If you are looking for an incredible destination which combines history, culture and nature, look no further than Palenque National Park. Here you can find one of the most impressive archaeological sites of the Maya civilization. In this blog post, I will share lots of tips about visiting the National Park, including what to expect, when to visit and what to bring with you.
But first, a brief history lesson…
The Palenque ruins in the National Park are some of the finest examples of Mayan architecture, art and hieroglyphics. Between 500 and 900 AD, Palenque thrived as a bustling city. At its peak, Palenque controlled a huge area spanning across parts of modern-day Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, and southern Mexico. Its downfall came when it was defeated by nearby city Tonina and left without a ruler for a decade. No new construction work took place during that time and the population dwindled. The city was eventually abandoned and became swallowed up by the surrounding jungle. Nowadays it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcasing Mayan temples, pyramids, and plazas dating back to the 7th century. Although only 10% of the ruins have been uncovered and restored, you can definitely sense the grandeur of this ancient city.
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Table of Contents
- Getting there from Palenque city centre
- Palenque Site Museum
- What to see in Palenque National Park
- Hiring a guide
- Visiting Palenque from other Mexican cities
- When to visit
- What to bring with you
- Where to stay in Palenque
Getting there from Palenque city centre
It’s an easy day trip from the city centre; you can catch a colectivo (shared shuttle bus) from the main bus station or anywhere along the road between Palenque city centre and the archaeological site ($25 MXN per person each way).
I recommend arriving as early as possible to avoid the busiest and hottest time of the day. Upon arrival, you will find two ticket offices: at the first counter you pay $105 MXN pesos for the National Park entrance ticket. The ticket at the second counter costs $95 MXN pesos for the archaeological ruins (concessions available)
If you drive there, you will find the main parking area near the ticket offices. Parking is free and the car park is quite large, so you shouldn’t have a problem finding a space. Once you’ve got your tickets and have been given a wristband (keep this on all day), it’s time to start exploring!
Palenque Site Museum (Museo de Sitio de Palenque)
You should start by visiting this small museum, which displays some artefacts and sculptures found in the archaeological site. The museum is really interesting with lots of information about the history and culture of the Maya (in English and Spanish). It’s home to the tomb of King Pakal (known as Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal’s or Pakal the Great), one of the most powerful rulers of the city. He ruled Palenque from 615 to 683 AD and is largely responsible for developing the city’s size and splendour. You can inspect the lid of his tomb which is covered in symbols and images of Pakal’s ancestors (there’s a useful breakdown of what all the symbols mean). The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30am to 5pm and admission is included in the ticket for the ruins.
What to see in Palenque National Park
Once you’ve been through the museum, it’s time to see the ruins. The fastest route is via the entrance just across the street from the museum. This route leads you directly into the jungle, where you can discover ancient ruins partially hidden beneath thick vegetation. You’ll feel just like Indiana Jones, minus the fedora! The jungle is home to a variety of animals; you might spot monkeys, toucans, iguanas, scarlet macaws and other wildlife. You will certainly hear the gurgling of nearby streams and waterfalls, and the occasional roars of howler monkeys.
Make your way uphill to the larger ruins which are outside of the jungle in an open area. The ruins are numbered (1- 24); we actually entered next to site #24 which was a bit disorientating, but we simply viewed them in reverse. If you want to visit the ruins in chronological order (or hire a guide), you should enter through the park’s main entrance (1.3km up the road from the museum).
In Palenque’s heyday, there were plazas, royal palaces, temples, aqueducts, courtyards, mausoleums, government offices, living quarters, and ceremonial buildings here. By 750 AD, the city had a population of 8,000-10,000 people, making it one of the most densely populated cities in Mesoamerica. You can get up close and personal to the ruins and see the intricate stone carvings that adorn many of the walls. These carvings narrate the history of Palenque, scenes from everyday life and stories from Mayan mythology.
The two biggest pyramids are the Temple of the Inscriptions and the Temple of the Red Queen, both built in the 7th century. The former is a four-level pyramid which was the burial ground of King Pakal the Great (discovered in 1952). Next to King Pakal’s resting place is the Temple of the Red Queen, where his wife was buried. Her tomb was unearthed in 1994, revealing her remains surrounded by gems and covered in a red mineral called cinnabar (hence the name “Red Queen”).
Palenque is smaller than other Mayan sites like Tikal, Chichen Itza, or Copán, but contains some of the best-preserved sculptures, carvings and buildings that the Mayans produced. Unlike the other archaeological sites, you can climb many of the ruins here. The best views are from the top of Temple of the Cross and The Temple of the Sun, but keep in mind that some of the steps are very steep; the Mayans clearly never skipped leg day! It was also pleasantly quiet when my boyfriend and I visited; we saw some small tour groups but the ruins are very spread out so we never felt crowded. After several hours of exploring, we exited through the main entrance to catch a colectivo back to the city centre.
Hiring a guide
We went there independently although you can hire a guide at the entrance to the park (in English or Spanish). If you’re a major history buff, it’s worth hiring a guide to benefit from their extensive knowledge of the site. You don’t have to hire a guide in advance; you will find some standing at the main entrance or museum. Make sure you haggle for a reasonable price ($300 MXN per hour is apparently the local rate) and if you’re a solo traveller, team up with other tourists who speak your language. If you’re on a budget, a guide isn’t necessary as there are information boards around the complex describing what each building was used for (in English and Spanish).
Visiting Palenque from other Mexican cities
Palenque can be reached by San Cristobal de las Casas by OCC bus (daytime and night time options available). It takes between 8-9hrs and costs MXN$ 456. You can search for and buy bus tickets online through my go-to transport sites like 12go, Clickbus, Busbud and Get By Bus. If you want to visit Palenque from San Cristobal but not stay overnight in Palenque, there are lots of tour providers in San Cristobal who can help you book a day tour include transportation, admission, a stop at some waterfalls along the way, and a guide in Palenque.
The easiest way to get to Palenque by plane is by flying to Villahermosa (the capital of the neighbouring state of Tabasco). ADO runs a direct service from Villahermosa airport to Palenque bus terminal (~2.5 hours). You can also drive to Palenque from other major cities in Mexico, such as Cancun, Merida, or Oaxaca. However, be prepared for long distances and winding roads. The driving time from Cancun to Palenque is about 10 hours, from Merida it’s about 8 hours, from Oaxaca about 12 hours, and from San Cristobal about 5 hours. If you’re travelling from Campeche, see if the Tren Maya train is running.
When to visit
Palenque National Park is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m every day, 365 days a year. If you can, avoid visiting on Sundays. It’s free entry on Sundays for Mexican citizens and foreign residents of Mexico, so it tends to be more crowded.
Palenque has a tropical climate, with warm and humid weather throughout the year. The best time to visit Palenque is during the dry season from November to February. However, keep in mind that peak travel season is late December to early January, so you may want to avoid this time. During the rainy season (June to October), the landscape looks especially vibrant and green, there are warmer temperatures and occasional heavy showers.
What to Bring to Palenque National Park
It can become very humid in Palenque National Park and there’s not much shade outside of the jungle, so I suggest bringing plenty of water and a hat. Sturdy walking shoes are a must for climbing the steep steps of the temples and navigating rocky trails in the jungle. As we were there in the dry season, mosquitoes were fortunately not a problem. However, if you’re there during the rainy season, bug repellent is a good idea!
Where to stay in Palenque
Palenque offers a variety of accommodation options for different budgets and preferences. In the city centre, you will find hotels, hostels, restaurants, shops, and other amenities. You may opt to stay closer to the archaeological site, where you will find more rustic and eco-friendly options, such as cabins, campsites, and lodges. We stayed at this Airbnb, conveniently located between the National Park and city centre. It felt really tropical, surrounded by flowers and plants. We could hear beautiful birdsong during the day and howler monkeys roaring at night!
I hope this blog post helps you plan your trip to Palenque National Park. It is truly a fascinating place and is definitely the most atmospheric and well-preserved archaeological site I’ve visited in Mexico. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.
Ciao for now
Izzie, the Curious Sparrow
