Season 2, Episode 42 - Tikal National Park (Guatemala) - Global Treasures

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Abigail (00:00):
Imagine a place that tells a story spanning centuries where
culture and nature intertwine tocreate something truly extraordinary.
That's the beauty of UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites.
I'm Abigail, and this is GlobalTreasures, the podcast that covers

(00:21):
the history, travel, tips, andlegends surrounding one of the 1,223
World Heritage sites each episode.
These places have been identified ashaving universal, cultural or natural
significance that is so exceptionalthat it transcends national boundaries.

(00:44):
It is of importance to presentand future generations.
Welcome to season two, wherewe'll explore the 45 sites that
UNESCO added in 1979 together.
Thank you for listening tothe Global Treasures Podcast.
We appreciate all of your support, and youcan continue to support us by subscribing

(01:06):
at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Podbean.
You can also follow uson Tiktok or Facebook.
Please tell your friends about us.
And if you like what you hear,leave us a five star review.
Deep in the heart of theexpansive Guatemalan jungle.
Trees stretch into the distanceand drape across 222 square miles.

(01:33):
Welcome to Tikal National Park,a place where the past echoes
through the rustling leaves.
Concealed within the heavyembrace lies the remains of a
once illustrious civilization andformerly one of the most prominent
cities in the ancient Mayan world.

(01:53):
Inhabited as early as the sixthcentury BC until the 10th century AD,
Tikal was once a city with toweringtemples and ceremonial platforms.
Today, it stands as a solemnreminder of a lost world.
Thousands of structures swallowedby the continuous growth of the

(02:16):
Neotropical forest it calls home.
Nestled in the Patel Province, tikalsits within a large forest region,
often referred to as the Maya Forest.
This site forms an important partof the Maya biosphere reserve,
spanning over three thousand miles.

(02:37):
This reserve was created to protectthe forests from the threat of illegal
logging, safeguarding both the floraand the fauna, as well as the rich
history within these buildings.
The story of Tikal goes back millenniawhen the Maya first chose to settle here,
likely due to the soil being fertile.

(03:00):
This ancient city blossomed into alively urban center, flourishing due to
the ceremonial significance, culturalexpression and bustling commerce.
But it was during the eighthcentury AD that Tikal reached
its golden age of expansion.
Over the years, the Mayans constructedan estimated 3000 buildings.

(03:27):
Picture, temples that the sky, a literalurban jungle with a population that may
have reached as high as 100,000 citizens.
Who were the Mayans?
Why were they so important?
Answering these questions couldtake up an entire episode alone.

(03:47):
Most people know them for their ancienttemples, as I referenced before,
and unfortunately, they're also bestknown for human sacrifices being
an important part of religious madeto appease their gods or goddesses.
While this is true, The Mayans werean incredibly advanced civilization.

(04:11):
They had the most developed writingsystem in the pre-Colombian Americas.
The Mayans also had incredible artisansand were architecturally advanced.
In order to build the massive structureswithin the park, they must have had an
understanding of engineering as well.

(04:31):
Keep in mind, this was beforemodern technology or cement.
They were using a combinationof limestone, water and tree
bark sap as mortar, which wasrevolutionary and impressive.
They also had a sophisticatedmathematical system with records
showing one of the earliest instancesof the use of extensive zero

(04:57):
.The ancient Maya civilization even used their extensive astronomical
understandings to refine what wenow know as the calendar system.
They also had agricultural prowess.
Mayans cultivated corn, beans,squash, and chili peppers.

(05:18):
They had a complex trade networkbartering everything from
cotton to sugar to shark teeth.
In terms of a ruling class, theyhad a hereditary monarchy during
what is known as the classic periodwith a king acting as a go-between
commoners and the spiritual sphere.

(05:40):
Yet the vitality that fueledthis great city was not to last.
By the end of the ninth century, thebustling plazas found themselves empty,
construction was halted, and the onceinfluential was effectively abandoned.
The cause of the Maya Empires collapseremains one of the greatest unsolved

(06:03):
mysteries within the study of archeology.
Historians have long debatedthe potential reasons.
War, famine, disease, environmentaldecline, drought and overpopulation
have all been blamed.
Whatever the cause by the time HernanCortes and his band of conquistadors

(06:27):
marched through the region in 1525.
The towering temples at Tikal were alreadyhidden beneath centuries of forest growth.
They passed by unaware of themonumental legacy just beyond the trees.
It wasn't until 1848 that the Guatemalangovernment officially acknowledged the

(06:49):
ruins, sparking international interest.
In the decades that followed, Swiss,German and British archeologists
began to study the site as well.
Then in the 1950s and 1960s, amajor effort led by the University
of Pennsylvania and Guatemala'sInstitute of Anthropology and History

(07:15):
helped restore many of Tikal's grandstructures to their present state.
Movie buffs and science fiction fanswill be excited to learn that Tikal
was a featured filming location forthe 1977 Star Wars film, A New Hope.
It was used as the location for therebel base on the planet Yavin 4.

(07:38):
If you look at the scene where RebelAlliance plans the attack on the
Death Star, those are Tikal's pyramidsand temples in the background.
Apparently, George Lucas saw a poster inthe window of a travel agency and decided
it would make for an excellent setting.
Today, Tikal is not only a majorarcheological site, but a thriving

(08:02):
national park teeming with wild catssuch as Jaguars, Pumas, and Ocelots.
Anteaters and over 300 speciesof birds roam the jungle as well.
So bring your binocularsif you enjoy birdwatching.
The howler monkey is one of themost famous and loudest residents

(08:26):
in the park as well, with howls youcan hear up to three miles away.
Discoveries are still being made withinthe park every year with new altars
and other artifacts being uncovered.
This makes preserving thepark even more important.
Long term environmental monitoringand restoration of the wetlands and

(08:48):
animal habitats are being conductedto ensure the park is well managed.
The National Army even helps patrolthe borders of the reserve, ensuring
future generations will be able to enjoyTikal National Park into the future.
For those who plan on visiting Tikal,I'll cover some travel tips and logistics.

(09:11):
As always, check the show notes forlinks that will help make your travel
planning easier at no extra cost to you.
If you're flying in from another country,you'll want to fly into Mundo Maya
International Airport, which is in Flores.
From there, you can takea taxi, minivan or bus.

(09:34):
Some also choose to fly into Belizeand take trips from Belize City,
but that makes for a very long day,plus there are some other things
worth seeing while in Flores.
Flores is about 90 minutes awayfrom Tikal while Belize City is
around three and a half hours.
Flores has tourist shuttles that goto Tikal National Park specifically.

(09:59):
You can purchase tickets toenter Tikal National Park online.
If you plan on touring without a guide.
You can also buy tickets same day onsite, but you may end up waiting in line.
So purchase in advance if possible.
The park is open daily, thoughyou may want to check if
visiting around the holidays.

(10:21):
If you plan on booking a tour,you'll have so many options depending
on what your primary interest is.
There are archeology tours, historicaltours, sunrise and sunset tours,
and all of these can be bookedas either private or group tours.
While I gave a small portion of thehistory, going with a tour guide ensures

(10:46):
that you'll have someone giving you morecontext and a deeper understanding of
the history in your native language.
Plus, this park is gigantic and involvesa lot of walking and climbing, so having
a tour guide who knows where to go tosee the animals, get the best views,

(11:06):
all of the important things is helpfulin ensuring you use your time wisely.
I recommend downloading a map ofthe park prior to visiting that can
be viewed offline as the park doesnot have cell phone signal or wifi.
Make sure to follow the map andstay on the well marked paths.

(11:26):
Some highlights to visit include theGrand Plaza, which was the ceremonial
religious and social center of Tikal,the Plaza of the seven temples, the
Lost World, and Temple four, whichis also the temple, primarily seen in
the Star Wars film I spoke of before.

(11:48):
There are no ATMs in the park either,so make sure you have cash handy.
This may seem funny to point outsince it's the jungle, but many
national parks do have ATMs.
This just isn't one of them.
The park has two museums insideand you have to buy tickets
to enter them separately.

(12:08):
It's not included in thefee to enter the park.
Tikal also has a restaurantby the entrance, but you
may want to bring snacks.
Definitely bring sunscreen, water,and potentially an umbrella.
May to January is the wet season.
However, summer brings days thathit 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

(12:32):
So going earlier in the day if possible,is ideal if you're heat sensitive.
Some other tips, littering isnot tolerated because it could
negatively impact the animals.
So please be sure to discardyour trash in the trash bins.
Also, carving your name into the monumentsmay seem like a fun gesture and a way to

(12:56):
leave your mark, but this is vandalismand could lead to you getting fined.
Overall, you can expect to spend anywherefrom six to eight or even more hours here
if you truly take your time exploring.
If you stay in Flores, you'll haveplenty of hotel and restaurant options.

(13:16):
Also, it's pretty walkable if you don'trent a car, and I didn't mention it
before, but if you stay in a hotel,they may be able to help you arrange
a shuttle to National Park as well.
If camping is up your alley, there'sa designated campground outside
the entrance of the park where youcan set up your tent or rent one.

(13:40):
It is minimal in termsof the amenities offered.
So while there may be a restroom,you may want to bring a lantern or
flashlight because lighting is minimal.
Insect repellent is also important ifyou're visiting the park, but especially
if you'll be sleeping outdoors.
You may even want toconsider mosquito netting.

(14:02):
While you're in Floris, Yaxhais another site worth seeing.
It's smaller than Tikal, but I definitelysuggest a tour as well because it
isn't as easy to access as Tikal.
Yaxha is another archeological sitethat overlooks the beautiful lake Yaxha.
It contains numerous monuments,pyramids, and palace like structures.

(14:27):
Flores is otherwise pretty walkable.
Like I said, you can get to the shopsand everything else in the margins
of the city within 20 minutes or so.
I also want to mention that Spanishis the primary language spoken.
Believe it or not, 28 surviving Mayanlanguages are still spoken today, so

(14:49):
don't be surprised if the Spanish youhear in Guatemala sounds a bit different.
There may be words infusedfrom the ancient languages.
Of course, I would be remiss if Ididn't end by talking about one of my
favorite parts of traveling, the food.
The National Dish of Guatemala is Pepian.

(15:12):
This is slow cooked meat, usually chickenor pork, mixed with a host of spices
and vegetables such as tomatillos,a member of the Nightshade family.
This dish is very thick and almost currylike due to the infusion of pumpkin
seeds, which lends a creaminess to it.

(15:34):
It's often served with black beans andrice on the side, and no surprise, this
dish is traced back to Maya civilizationand was often used in ceremonial feasts.
Given the pride they take in their richhistory, it makes sense that even the
cuisine brings it all back full circle.

(15:57):
Returning to traditional flavors asa means of honoring their heritage.
Today the buildings within TikalNational Park stand as hushed
bystanders to a distinguished era.
A reminder of the riseand fall of civilizations.

(16:18):
Forever embraced by thestunning jungle of Guatemala.
Whether you're visiting to learnabout the past, admire the visual
beauty of the park, or try theincredible food, this UNESCO World
Heritage Site is truly one of a kind.
Join us for our next episodewhere we cover Urnes Stave

(16:41):
Church located in Norway.
Built in the 12th to 13thcentury, it's the oldest wooden
church in the entire country.
Come learn about the historyand why this site needs to be
on your travel bucket list.
Until then, keep exploring, keepwondering, and keep treasury

(17:06):
the remarkable diversityof our world's heritage.

All Episodes

Season 2, Episode 42 - Tikal National Park (Guatemala)

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Crime Junkie

Cardiac Cowboys

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Season 2, Episode 42 - Tikal National Park (Guatemala)