OUR ORIGIN

The origin of our story and family legacy was born with the push and entrepreneur spirit of our founders, parents and grand parents, José Antonio Ortiz Contreras and Aura Luz de Ortiz, whom devoted their hearts and lives to the development of Petén through service and attention of archaeologists, tourists, politicians and visitors interested in knowing the vast and enigmatic Mayan world.

Born to a Spanish father and Belizean mother, the patriarch José Antonio Ortiz was born in the Iberia campsite, on the shores of Río La Pasión, in 1925. His humble childhood drove him, alongside with his brother José Francisco Ortiz, to undertake the extraction and distribution business of chewing gum at the age of 13 years old.

Eight years later, Mr. José Antonio was an established merchant in the area of Uaxactún, Petén. Dedicated to the chewing gum business, very popular during those years of the 20th century, moment in which the North American company Wrigley’s extracted raw materials for such industry, turning the area into an important commercial platform for the country.

Due to his vast knowledge of the jungle, his experience in the human resource management and his lovely personality, Mr. José Antonio was able to start a new business that led him be part of the country’s history, through his participation in the exploration of the Archaeological Site Tikal.

Our founder started a series of expeditions from Uaxactún to Tikal, coordinating the logistics, guidance of archaeologists and tourists interested in discovering the millenary city. This dynamic lead him to associate with important people like the North American archaeologist William Shook, head of the exploration of Tikal on behalf of the University of Pensilvania, United States.

1944 – Mr. José Antonio and his brother José Francisco, led an expedition to Tikal with archaeologist from the Carnegie Institute of Washington, United States. Whom was in charge of the exploration of the archaeological site Uaxactún, very important in that time. During the expedition, they were with a group of reporters, who has had the task to report about the exploration of the mystic Mayan city Tikal, unexplored until then. Camping in a desolate space like Tikal back then, was a challenge for the group of explorers, specially in the basic characteristics of the site, like the absence of drinkable water and a mosquito invasion.

 

The story tells that the first night they settled in what is now know as the Central Plaza, but had to find a place better suited to stay for a longer time. Mr. José Antonio and his team were able to solve the drinkable water supply in the surroundings, finding as well a comfortable place to move the campsite, the place where the Jungle Lodge Hotel is currently located.

 

1945 – A famous photograph that goes along with this story, works as a memoir of the relation between Mr. José Antonio Ortiz and that group of archaeologists in charge of the exploration and investigation of Tikal. The photograph shows Mr. José Antonio, his brother Mr. José Francisco and the North American archaeologist Edwin Shook, posing next to the stairwell of Temple V, in the archaeologist’s first expedition to this area, accompanied by Mr. Ortiz’s team.

The professional relationship and friendship with Mr. Shook immediately consolidated, generating a story of discoveries, area development and above all the rescue of one of humanity’s cultural treasures.

 

It is worth to mention that during and as part of the development work in the exploration campsite of Tikal, Mr. Shook and Mr. José Antonio, started the logistics of making a landing air strip for visitors of the area.

 

1951 – 1952 – Due to his knowledge of the area, was  Mr. Ortiz whom suggested the perfect space to place the said  air strip, and also join in the construction of the project. An initiative that would facilitate the arrival of not only archaeologists and international diplomats, but also the public, anxious of discovering this prehispanic millenary city.

 

One of the most important findings in Mr. Ortiz’s carrier was the discovery of Temple VI, also known as the Temple of Inscriptions.

People said that on a morning on April 1951, Mr. José Antonio observed a bulge, very different to the others. He was surprise by some walls covered by trees and was stunned upon realizing that it was a Mayan temple completely unknown at that time.

 

In the case of Temple VI or Temple of Inscriptions, discovered by Ortiz Contreras, it made a special contribution to establish the different fragments of the history of Tikal. In the backside of this building, the archaeologists found an extent stripe with 128 hieroglyphs that allowed determining dates of events occurred during the ruling of Yaxkin Caan Chac.

 

Years later and always as part of Shook’s technical team, Mr. Ortiz made another important discovery. Found the Stela 22 that remains standing in one of Group Q’s buildings. This monument possesses high relief of the effigy of the God of Corn, a mythical character and of great relevance to structure the history of Tikal.

1954 – Convinced by the magnitude and importance of project Tikal and its impact to the history of humankind, Mr. William Shook and Mr. Antonio Ortiz start the legal process for the Government of Guatemala to develop a law that delimits the area of Tikal National Park, for its conservation. The original plan of the terrain’s delimitation extended all the way to Lake Petén Itzá, however it only accomplish to establish and area of 576 square kilometers unalterable to this day.

Mr. José Antonio took action and traveled to Guatemala City to meet the president at time, Carlos Castillo Armas, and established a close friendship. The Chief Executive not only offers the support to create Tikal National Park but also orders the National Army to contribute with airships and vehicles that facilitate the development of the recently discovered Mayan city.

 

1955 – Thanks to Mr. José Antonio’s compromise to the exploration of Tikal and his service to the archaeological work, Mr. William Shook made a formal request to the government of Guatemala, to hire Mr. Ortiz legally as head of logistics of the Tikal exploration campsite, led by representatives of the University of Pensilvania.

The influence Mr. Shook and the institution he represented, as well as the good reputation of Mr. Ortiz made possible that in November of that year, Mr. Gustavo Espinoza, representative of the Institute of Anthropology and History of Guatemala, sent a formal letter to Mr. José Antonio, asking for his support in this important initiative.

 

The skills Mr. José Antonio possessed and his natural leadership, allowed him to be in charge of one of the most important projects in modern archaeological history, hand in hand with a group of explorers and scientist in charge. This is how the campsite known as “Tikal Project” starts, later which Mr. Antonio officially manages.

 

In the middle of the vast and mysterious jungle that surrounds the archaeological site, Mr. José Antonio built a campsite with 12 rooms for the archaeologists of the project. These rooms have been recently remodeled, conserving its structure and materials as an homage to the explorers that housed them originally.

1956 – With the vision that characterized him and his entrepreneur spirit, Mr. José Antonio discovers the potential in the area, and starts the paperwork to formally request, a place to build a hotel. In said year the city hall of the area and the Ministry of Agriculture of Guatemala, officially grant the area requested and the permit to build the Jungle Lodge Hotel, starting a large portion of the history that precedes us.

 

However, the story of a great man would be incomplete if his family members, his motivation and his baseline are not taken into consideration. All the input and initiatives that Mr. José Antonio Ortiz brought into the world had the strength and love from his wife Aura Luz, with whom besides developing an important historical project, beget a beautiful family, which inherited his immense passion and respect for the area.

 

Jungle Lodge is one of the legacies of grandfather José Antonio Ortiz, a truly splendid place that represents the passion of the family in a mission of service and costumer care, that daily drives us to give the best of us. The hotel has more than 63 years of history and its birth is directly related to the exploration of Tikal, an honor we thank to this day.

 

We are his children and grandchildren, whom now have in our hands this coexistence platform, of service and care for the historical and natural environment. We are proud to carry the last name of our patriarch and keeping his ideals, work and dedication alive.