The Palenque ruins, nestled deep within the lush jungles of southern Mexico, offer a captivating glimpse into the ancient Mayan civilization. Steeped in history and mystery, this archaeological site boasts an array of breathtaking structures and artefacts that transport visitors back in time. From the towering Temple of Inscriptions to the intricately carved hieroglyphs adorning the Palace, there is no shortage of exciting things to see at Palenque. Whether you are a history enthusiast or simply seeking awe-inspiring beauty, prepare to be mesmerized by these fascinating ruins that have stood the test of time.
Are you fans of visiting the Mayan Ruins throughout Mexico and learning about their history?
There are exciting things to see at the Palenque Ruins when you visit the state of Chiapas in Mexico. Not only can you see these incredible well-preserved ruins in the middle of the Palenque jungle you can also see a variety of wildlife.
You certainly won’t be disappointed in visiting the Palenque site, it is a lot quieter than visiting Chichen Itza or Tulum which are quite touristy.
Some famous Mayan Ruins throughout Mexico are in the Yucatan – Izamal, Chichen Itza and Uxmal.
Further afield, you can visit the Mayan Ruins in Tulum and Tikal in Guatemala.
Mexico also has Aztec Ruins – Teotihuacan, which a tour from Mexico City can visit; the Great Pyramid of Cholula near Puebla; and Monte Alban in Oaxaca.
There is not much to see around the modern town of Palenque, the drawcard are the ruins. Outside of Palenque, there are a few more places to visit, such as waterfalls and an Eco-park, which I will include further down in the article for your information.
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How To Visit Palenque
Opening Hours For Visiting Palenque: 8.00 am to 5.00 pm
Allow: 3 hours to visit. Take water with you and apply sunscreen – it can get hot and steamy!
Palenque Entrance Fees: There are two lots of fees to be paid. 1. Entrance to the Palenque National Park 105 MXN and 2. Entrance to the Ruins 90 MXN.
There are two ways of visiting the Palanque Ruins.
Option One – Visiting the Palenque Ruins Without a Tour
You can take a collective from Palenque town to the entrance and hire a guide, which is how we visited the Palenque Ruins. The collectives all charge a flat rate of MXN 25 and run every 10 – 15 minutes; they will have a sign on the front that says “Ruinas”. There are different prices offered by the guides, so don’t just take the first price given; some guides prefer to wait to get a larger group and may charge the same group price for the two of you.
Good to know: Some guides are pushy – these are the ones to avoid. They will follow you around and harass you. Just keep walking away until you find someone that you are comfortable with.
Second Option
The second option is to take an organised tour, including visiting the ruins, local waterfalls, and ponds of Agua Azul Cascade and Misol-Ha Cascade.
Check availability hereWhere is Palenque
The modern town of Palenque is a few kilometres away from the impressive Mayan site of Palenque in Chiapas, which is about 800 km southeast of Mexico City.
The Palenque ruins are 5 km from the town.
Bus travel is easy to visit Palenque Town:
From San Cristobal, the journey is 9 hours, and there are several daily buses
Tuxtla Gutierrez is 6 hours away
Villahermosa is 2.5 hours away
Merida is 8 hours away
Campeche is 5 hours away
Cancun is 13 hours away
Mexico City – the bus journey is approximately 16 hours – one or two buses operate daily.
Oaxaca – 15 hours away
Playa del Carmen – 12 hours away
Tulum – 12 hours away
There are two bus stations in Palenque
- The address of Central de Autobuses ADO is Palenque – Pakalná LB Tulija, 29960 Palenque
- Aexa SA de CV Buses – Av, Central Pte. No. 182, La Cañada, 29960 Palenque
Check the latest schedules and ticket prices for ADO Buses here.
Exciting Things to Do at the Palenque Ruins
Map of Palenque
Facts About The Palenque Ruins
- The Chiapas Mayan Ruins date back from 226 BC to 800 AD. Initially, they were known as Lakamha, which means “Big Water”. The ruins fell into decline and became overgrown by jungle.
- Palenque is smaller than Chichen Itza and Tikal.
- It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Many of Palenque’s structures were constructed during Pakal the Great’s reign, which lasted from 615 to 683 AD.
- In the 1830s, Palenque was rediscovered, and photographs were taken by two European Explorers – Desire Charnay and Alfred Maudslay.
- Palanque was one of the most influential cities in Classic Maya.
- During the 1950s, excavations started.
- By 2005, the excavated area had covered 1 square mile. Over 1,000 structures overgrown by the jungle are believed to still be waiting to be discovered.
Mayan Ruins of Palenque
The Temple of The Inscriptions and The Royal Tomb
Interestingly, the temple can also be a royal tomb, which is unusual in other Mayan sites. The temple is important as it houses the second-longest Mayan glyphic text, known to have recorded 180 years of Palenque’s history. In the 1950s, an archaeologist discovered Pakal’s tomb down a hidden passageway.
The temple stands 23 metres high and is remarkably well-preserved.
It has a 9-tiered pyramid platform that contains 69 steps, and as our guide pointed out the number 9 that is represented by the nine tiers relates to the Mayan underworld.
The Palace
The Palace is believed to have been used for various purposes, such as the administration centre for the region, a residence for the aristocracy and high priests and the top of the Palace was used for astronomy. The palace has a four-storey tower containing glyphs used for ritual and astronomical purposes.
During the winter solstice, you will note that the sun sets directly over the Temple of Inscriptions from the Palace.
The Temple of the Sun
The Temple of the Sun has a unique roof and houses a vital panel that depicts scenes that involve the King Serpent -Jaguar.
Skull Temple Palenque
Beside the Temple of the Red Queen, or Temple XIII, is the Temple of the Skull. The temple is not open for viewing. It is named the Temple of the Skull due to a corridor that leads from the top of the tomb containing a sarcophagus of an unknown ruler. The temple is named after a rabbit’s skull, whose shape is seen on a full moon. The Mayan Moon Goddess is thought to hold a rabbit in her hands.
The Temple of the Count
The Temple of the Count is a pyramid with a temple on top. It is the oldest of the structures that have been excavated.
Temple of the Foliated Cross
The Temple of the Foliated Cross is part of the three temples that form the South Complex or Cross Complex. It is the smallest temple of the three temples and is impressive as it is surrounded by jungle atop a small hill.
Temple of the Red Queen
Located next to the Temple of Inscriptions is the Temple of the Red Queen, which is also known as Temple XIII. The Red Queen could have been the mother of Kinich Janaab Pakal (23 March 603 CE – 31 March 683 CE), the King of Palenque, or his wife. You can view her empty tomb. She was named the Red Queen as she was covered in a red mineral known as cinnabar. Kinich Janaab Pakal ruled from the age of 12 for 68 years.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Mayan Ruins of Chiapas
When is the best time to visit the Palenque Ruins?
The best time to visit is early morning when the gates first open. You may be lucky to experience the mist rising from the jungle and hear the screeches from the howler monkeys and birds.
Is it true that an underground water system was found under the Temple of Inscriptions?
An underground tunnel was found under the Temple of Inscriptions by archaeologists. Gonzales, one of the archaeologists, believes that the Temple and its tomb were built above the water spring. The tunnel was located under the tomb, and it is believed that the waters gave King Pakal a spiritual path to the underworld.
The Mayan people of Palenque built a sophisticated system of dams, aqueducts, canals, and reservoirs. They were creative as they could harness the water through their unique systems, and we found that other Mayan sites had to find ways to store water during the dry season.
Is Palenque located on a river?
Palenque is located on the Usumacinta River, overlooked by the Tumbalá mountains.
More Things To Do Around Palenque Mexico
Yaxchilan & Bonampak Ruins and Lacandon Jungle from Palenque
Visit the ruins of 2 Mayan sites on a full-day tour of Yaxchilan and Bonampak. Cruise along the Usumacinta River and venture deep into the heart of the Lacandon Jungle.
Duration of tour: 13 hours.
Aluxes Ecoparque
A jungle wildlife park with birds, mammals, reptiles, and tortoises with a manatee breeding area and the opportunity to feed the crocodiles. It is located only 4km from Palenque town.
Address: Carretera, Ruinas-Palenque Km 2.6, 29960 Palenque
Where To Stay in Palenque
If we were to revisit Palenque we would stay in one of the resorts closer to the Archaeological site, there is not much in Palenque town itself.
If you want to stay in town, here are some recommendations:
Hotel Maya Rue (where we stayed) at Calle Aldama s/n entre Juarez y 5 de Mayo.
Budget accommodation but very clean, wifi worked well. The location is 200 m from the town square. The ADO Bus Station is a 5-minute walk away.
Guest review: “The location was excellent, near the centre and ADO bus station. The room was clean and perfect for our night stay. Breakfast was great! ”
Check availability hereAddress: 20 de Noviembre s/n entre Aldama y Abasdo Palenque
Check availability here
Set in a bright townhouse a 5-minute from Palenque’s Central Park, Posada Aguila Real offers a 24-hour reception and simple rooms with private bathrooms. The Palenque Archaeological site is a 10-minute drive away.
Each air-conditioned room at Posada Aguila Real has a private bathroom with hot water and complimentary toiletries. All rooms have a TV, while free Wi-Fi is available in public areas.
Latest review: “small hotel in the middle of Palenque, we stayed there for 1 night, perfect breakfast and a big bed with aircon. I recommend it for a short stay; you can also park the car in a private space.”
Hotels Closer to the Palenque site:
Hotel la Aldea del Halach Huinic
Address: Carretera a las ruinas 2.8km from the city centre
Very comfortable 4-star accommodation with swimming pool, restaurant, free Wifi and bar.
Guest review: A little paradise! In the jungle, you can hear howler monkeys and see macaws flying over your head! The site is spotless and beautiful. The restaurant’s food was excellent and at a reasonable price, too. It is a great location to go to Aluxes Park (a 5-minute walk). You can also take a collectivo to the archaeological site of Palenque for 20$pesos and it’s only 5 minutes away.
Check availability
Address: Carretera Palenque Ruins Km4.5
Charming bungalows that overlook the garden with a swimming pool. The ruins are located 2.2 km away.
Guest review: This is a really lovely place in the middle of the Palenque jungle. There are loads of animals around to see. I was lucky to see some howler monkeys (funnily enough, I didn’t hear them but saw them jumping in the trees). It’s very close by Colectivo to Palenque ruins, so there’s no need for booking a tour. The cabañas are very lovely with comfy beds.
Check availability here
Where to Eat in Palenque
The #1 Restaurant in Palenque is Restaurante Bajlum (Mexican Fusion) at Carretera Palenque Zona Arquelogica Km 2.8
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Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Palenque ruins offer a captivating journey into the ancient Maya civilization. From its magnificent temples and palaces to its intricate carvings and artefacts, visitors are transported back to an era of grandeur and mystique. The lush jungle surroundings further enhance the allure of this archaeological site, offering a unique blend of nature and history. Whether you are a history enthusiast, an adventure seeker, or simply someone looking for a mesmerizing experience, exploring the Palenque ruins is an absolute must. So pack your bags and embark on a remarkable journey to discover one of Mexico’s most enchanting treasures.
We hope you enjoyed our Palenque Travel Guide. If you have any questions about visiting Palenque, please reach out to us. We are here to help you plan your visit.
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