VUE

Pulling into the park, I noted jaguar and snake crossing signs and even though it shouldn't have surprised me when an array of wildlife started to appear le, right and overhead, I couldn't help but feel like I had been transported to a time where dinosaurs roamed the earth. According to the UNE- SCO World Heritage List, there are five kinds of cats, sever- al species of monkeys and anteaters, more than 300 types of birds, over 200 tree species and close to 2,000 plants that live amongst the jungle of Tikal. At first, I assumed this was just the kind of information Gelver delighted all of his tour groups with but during the hours we spent traversing the park, I spotted toucans flying across the sky, furry coati scouring the grounds and howler monkeys swinging from the treetops. e latter of which I still firmly believe are descendents of some mystical dragon based on the boisterousness of their call. (Nothing a quick Google search can't convince you of.) Tikal, meaning "the place of spirit voices," is still widely unexplored due to its lush landscape, remote location and historians believe that only 25 percent of the city has been ex- cavated. One of the parks most impressive features is Temple IV, the tallest temple in all of Tikal, rising above the treeline, and the only one in the park that you're still allowed to climb. We took a lengthy, but surprisingly modern wooden staircase to the top, an ascent that back in the day would've required gripping on to roots and branches. e payoff of making it to the peak is otherworldly—a sight you may recognize from "Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope." V U E N J . C O M 128

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