Tikal: Huge temples in the dense jungle of Guatemala. Diving in Utila and the ruins of Copan (Honduras).

Travelogue Guatemala, Honduras 1998
Tikal, ­Utila, ­Copan

April 6th, 1998, Tikal

Hi guys and girls,

again some time passed, hopefully you still have nice weather, because I want to have it relatively warm when I come back.

I was not in Tikal last week as I had written, but just this weekend.

Absolutely impressive, a detailed report here would go beyond the scope. At least as impressive as the ruins was the jungle experience, maybe I’ll spend some more time in the jungle on my way back from Utila. I’ll be able to show you some slides, but without the smell and especially the sounds, it’s far less than half. Unfortunately I had a little bad luck with my sunrises and sunsets there again, also here in Antigua it is hazy, so I will probably also climb the Vulcano Pacaya with only moderatly good weather.

View over the jungle in Guatemala, above the treetops rise the temple ruins of Tikal.
Imagine it’s 1848, you’re traveling into the pristine, dense jungle and towering temples rise above the treetops – this is Tikal.
Temple Nr. 1, Tikal, Guatemala
There are large temples in Tikal (this one is simply called Temple No. 1 and was built in 700 AD).
Volker in front of a very wide tree trunk, Tikal, Guatemala
… and there are big trees too.

Anyway, this is now my last week in Antigua, I do not expect to be able to send emails from Utila. I’ll get back to you this weekend at the latest, though.

I wish you all the best.

Best regards from Guatemala,

Volker

Utila

Unfortunately, I did not report about my time in Utila, at that time these reports went exclusively to my family and I told them personally shortly afterwards. So here are just a few photos with notes.

view over Utila, Honduras
Utila is a beautiful small island off the coast of Honduras. There are hardly any beaches, but you can snorkel well and dive even better. If you want to be adventurous, you can take a kayak tour through a lagoon, past mangroves to the other side of the island to a completely untouched, deserted beach.
Volker with sunburn after diving on Utila, Honduras
Prize question: What do you wear when diving on Utila?
(a) swimwear only (b) half-length wetsuits (c) long wetsuits
Stele in Copan, Honduras
On the way back I visited the ruins in Copan. Here the stone is softer and the figures more varied. But most tourists say that if you have seen Tikal before, it is not worth visiting.

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