Shortly after leaving San Ignacio a border crossing from Belize into Guatemala and then onto Tikai.

Tikal has been declared as the Tikal National Park covering some 570 square kilometres. The ancient city has been completely mapped and at its height covered an area greater than 16 square kilometres, with more than 3,000 structures. Today the main centre covers an area of approximately two and a half square kilometres. Several tall mounds which are temples have not yet been excavated. In fact only a small percentage of the site has been uncovered.

Arrived at Tikai and first stop after the toilet before the tour started was to get a decent cup of espresso coffee (latte)!

Around Tikal there is a lot of animal life and we were lucky to spot several of the noisy howler monkeys swinging high up in the upper canopy, pizotes / coati (a racoon-like animal) and even at a distant the exotic toucan bird.

The emphasis was on height when creating these imposing structures because the Maya believed the higher the building, the closer they were to the gods. The view from the top of Temple IV meant that we could look over the park from above.

Miguel 4 hour tour was both informative and really worthwhile. I suppose it was also the dense jungle like setting to me that was the unknown. We walked along where the old roads and bridges that were once paved with stucco. What engineering feats! Water was collected so how did they get their levels right?

Yes, Temple I was the highlight and I am glad that the main plaza was not covered with tourists (like me!) and I got my post card photos with no people in it. Trouble it doesn't give you the scale / height unless a person is in it.

Jaguar Inn Restaurant within the park itself was the venue for lunch and most including me chose their hamburger and fries.

Located on an island Flores is charming and has plenty of character. Essentially there is one main narrow cobble stoned road circling around the island itself with the church and plaza / basket ball court up high right in the centre of the island. With the recent rain part of the road was underwater.

Plenty of small hotels and restaurants dot the outer road with lovely unblocked views looking over the lake. Loved the brightly painted buildings and narrow cobble stone alleyways connecting the island together.

Wish that I was 8 again ref number of candles on my birthday cake.