On the 16th we stayed in Flores, Guatemala. This is an island in the middle of Lake Peten Itza. It was one of the last holdouts of the Itza Maya against the Spanish, and predictably the Spanish built over everything that the Itza had not leveled behind them.

The next night we camped at Tikal.

We actually got there early enough for some of us to catch the sunset in the Grand Plaza.

Then we were up at 4am to see the sunrise on Temple IV.

If this looks familia, that’ becasue Tikal was the filming location of Yavin IV in Star Wars. (All of the guides kept talking about Ewoks, but I know I know my Star Wars and this was definitely not used for the forrest moon of Endor.)

A unique construction feature: alternating sloped and vertical stages.

Some buildings under active restoration.

I went on the extra loop by Temple VI, the Temple of Inscriptions. The 35-foot back wall is covered with writing. The guide said that only about 1 in 20 visitors comes to Temple VI since it is out of the way compared to the rest of the site.