Palenque, Mexico: travel guide
The jungle gateway to the spectacular Maya ruins of Palenque — one of the most impressive pre-Columbian cities in Mexico, with towering temples in a rainforest setting.
- Country
- Mexico
- Currency
- MXN
- Time zone
- America/Mexico_City
- Nearest airport
- PQM
Top places to visit in Palenque
Palenque Ruins
Heritage · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · entry MXN 85
Spectacular Maya temples rising from dense Chiapas jungle. Temple of Inscriptions holds King Pakal's intact tomb — discovered 1952 with his famous jade burial mask.
El Palacio de Palenque
Heritage · about 0.8 h
Sprawling multi-level palace with a distinctive tower at the heart of the Maya city.
Templo de la Cruz
Heritage · about 0.7 h
Elevated temple group with well-preserved carved tablets on Palenque's east side.
Templo de las Inscripciones
Heritage · about 1 h
Pyramid-tomb of the Maya king Pakal, one of Palenque's greatest structures.
Museo de Sitio de Palenque
Museum · about 1 h
On-site museum displaying Pakal's jade mask replica and carved panels.
Cascadas de Agua Azul
Waterfall · about 2.5 h · entry MXN 40
Terraced turquoise waterfalls in the jungle, a famous day trip from Palenque.
Cascada de Misol-Ha
Waterfall · about 1.3 h · entry MXN 50
35 m jungle waterfall you can walk behind, near Palenque.
Parque Nacional Palenque Jungle Trail
Nature · about 1.5 h · entry MXN 40
Rainforest paths past minor ruins, streams and howler monkeys within the park.
Roberto Barrios Waterfalls
Waterfall · about 2 h · entry MXN 30
Lesser-known cascade complex with turquoise pools, quieter than Agua Azul.
Things to do
- Palenque Ruins & Waterfalls Tour Cultural · 6 h · from MXN 900 per person
- Agua Azul & Misol-Ha Waterfalls Tour Day Trip · 8 h · from MXN 650 per person
- Palenque Ruins Guided Archaeology Tour Tour · 3 h · from MXN 450 per person
- Yaxchilán & Bonampak Jungle Expedition Day Trip · 12 h · from MXN 1,400 per person
- Roberto Barrios Waterfalls Half-Day Day Trip · 5 h · from MXN 500 per person
Where to stay in Palenque
Hotels
- Boutique Hotel Quinta Chanabnal 5-star · MXN 3,200 to MXN 5,800 per night
- Chan-Kah Resort Village 4-star · MXN 2,200 to MXN 4,200 per night
- Hotel Maya Tulipanes 4-star · MXN 1,400 to MXN 2,400 per night
- Hotel Xibalba 3-star · MXN 900 to MXN 1,500 per night
- El Panchan Jungle Cabañas 2-star · MXN 250 to MXN 900 per night
Where to eat
- Restaurant Maya Cañada mexican, chiapaneco · about MXN 200 per person
- Restaurante Las Tinajas Mexican, Chiapan · about MXN 180 per person
- Café de Yara Cafe, Mexican · about MXN 150 per person
- Restaurante Bajlum (Chan-Kah area) Mexican, Yucatecan · about MXN 320 per person
- Pizzería Palenque Italian, Pizza · about MXN 200 per person
- Cocina Económica Doña Ana Mexican, Chiapan · about MXN 110 per person
Getting around
- Bus main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Waterfall access "fees"
Roads to Agua Azul / Misol-Ha
Occasional informal roadblocks collect ad-hoc tolls from vehicles.
How to avoid it: Go with an established tour that includes access; keep small change.