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Most people come to Palenque for one thing: the 7th century Maya city of Lakamha, now the Palenque archaeological zone. But the area also packs in tiered waterfalls, a jungle river for swimming, and two remote Maya sites near the Guatemalan border. Here are the things to do in Palenque, with hours, prices and practical tips for each.
Things to Do in Palenque: The Archaeological Zone
The Palenque archaeological zone is a UNESCO World Heritage Site spread across roughly 1,780 hectares, of which only about 10 percent is excavated. It is open daily from 8:00 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:00. Entry costs 210 MXN for foreign visitors and 105 MXN for Mexican nationals and residents, plus a smaller national park fee paid at the access road. The site sits about 8 km from town, a 10 minute shared van ride. For the driest months to visit, see our best time to visit Palenque guide.
Temple of the Inscriptions
This 25 m pyramid is the reason Palenque is famous. Inside, archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier found the tomb of King Pakal in 1952, buried under a stone staircase in 683 AD. The hieroglyphic stairway and the tomb itself are closed to the public for conservation, but you can walk the platform and see the temple on top. Give it 30 minutes and read the plaques before you climb.
El Palacio (The Palace)
The Palace is the largest building on the site, a maze of galleries, courtyards and corbel vaults built over more than 100 years. Its standout feature is a four storey square tower that may have been an observatory for watching the winter solstice. The carvings along the east court show Pakal receiving prisoners of war. Allow 45 minutes.
Temple of the Cross Complex
Three temples on stepped platforms, the Temple of the Cross, Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Foliated Cross, cluster on the south east edge of the site. Each holds a carved panel showing a Maya ruler and the sacred world tree. They sit on a quieter corner of the site, so this is where you escape the tour groups.
Museo de Sitio Alberto Ruz Lhuillier
The site museum, on the road between town and the entrance, holds the jade mask and jewellery recovered from Pakal’s tomb, plus ceramics and stucco heads from the site. Admission is included in your archaeological zone ticket. It runs the same 8:00 to 17:00 hours and is air conditioned, which makes it a good midday break in the hot months. The spring equinox draws crowds to the site in March, so see our Palenque events and festivals guide for dates.
Things to Do in Palenque: Waterfalls and Rivers
The rivers of northern Chiapas drop into travertine pools all around Palenque. Tour agencies in town sell combo trips, but you can also reach most falls by colectivo and walk in on your own. Check the Palenque weather by month guide before planning falls days, since Agua Azul runs brown after storms.
Agua Azul Waterfalls
A 60 km, roughly two hour drive from Palenque, Agua Azul is a staircase of bright blue pools that run for about 6 km along the Tulijá River. Entry is around 50 MXN per person, and the site has parking, changing rooms and food stalls. The water can turn murky brown for a day or two after heavy rain, so check conditions before you go in the rainy season. Swim only in the safe marked pools. For where to sleep between the falls and the ruins, read our where to stay in Palenque guide.
Misol-Ha Waterfall
Misol-Ha is a single 35 m drop into a deep pool, about 20 km and 30 minutes from Palenque on the road to Ocosingo. Entry is roughly 30 MXN. You can swim in the pool, and a short cave path runs behind the curtain of water. It stays clear longer than Agua Azul after rain, so it is the better waterfall pick in the wet season.
Roberto Barrios Waterfalls
Around 30 km from Palenque, Roberto Barrios is a series of smaller falls with calm pools that are safe for swimming, run by a local ejido community. Entry is about 40 MXN, and it gets far fewer visitors than Agua Azul. Bring water shoes; the rocks are sharp in places.
Things to Do in Palenque: Jungle Day Trips
Two remote Maya sites on the Usumacinta River make a long but rewarding day trip. Both sit near the border with Guatemala and are usually reached by road from Palenque in 2.5 to 3 hours each way, so start early. Most visitors base themselves in La Cañada or El Panchán, covered in our Palenque neighborhoods guide.
Yaxchilán
Yaxchilán is a riverbank city you reach by boat from Frontera Corozal. Its carved stone lintels over the doorways are some of the finest Maya reliefs anywhere, and howler monkeys move through the trees above the plazas. The round trip from Palenque takes a full day. The boat ride costs roughly 500 to 700 MXN per group, on top of the site entry fee.
Bonampak
Bonampak is a compact site famous for one building: the Temple of the Murals, whose three rooms hold the most complete set of Maya wall paintings ever found, showing a battle and its aftermath in vivid colour. Entry is around 90 MXN, and it pairs naturally with Yaxchilán on the same trip since both sit off the same highway. For how to reach these sites and what to pack, see our Palenque travel tips guide.
