Tikal

Tik’al is the largest of the ancient ruined cities of the Maya civilization. It is located in the El Petén department of Guatemala. The ruins are part of Guatemala's Tik’al National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist spot. The closest large towns are Flores and Santa Elena, about 30 kilometers away. For our first night we chose to stay in Flores, an island town linked by a bridge to the mainland.

The next night chose to stay overnight at the Jaguar Inn, a hotel in the Tik'al National Park ($75.00 per night, which was more than our budget). Power in the park is turned off at 10:00 pm every night, and back on at 6:00 am. The restaurant at the Jaguar Inn serves good traditional Guatemalan food as well as many American style dishes.

Across the parking lot from the Jaguar Inn is a restaurant under a grass roof that is less expensive. We had a meal there which was very good.

From Wikipedia:

Tik’al was one of the major cultural and population centers of the Maya civilization. Though monumental architecture at the site dates to the 4th century BC, Tik’al reached its apogee during the Classic Period, ca. 200 AD to 900 AD, during which time the site dominated the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica, such as central Mexican center of Teotihuacan. There is also evidence that Tik’al was conquered by Teotihuacan in the 4th century A.D. Following the end of the Late Classic Period, no new major monuments were built at Tik’al and there is evidence that elite palaces were burned. These events were coupled with a gradual population decline, culminating with the site’s abandonment by the end of the 10th century.

I recommend having a guided tour of the park one day, staying overnight and then returning to see areas of particular interest as soon as the park opens on the second day.