is where the tour ends.2:21
I hear you also offer a jungle canopy tour.2:26
Can you tell us a bit about that?2:29
Well, Tikal National Park is home to a wide variety of flora and houses many species of animals.2:31
The Jungle Canopy Tour allows visitors to sit in a harness while sliding from tree to tree.2:39
It's perfect for nature lovers, and those with a keen eye may even be able to spot monkeys swinging in the trees.2:45
What other animals can be seen at Tikal?2:54
Well, there are over 285 species of exotic birds in Tikal, which is the reason so many people come to do some bird watching.2:57
There are also lots of species of deer, raccoons, and foxes.3:05
On rare occasions, you may even encounter wild cats, such as jaguars and cougars.3:10
It sounds like there are plenty of things to see.3:17
Yes, that's why I would recommend visiting the site over 2 or 3 days.3:20
For an overnight stay, Tikal is an ideal place for camping.3:26
I think this is the best way to enjoy the park in the evening.3:30
However, visitors will have to bring their own provisions.3:35
What kinds of things should they bring?3:38
Well, it's a good idea to pack your own food, water, and sleeping equipment.3:40
Also, if you do plan to stay overnight, beware of the insects.3:46
It's important to bring plenty of repellent and cover up as much as possible.3:50
That's good advice, Stephen.3:55
Any final words for our listeners?3:57
I'd just like to point out that Tikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that promotes ecotourism.4:00
Therefore, visitors are kindly requested to clean up their rubbish before leaving the area.4:07
We want to preserve it as well as possible so that future generations can enjoy it too.4:13
Unfortunately, that's all we have time for today.4:21
Stephen, thank you so much for coming on the show.4:24
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