I went with the Maya Field Workshop tour, led by David and Ann Stuart, to Tikal, Guatemala. We stayed in the National Park that contains the ruins at the Tikal Inn.

This Maya city reached its height of power from 200 AD to 800 AD, though there are major buildings from 400 BC. It covers 23 square miles and it is estimated had more than 50,000 people. The structures were built without metal tools.

From 1956 through 1970, the University of Pennsylvania carried out major archaeological excavations. In 1979, the Guatemalan government began a further archeological project at Tikal, which continued through to 1984. There are a great many unexcavated structures in the park.