The Tikal National Park was been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
 
"The ruins of Tikal, one of the largest of the ancient Mayan cities, lay deep in the jungle. Apart from a small airstrip, a hotel and cafe there was just the ruins. I was soon able to get myself fixed up with one of the hammocks rented out by the cafe. These hammocks, tied between posts in small open sided huts, were set in a clearing close to the cafe. I have never slept in a hammock before, but once in I found it surprisingly comfortable, and actually bought one later for a souvenir. Once fixed up I was able to leave my bag at the cafe, and after a quick snack set off to spend the afternoon exploring the ruins. I don’t know what these ruins are like now, but the wonderful thing about the tiime of this visit, was that apart from myself, I doubt if there were more than a dozen other visitors. Also, to add to the atmosphere, many of the ruins were still only half cleared from the jungle, I felt like I was seeing it almost as it had been discovered. It was so nice to be free to walk round a place clear of notices and restrictions, unlike some of the Maya ruins I was later to visit in Mexico. 
 
Started around the 4th century AD, Tikal flourished until the Mayan Post Classic period about 960 AD, when it was mysteriously abandoned. It was not re-discovered 'til 1848, and little attempt was made to excavate the site until 1954, when the University of Pennsylvania inaugurated an 11 year program to clear away the jungle. Much of this work was still going on.
 
After an interesting afternoon viewing the ruins I returned to the cafe, where, like in Copan, I was able to reminisce with other travellers over a good meal and a few beers, completing a most enjoyable if exhausting day." - MH