smithtribesailing: Tikal and the End of the World!

Deep in the jungle where nobody goes… you will find that one of the greatest civilizations of it's time, built a city that has endured for centuries. Extending over six square miles there are over 3000 structures, including temples, palaces, ceremonial platforms, ball courts(the losing team members in these games were decapitated), terraces, avenues and plazas. The Maya began building Tikal around 600 B.C. About 1500 years ago, at its peak, Tikal was a wealthy metropolis, home to an estimated 100,000 Mayans.

Layla, Chris, Storm, Rourke and Craig exploring the ruins

The Smithtribe, posing

This is the temple where we spent the night, a rare privilege, as those days are gone. One time only offer, like finding the Golden Ticket in a Wonka Bar!

Rourke making his way to the top

All part of the Maya Celebrations the night before the end of Baktun 13

We were fortunate to be here for the Mayan End Of The World Celebration, actually the Maya didn't say it was so, for them it was the end of their calendar year and they welcomed in the new one with celebrations and ceremonies of note. We spent the night at the foot of one of the Temples, under the stars watching their celebrations and welcomed the dawn of a new era at sunrise, something we will not soon forget.

It was very impressive

The Temple lit up that night. A High Priest in full dress, a magnificent head dress, addressed the crowds below from up here

The following day

Chris taking a shortcut

Amazing this has withstood the weathering of 1000's of years, it is taller than me

Walking under the jungle canopy from temple to temple with the spider monkeys and their brothers the howler monkeys swinging above us, one feels a sense of awe. The wildlife surrounding the ruins adds to the already impressive beauty of this place. Climbing to the top of one of the pyramids gives one the view of the roof combs rising from the sea of jungle.