President Ma, Mrs. Ma and members of the president's delegation at 8:00 a.m. on May 31 (10:00 p.m., May 31, Taipei time) boarded a chartered flight that took them to the Petén region in northern Guatemala. After landing at the Flores Airport, the group boarded a bus that took them to Tikal National Park, where they saw ancient Mayan ruins.
Tikal is situated in the rainforests of northern Guatemala and is one of the world's largest archeological sites. This area at one time was home to a flourishing Mayan civilization. The center in the southern lowlands comprised the largest religious center and was an important city.
Large and small temples can be seen throughout the park area, which also includes an ancient site where the Mayans played ball. President and Mrs. Ma were accompanied on the visit by Guatemala's Vice Minister of Culture and Sports. After receiving a briefing at the tourist center, President and Mrs. Ma then toured the temples in the area. Their first stop was Temple IV where the president and Mrs. Ma climbed the wooden steps to the top of the structure and expressed their admiration for the mystical and profound Mayan civilization.
After climbing to the top of Temple II, President Ma turned around and waved to members of the traveling press corps and thanked them for their efforts during the journey. The president also commented that the visit to the park has enabled him to witness the great thought and wisdom of the Mayan civilization. He said this visit has made a lasting impression on him and has been an excellent opportunity to engage in cultural learning.
After spending nearly an entire day touring the area and learning about the Mayan civilization, President Ma and Mrs. Ma returned to the capital at 4:00 p.m. local time. After a brief rest, they hosted a dinner for persons in their delegation and other workers. The president expressed his deep appreciation to them for their hard work over the past days, commenting that the journey has been a tiring one.