A day of ruins

We were awaken at 5am by howler monkeys!!!  What strange sounds the males make to declare their territory! Once it got light our stomachs led us to breakfast and on the way...

A torch ginger

And a coatimundi

We hired a guide, Samuel, for our first time in the ruins so we could learn the history and see the most important sites along with monkey and bird sightings.

Coming into the grand plaza

In the grand plaza temple I. The grand jaguar.

Temple Ii

Acropolis Norte

Temple III

Suzanne atop Mundo Perdido, the oldest building in Tikal

From atop temple IV

Partially restored building in complex Q 

They now know that there are over 36,000 buildings in Tikal!!  It was an powerful commercial, spiritual, and political center for 1500 years.

Weaving through this amazing complex in the jungle, seeing toucans, spider and howler monkeys, isn't an experience one soon forgets.  People come near for one day and we are lucky to be able to be here for 5 and we will still just scratch the surface of this place!

We returned to our Jungle Lodge and swam in the pool and strolled to our little Mayan restaurant where we ate last night and this morning.  The sights and sounds in the jungle are heavenly.