A Guide map of the Ruins of Tikal Guatemala

Mapping the ruins of one of the largest urban centers of the Mayan civilization.

This large-scale plan provides a detailed overview of the mapped ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Tikal, located deep in the Guatemalan rainforest. After it was abandoned for centuries, it was ‘re-discovered’ in the mid-19th century, though it would take another hundred years until the state declared the area an official National Park (in 1955). The map covers primarily the former city center, with primary buildings labeled according to their speculative uses. Specially-built causeways connect various temple complexes to the central acropolis. Scores of structures are scattered throughout the surrounding area. The contoured topography and small symbols give little impression of the rugged terrain, which makes excavation and study extremely difficult.

Since the publication of the map by Asociacion Tikal in 1969, significant advancements have been made in archaeology, thanks in large part to LiDAR surveying methods. The ruins now encompass over six square miles, with thousands of buildings that are estimated to have housed over 50,000 residents at their height.