One of the most expansive ancient metropolises belonging to the Maya civilization is Tikal (or Tik'al, based on the updated spelling). It is situated in the Petén region of Guatemala. The location forms a piece of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and gained recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1979. It served as a site for filming Yavin 4 in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.
The shot depicting a Rebel watching the Millennium Falcon touch down on Yavin was filmed from the summit of Temple IV, facing east, allowing viewers to observe Temples I, II, and III in the movie.
- A travel guide by Loms called Loms Galactic Tours
- Tikal's page on Wikipedia
- Geographical location: 17°13′19″N, 89°37′22″W