Temple IV
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
About
If you're up for an energetic climb, ascend the wooden stairs to the top of this 212-foot structure, the highest in Tikal, for a magnificent view of the jungle below.
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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 waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
793 reviews
Excellent
690
Very good
92
Average
9
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Rob C
San Jose, CA2,111 contributions
Apr 2021
Tikal's Temple IV is known mostly for its height and the views from the top. It is the tallest Mayan pyramid discovered thus far and at 230 feet it is almost two and a half times taller than El Castillo at Chichen Itza. The pyramid is mostly unrestored except for the very top, meaning the sanctuary itself, the roof comb, and part of the final terrace. If you wish to climb it, you may do so via a serpentine wooden staircase attached to the pyramid. Once you negotiate the 180+ stairs in the humid Guatemalan heat you'll be greeted by the iconic view that George Lucas liked enough to put in Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope. Sadly, there is not much shade on the terrace but the view is superb. At the bottom of Temple 4, there is a small rest area with a covered patio, a restroom, or a WC, if you will and a vendor licensed to sell refreshments in the park.
Written 19 April 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.
Deanne D
Wellington, New Zealand1,404 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
This temple is definitely worth the effort to climb it to the top. There are new stairs to go up (199 of them) and they have handrails on both sides. There is one way up and the other down. You don’t have to climb Mayan stairs. The view from the top is fantastic. You can see the other pyramids poking out of the jungle. There are steps to sit on once you reach the top. Then a cafe to buy a drink when you get down.
Written 4 January 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
Absolute must see. This pyramid has great views from the top, overlooking the canopy with other pyramids just sticking out.
Written 22 August 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.
Silke D
118 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
We travelled through Mexico & Guatemala for almost 4 weeks. This was definitely the highlight of our trip! We took a sunset tour with Carlos, the most amazing & unique tour guide. Walking up the stairs of the most magnificent temple & contemplating the view and immense quiet while seeing the sun set, BEST jungle experience so far. We also are a big fan of the howler monkeys, they were very active that night. Bring a flash light as you have to walk back through the jungle in the dark, can get a little creepy knowing there are jaguars & other wild animals out there.
Written 21 September 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.
Gustavo V
Quito, Ecuador342 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
The experience of climbing the 75 mt. high pyramid is incredible.
We did it in the dark so as to wait for sunrise above it.
An amazing experience, everybody should try at least once in the life time.
We did it in the dark so as to wait for sunrise above it.
An amazing experience, everybody should try at least once in the life time.
Written 20 February 2017
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.
Katherine T
Sydney, Australia66 contributions
Oct 2016
The difference between a guide of not was only about $7 in most places around town, and the value you get from a guide is crazy! Not only explanations, but makes it easier to get around, they are pros with wildlife spotting and know lots of quirky facts about the flora.
There are minimal informative signs about, and we saw people wandering by themselves, taking a pic, and wandering off.
Try and hunt down any of the companies that book Lloyd as a guide - hilarious, informed, and instead of 4hrs gave us 5hrs of tour!
There are minimal informative signs about, and we saw people wandering by themselves, taking a pic, and wandering off.
Try and hunt down any of the companies that book Lloyd as a guide - hilarious, informed, and instead of 4hrs gave us 5hrs of tour!
Written 27 October 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.
flairytales
Los Angeles, CA20 contributions
Dec 2015 • Friends
I mean, Tikal is Tikal. It is majestic and all, but our experience was marred by an encounter with a licensed tour guide who was at the Tourist Information, and has a scar on his left cheek. He basically pressured us into reserving bus tickets to Lanquin, telling us that there would be no space since the next day was Christmas, and sold them to us at 250Q where the market price is 95Q. Fine, we were idiots and ripped off. But the worse part was that the company he had ties to failed to deliver, and forced us to pay 250Q more to take the bus on Christmas on the pretext that no buses run on Christmas although we paid for that. Our other option was to leave on Saturday the 26th instead, which we reluctantly agreed. But then later the tour company told us that the price to leave on Saturday was now 380Q, and refused to give us our money back since we did not pay the company and paid the tour guide and told us to go to Tikal to get our money back or pay 130Q more per person. The company is called Servicios Turisticos El Gran Jaguar 2 and is probably related to San Juan Travel. Many have complained about San Juan Travel -- a simple google search will tell. (We had no internet access)
I would provide a more objective review of Tikal but honestly after all that drama, it is hard to. So read the other reviews and judge for yourself.
I would provide a more objective review of Tikal but honestly after all that drama, it is hard to. So read the other reviews and judge for yourself.
Written 26 December 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.
Victor G
Las Cruces, NM50 contributions
Jul 2015 • Family
Temple IV has a 200 step wooden staircase up the back side of this pyramid. At the top is one of the most iconic views you will ever have.
Written 27 July 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.
Juan Carlos Fernández Alemán @GoJuanca
Pompano Beach, FL1,007 contributions
Oct 2016 • Business
If you have been to machu pichi in Cuzco, Peru. Or if you have been to Teotihuacan in Mexico you will definitely love this place.
It's rather different than both aztecas and incas cultures. The difference is important due to the fact that Tikal has an scenario that was discovered many years later than both aztecas and incas by expeditioners and not by the conquerors and the jungle in which it was found had the whole city of Tikal sepulted inside the jungle and it remains the same in some parts of the city. Temple IV is not an example of this because it is absolutedly uncovered. There are many temples still covered completedly and it is really intriguing what they can find in there.
The city sumouned under the migration of the maya culture many years before civilization ended. The question remains is why they left? The food? The water? Their beliefs? It is not clear why but they left the whole place and now is a very good time to go and visit Guatemala and the Tikal ruins. They are very well conserved and the area is very large so you have to walk from temple to temple through paths created by the Maya's.
If you have never been to Guatemala you will be amazed by their culture. You will fantasize with the level of intelligence you feel within.
Guatemalans are incredible people. So charming so well educated and so service oriented that is almost unbelievable. Totally recomended to visit. It really a must in the check list if you have one.
No wonder why they were almost the most advanced culture of mesoamerica. Incredible to feel the Mayan Fires.
If you go to Guatemala you will find many interesting cities such as Antigua, Guatemala City and it volcanoes that are simply amazing. The best of all is the PEOPLE of Guatemala.
It's rather different than both aztecas and incas cultures. The difference is important due to the fact that Tikal has an scenario that was discovered many years later than both aztecas and incas by expeditioners and not by the conquerors and the jungle in which it was found had the whole city of Tikal sepulted inside the jungle and it remains the same in some parts of the city. Temple IV is not an example of this because it is absolutedly uncovered. There are many temples still covered completedly and it is really intriguing what they can find in there.
The city sumouned under the migration of the maya culture many years before civilization ended. The question remains is why they left? The food? The water? Their beliefs? It is not clear why but they left the whole place and now is a very good time to go and visit Guatemala and the Tikal ruins. They are very well conserved and the area is very large so you have to walk from temple to temple through paths created by the Maya's.
If you have never been to Guatemala you will be amazed by their culture. You will fantasize with the level of intelligence you feel within.
Guatemalans are incredible people. So charming so well educated and so service oriented that is almost unbelievable. Totally recomended to visit. It really a must in the check list if you have one.
No wonder why they were almost the most advanced culture of mesoamerica. Incredible to feel the Mayan Fires.
If you go to Guatemala you will find many interesting cities such as Antigua, Guatemala City and it volcanoes that are simply amazing. The best of all is the PEOPLE of Guatemala.
Written 7 October 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.
Danielle T
Las Vegas, NV41 contributions
Feb 2016 • Family
Getting up at 3:30 a.m. when on vacation can be a bit tough, but it's worth it 100%. English speakers should request Cesar as a tour guide -- he's a native English speaker and very passionate and knowledgeable about the Mayan history, the best guide we had all trip. We climbed Temple IV before sunrise and waited in silence, listening to owls hoot. As the first glow of dawn shows on the horizon, the howler monkeys begin to bellow their strange, almost other-worldly cries. As the sun gets brighter, spider monkeys start chattering, and all manner of jungle birds start singing. It was a surreal experience that I'll never forget. It gave me a different perspective on the Mayan life. Beautiful.
Written 14 February 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.
Can you still climb Tikal Ruins structures? If so, please let know which cannot be climbed.
Written 26 February 2018
I think the only ones you can climb (via stairs on the backside) is Templo IV and the Temple on the Main Square All other are, as far as I recall, not accessible (any more) (as a result of accidents in the past and detoriaration in the past).
Written 26 February 2018
Hi Francis,
Someone has mentioned that was traveling through the jungle to be able to get to this temple.
Do I need special shots before my trip, because of the jungle?
Usually when you are going to visit the jungle, it's required to get the shots....
Please advise.
Thank you
RomanP
Written 8 September 2017
Deet,deet,deet.water,water,water.
Sunscreen.
Nothing else.
Written 6 January 2018
arianesophiemarcil1
Joliette, Canada
Bonjour
J'aimerais savoir combien coûte l'entrée au parc et si on peut payer par carte? Merci
Written 6 June 2017
To see the view from Temple IV, google 'star wars tikal' and click on images.
Written 1 October 2016
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