My parents arrived in Tikal today.  They were picked up at the airport, brought to our hotel and then we all headed to Tikal for the day.

My dad in the small plane.

 My parents arrived and joined us for a quick breakfast at La Casa de Don David before heading to Tikal.  Can you find the toucans in the picture below?
 Wood carvings at La Casa de Don David.  We were able to see the locals working on carvings similar to this one and I was amazed.




We arrived at Tikal around 9:30 am.


Check out Wikipedia to learn more about Tikal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikal).  Wikipedia states:

Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala. Situated in the department of El Petén, the site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[2]

As we were driving into the park we picked up an English speaking guide.  My parents talked with the guide while Nat and I watched the boys climb all over the place.  They loved climbing the ruins.

 Top of the tree.


Walking with the guide the the Central Plaza.













 Off the Central Plaza.
 
 Temple II (I think):
















 Temple IV:
 















 Stairs going to the top of Temple IV.
  Not sure where we are here.




Top of another structure:
 Looking down.  This was scary going up and down with the kids.  My parents chose to stay at the bottom.  You can see them at the bottom in this picture.













We (I mean our guide) spotted a small toucan, not the kind on the Fruit Loop box.  I was dying to see the big toucan, but this was better than not seeing any.  My goal in Tikal was to see a toucan.

 Walking back to the front gate through the jungle.

 A model of all of the ruins at Tikal.
 The end of the day.


The Mayan boat my parents bought.


The boys had so much fun they want to back for more tomorrow!