Temple I
5
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Plan your visit
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
3 within 5 kms
Attractions
7 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
296 reviews
Excellent
253
Very good
36
Average
5
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Rob C
San Jose, CA2,111 contributions
Apr 2021
One word: iconic. A fully restored funerary pyramid of king Jasaw Chan K'awil that flanks the eastern side of the Great Plaza. Great views of the monument can be had from the Northern Acropolis as well as from Temple II, it can also be viewed from the east plaza and the Palace. Its roof comb is visible from every major pyramid in the city as it rises to 154 feet, which's more than time and a half the height of El Castillo at Chichen Itza. Awesome.
Written April 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LuizDutraNeto
Rio de Janeiro, RJ8,569 contributions
Nov 2019
You are at the ruins of the probably largest Mayan city - Tikal! At its "Great Plaza" stands the iconic "Temple I", most commonly known as the "Temple of the Great Jaguar". The funerary pyramid-temple dates from the 8th century and is 47 mts high. Due to its severe steepness, climbing is not allowed. At its sumit, a shrine with three chambers and ancient carvings. Best seen from the top of "Temple II", right in front of it. Enjoy!
Written September 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tissa.travels
Rotterdam, The Netherlands2,299 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
This is probably the best known temple, and the main attraction of Tikal. It's not the highest, and arguably not the most beautiful, but you just can't miss it.
Written August 22, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lynn W
Keller, TX58 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
It is the main attraction. Ask for a tour guide from Gem Tours. Specifically ask for Jose Moreno. His English is like a native.
Written January 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travelwitholga
Minneapolis, MN82 contributions
Jan 2016 • Family
Built sometime after the death of the great Ruler #26, Hasaw Chan Kawil, Temple 1 covered his tomb dug into bedrock beneath the NW corner of the structure. His remains can be seen in the Ceramic Museum near the entrance with some of the magnficient funerary offerings. Hasaw died in 732 AD after a long and illustrious career which liberated Tikal from oppressive neighbors. His story can be found in the free Tikal app.
Standing in the middle of the Great Plaza be sure to look at the layout of Temples I, II and the stub of the central one at the bottom of the North Acropolis. They form a triad, which is a Maya sacred layout seen in many sites. An earlier triad can be seen by climbing the North Acropolis. In Tikal, triads were formed by three temples facing into a central plaza. Further north, triads were built by shoulder to shoulder temples.
It is said that the number three represents the three hearthstones of creation as written in the Maya sacred chronicle, the Popol Vuh. The northern temple, which was as big as Temple I and dedicated by Hasaw to his father who died fighting for Tikal's freedom, was taken down by archaeologists in 1965 so what you see now is only the earlier version.
Temple I can be best seen from two vantage points. From the top of Temple II, its whole elegant form is easy to photograph. If you want to take a picture when it is all aglow with the evening light, climb up onto the North Acropolis around 4:45 PM in February or March when the sun sets a bit to the North of Temple II. Another good place to catch the sunset glow is from the top of Temple V but it the stairs still remain unfinished, having been taken down for repairs.
Climbing Temple I is now forbidden because the rains have eroded the stairs which were never easy to climb. The exposed stairs were temporary, constructed by the builders to haul materials up to the shrine. If you come up close you can see the first few main stairs at the very bottom. These were much larger and steeper so it is now thought that the temple was not climbed regularly. The Maya were small people and dressed in their regalia, the large steps would have been difficult to climb with any dignity.
Temple I is perhaps the most beautiful and elegant structure in all of Central America. Climb Temple II and ponder its great beauty. Even thought it was Hasaw's funerary monument, archaeologists think it was designed by him or his architects during his life to complement Temple II and the razed Temple 33 on the north side.
Standing in the middle of the Great Plaza be sure to look at the layout of Temples I, II and the stub of the central one at the bottom of the North Acropolis. They form a triad, which is a Maya sacred layout seen in many sites. An earlier triad can be seen by climbing the North Acropolis. In Tikal, triads were formed by three temples facing into a central plaza. Further north, triads were built by shoulder to shoulder temples.
It is said that the number three represents the three hearthstones of creation as written in the Maya sacred chronicle, the Popol Vuh. The northern temple, which was as big as Temple I and dedicated by Hasaw to his father who died fighting for Tikal's freedom, was taken down by archaeologists in 1965 so what you see now is only the earlier version.
Temple I can be best seen from two vantage points. From the top of Temple II, its whole elegant form is easy to photograph. If you want to take a picture when it is all aglow with the evening light, climb up onto the North Acropolis around 4:45 PM in February or March when the sun sets a bit to the North of Temple II. Another good place to catch the sunset glow is from the top of Temple V but it the stairs still remain unfinished, having been taken down for repairs.
Climbing Temple I is now forbidden because the rains have eroded the stairs which were never easy to climb. The exposed stairs were temporary, constructed by the builders to haul materials up to the shrine. If you come up close you can see the first few main stairs at the very bottom. These were much larger and steeper so it is now thought that the temple was not climbed regularly. The Maya were small people and dressed in their regalia, the large steps would have been difficult to climb with any dignity.
Temple I is perhaps the most beautiful and elegant structure in all of Central America. Climb Temple II and ponder its great beauty. Even thought it was Hasaw's funerary monument, archaeologists think it was designed by him or his architects during his life to complement Temple II and the razed Temple 33 on the north side.
Written February 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DeanMurphy2020
Orlando, FL7,757 contributions
Nov 2015 • Friends
Tikal Temple I, across from Temple II (Temple of the Masks), is one of Tikal’s major structures, which is the largest Mayan city and archaeological sites dated to approximately 732AD, during the Late Classic Period. The Petén-styled A-frame-shaped limestone stepped pyramid structure is also known as Temple of the Great Jaguar because a lintel depicts a king sitting upon a jaguar throne. It is funerary temple associated with Jasaw Chan K'awiil I, who ruled from AD 682–734. His is located deep within the structure, first having been built and the temple being raised over it. Temple I rises 154 feet over the Great Plaza, about 30 feet taller than Temple II, Temple of the Masks.
Tikal site was visited by Petén governor Modesto Méndez in 1848, during the first expedition to the ruins. In 1877, treasures were looted from Tikal’s major pyramids, including pieces of Temple I, leaving visitors to wonder what could have been displayed at Tikal’s Sylvannus G. Morley museum. Alfred Maudslay mapped Tikal’s Great Plaza in 1881, sketching the five major temples. The University of Pennsylvania in 1955 began its Tikal Project, archaeological investigations of the ruins and preparing them for tourism. The tomb under the temple was not discovered until 1962, by Aubrey Trik of the University of Pennsylvania, and work on Temple I continued until 1964.
An easy way to distinguish Temple I from Temple II is that #2 has an unadorned stela in front of the steps and #1 doesn't, but #1's roof comb is not as eroded as #2's.
Tikal site was visited by Petén governor Modesto Méndez in 1848, during the first expedition to the ruins. In 1877, treasures were looted from Tikal’s major pyramids, including pieces of Temple I, leaving visitors to wonder what could have been displayed at Tikal’s Sylvannus G. Morley museum. Alfred Maudslay mapped Tikal’s Great Plaza in 1881, sketching the five major temples. The University of Pennsylvania in 1955 began its Tikal Project, archaeological investigations of the ruins and preparing them for tourism. The tomb under the temple was not discovered until 1962, by Aubrey Trik of the University of Pennsylvania, and work on Temple I continued until 1964.
An easy way to distinguish Temple I from Temple II is that #2 has an unadorned stela in front of the steps and #1 doesn't, but #1's roof comb is not as eroded as #2's.
Written February 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carlos Lopez
Guatemala City, Guatemala15 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
An experience you shouldn't miss, I have traveled to Tikal 3 or 4 times, and I would love to make a visit again.
Written August 19, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TallyTravels
Miami, FL36 contributions
Mar 2012 • Couples
Located in the main Plaza is a must see iconic image. This is what you see when you do the search for Tikal.
Written April 27, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ken Q
Denver, United States824 contributions
Dec 2022
We enjoyed our visit to Tikal and having the chance to explore the different temples and areas of the park.
Written February 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bucketlisttravellers
Sydney, Australia3,641 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This temple is the one that most people associate with Tikal and is an impressive structure. Note that you can't climb this one, but instead admire its shape and form whilst in the grand plaza.
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing