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| A Mirador Traveler. Josephine Thompson/GHF |
The Hike and Camping
A hike to and from Mirador is normally 5 or 6 days depending on how many sites you want to visit. During the hike you will camp at 3 or 4 different ancient sites including La Florida, El Tintal, Nakbe and el Mirador. With a full day for resting and exploration at el Mirador.
Your group will be accompanied by a local guide and a “jalero” (literally “puller”, the person who leads the horses). Horses will carry all the supplies and you will only need a small daypack to carry the essentials (water bottle, camera, insect repellent) you will need for hiking. Your local guide will point out points of interest along the way.
Hikes will begin early in the morning and you will arrive at your campsite in the afternoon with time to set up camp, explore the ruins, watch the sunset from the top of a temple, eat a simple, nutritious dinner and relax.
It is important for you to know that this is a challenging hike. Many people, from pre-teen children to retirees, have successfully completed the hike but you should be in good physical condition if you are going to do the hike. If you think you may have problems you may want to consider hiring an extra horse for about $10 per day or booking an overnight helicopter trip. Although hiking Mirador is a challenge, you do not need to be and expert camper to make the trip. Guides and their helpers are there to set up camp and do the cooking.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The wildlife of the Mirador Biological and Cultural Area are as wondrous and mysterious as the achievements of Mirador's human inhabitants. All of the research that has been done in Mirador shows it to
be botanically, geologically, and geographically different from all of the other
zones in the Petén. An almost unimaginable diversity of flora and fauna is found
here, creating many complex and delicate ecosystems.
Mirador’s unspoiled natural habitats provide one of the last existing sanctuaries to at least 40 threatened wildlife species, 200 native and migratory birds, 300 species of trees, and 2,000 different forms of plant life.
Mirador is separated from the rest of the Petén
by a karstic (limestone) ridge of low elevation mountains, ranging in size from
100 – 200 meters (300 – 650 feet). The soils found within these mountains
further emphasize Mirador’s uniqueness. The soil types found here vary
significantly from those found just outside of Mirador’s boundaries. At least
five different types of forest thrive within Mirador’s delimited area: the High
Canopy Forest (“Zapotales”), the Palm Forest (“Huanales”), the Ramonal Forest
(“Ramonales”), the Tintal Forest (“Bosque de Tintos”), and the Bajos
(“Civales”). The variation of forest types found in Mirador, combined with the
unusual soil formations, give the area a highly unique biodiversity.
Because Mirador has such a wide range of forest types within a contained area, it is home to highly diversified and exotic flora and fauna. Mirador is home to five of the six species of cat found in Guatemala, and is the largest jaguar reserve in Central America. An estimated 500-600 jaguars live in Mirador’s dense forest.
According to the CEPF (Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund-Conservation International) Ecosystem Profile in 2004, Mesoamerica is known to posses “between 7 and 10 percent of all know forms of life and 17 percent of terrestial species”. The region is among the most biologically diverse on the planet. Mesoamerica is the second most important of the 25 hot-spots in the world for species diversity and species restricted to a certain area.
ARCHAEOLOGY
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Illustration of El Tigre Complex (El Mirador) T.W. Rutledge |
After the fall of El Mirador in 150 A.D., the entire Mirador area was abandoned. As the cities of Mirador saw limited resettlement, this magnificent Preclassic community remained relatively intact.
Mirador exists as a rare example in Maya history and archaeology. Traditional Maya building techniques involved the addition of supplementary height and volume to pre-existing structures. Therefore, prior to excavations in Mirador, the study of Preclassic buildings and societies was exceptionally difficult. In order to examine Preclassic (1800 B.C. – 250 A.D.) constructions in Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, archaeologists had to clear Classic (250 – 925 A.D.) and Postclassic (925 – 1530 A.D.) building materials. Many of the structures found in Mirador, however, are not obstructed by such architectural additions, and archaeologists therefore have direct access to the Preclassic era.
The cities of Mirador offer a rare opportunity for archaeologists to completely decode and deconstruct an ancient civilization. The research potential of Mirador is completely unparalleled. The complete history of a civilization – from birth to death – exists within the boundaries of Mirador. This history is in the process of being uncovered. Dr. Richard Hansen believes that our understanding of these ancient cities has important implications for society today. “We have the opportunity to look at humanity in its entire spectrum. It is a marvelous opportunity to teach us about ourselves: who we are, how we got here, and what can happen to us if we do not take the necessary precautions.”
The preservation techniques exercised by Mirador archaeologists vary significantly from those employed by the archaeologists at Tikal National Park and other Maya sites. In an attempt to enhance viewing potential for visitors, the forests of Tikal were stripped away from the Classic structures. These fully restored and reconstructed buildings serve as the primary draw at this site. At the Mirador Archaeological and Wildlife Area, the forests and the wildlife are an integral part of the area’s attraction. At many of Mirador’s sites, the forests continue to grow around the buildings, and many times, even on top of them. The archaeologists at Mirador exercise the wilderness strategy, which involves minimal clearing of vegetation, and the stabilization and consolidation of ruins. The primary focus of this strategy is to expose the facades of structures rather than artificially reconstructing them. Dr. Richard Hansen believes that the archaeological discoveries that we make today are as important as the protection of these sites for future archaeologists. Future archaeologists, will have technology that we can’t even fathom: better methodology, better theory” says Dr. Hansen. For this reason, the preservation of the architectural integrity of these ancient cities is of the utmost importance to Mirador archaeologists. |
