Tikal facts at a glance
Tikal National Park lies in the Petén department in northern Guatemala. It became a national park in 1955 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, listed for both cultural and natural criteria. Inside are thousands of structures from a Maya city that was occupied for well over a thousand years.
Many numbers about Tikal come with a range, because researchers measure from different points and cover different areas. This page shows the ranges. To see the buildings behind the numbers, take one of the Tikal tours from Flores.
Tikal size, height and age in numbers
The main figures, with the range where there is one.
| Topic | Figure | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Protected area | 57,600 ha (576 km²) | Another figure used for the park is 55,224 ha |
| Structures | More than 3,000 | A LiDAR study counted 9,347 in one 102 km² block |
| Temple I | 45–47 m | Temple of the Great Jaguar |
| Temple IV | 65–70 m | 65 m from the platform, 70 m from the plaza level |
| First settlement | About 850 BC to 6th century BC | Depends on the definition |
| Occupation | Until about the 10th century AD | Decline around 900 |
| National park | 1955 | – |
| UNESCO listing | 1979 | Cultural and natural criteria |
| Flores to Tikal | 63 km | About 1 hour by road |
| Guatemala City to Tikal | 484 km or 527 km | Depends on the route measured |
The two structure counts are not in conflict. They cover different areas and use different methods. For a quick summary, remember three things: the park covers about 576 km², Temple IV is the tallest temple, and the city’s age is a range, not a date.
Our pick: Tikal with the entry included
A guided day from San Ignacio with the entry and lunch.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Tikal tours and day trips from Flores
Guided days, sunrise trips and transport to the park, with live prices and availability.
How tall are the Tikal temples?
Temple IV is the tallest temple in Tikal. The two heights, about 65 m and about 70 m, come from two ways of measuring: from the platform and from the plaza level up to the roof comb. They are not the height of the viewing platform. The figure holds for Tikal only.
Other heights are rounded: Temple I about 47 m (some measurements 45 m), Temple II about 38 m, Temple III about 55 m, Temple V about 57 m and the Great Pyramid of Mundo Perdido about 31 m. Every temple is described on the Tikal temples page.
How many people lived in Tikal?
Estimates, not a census.
23,834 to 37,107
A 2025 study of one 102 km² block in the Tikal area, calculated with different population indices.
40,000 to 62,000
A 2021 study put the population at this range around 830 AD.
40,000 to 80,000
A study first published in 2024 gives this range for the city center and its farmland, up to 1,100 km², at the peak in the 8th century.
The figures differ because the areas and dates differ. Do not average them. The LiDAR count of 61,480 structures belongs to a regional survey of more than 2,100 km², not to Tikal alone. The Tikal history page puts the numbers in context.
UNESCO and Tikal in numbers for your visit
Visit basics for 2026.
Opening hours
The park is open daily from 06:00 to 18:00. Early access runs about 04:00 to 06:00 and evening access about 18:00 to 20:00, both with a guide.
Fees
Regular entrance is GTQ 150 for foreign visitors in 2026. Sunrise and sunset each add GTQ 100. Children under 10 enter free. Tickets are valid for 30 days after purchase and work for one visit day.
Museum
The Museo Lítico is at the visitor center and opens 08:00–16:00 every day. It costs GTQ 30 for foreign visitors. A second site museum, the Sylvanus G. Morley museum, also exists.
Wildlife counts
The World Heritage listing names over 330 bird species and 38 snake species. It also names jaguar, puma, howler monkeys, spider monkeys and the ocellated turkey. A species count is not a promise of sightings.
Tikal tickets and hours
Entrance fees, supplements and how to buy.
Tikal animals
Howler monkeys, coatis, toucans and jaguars.
How to get to Tikal
Flores airport, shuttles and the road.
Many trips to Tikal start in Guatemala City or Antigua. For the highlands side, see the Antigua Guatemala travel guide.
Tikal facts: frequently asked questions
How big is Tikal?
The World Heritage property covers 57,600 ha, which is 576 km². Another figure used for the park is 55,224 ha, so treat the size as about 550 to 576 km².
How tall is Temple IV?
About 65 m from its platform or about 70 m from the plaza level to the roof comb. It is the tallest temple in Tikal.
How old is Tikal?
The first settlers date to between about 850 BC and the 6th century BC. The city was occupied until about the 10th century AD. There is no single age.
How many people lived in Tikal?
Estimates run from about 24,000 to 80,000, depending on the area and period studied. They are model results, not a census.
When did Tikal become a UNESCO site?
In 1979, for both cultural and natural criteria. It has been a national park since 1955.
Is tikalruins.com an official Tikal website?
No. This is an independent travel guide, not run by the park or by any government body.