About Palenque

The ruins date from the Classic Maya period, between 500 and 700 A.D. The ruins consist of a small number of temples and palaces, located in the steamy jungle setting of the southern Mexico state of Chiapas. There is also a small museum within the boundary of the archaeological site.

The rainy season for this part of Mexico approximately from May to September, so you might want to avoid visiting the ruins during these months. Winter and early spring are the most popular time to be at the ruins, so Palenque is a nice escape from the cold winters of the northern latitudes.

There is one campground inside the park, Maya Bell, where you can sling a hammock or rent a room, plus another campground in town the Jungle Palace Palenque. Camp in the Chiapas jungle to experience the sounds and smells of this tropical area firsthand.

The town of Palenque is located just a little north of the archaeological site, and has numerous hotels that cater to foreign visitors. You can also stay in the town of Villahermosa. But the large cities of San Cristobal, Oaxaca and Merida are considered much too far away to provide overnight accommodations.

Three waterfalls are located in the vicinity of the Palenque site and are well worth a visit. Heading southwest towards San Cristobal, visitors will first come across Misol-Ha, then Aqua Clara and finally the most impressive, Aqua Azul.