Palenque
A compact jungle town that serves as the only practical base for one of the Maya world's most beautiful sites.
The town of Palenque exists almost entirely in service of its extraordinary namesake ruins — and makes no apologies for it. It is a compact, hot, and straightforward base town in the lowland jungle of Chiapas. The ruins are 8 km away by taxi or combi, and the town has a good range of accommodation from backpacker hostels to jungle eco-lodges. The surrounding Chiapas jungle also offers waterfalls at Misol-Há and Agua Azul within easy day-trip range.
Nearby Maya Archaeological Sites
Sites most commonly visited from Palenque
Town Highlights
- Misol-Há waterfall — 35 m cascade, 20 km from town
- Agua Azul turquoise cascades (45 km, combi tours available)
- Starting point for overland routes to Frontera Corozal and Guatemala
- Excellent local restaurants around Parque Principal
Getting to Palenque
ADO buses from Mexico City (11 hr overnight), Mérida (8 hr), Villahermosa (2 hr), and San Cristóbal de las Casas (5 hr). Villahermosa airport is the nearest (2 hr by combi).
Getting to the Sites
Palenque ruins: 8 km by taxi (~US$3) or combi from the main road (US$1). Taxis wait at the central park day and evening.
Best base for
Only practical base for the Palenque ruins; also suitable for day trips to Misol-Há and Agua Azul waterfalls
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