Cidade Turismo
Mexico
Palenque

Chiapas · Tabasco · Mexico

Palenque

The Maya city of Palenque in the Chiapas jungle, the Misol-Ha and Agua Azul waterfalls, and the Olmec heads at the La Venta park-museum in Villahermosa.

Chiapas e Tabasco

In the photo: Archaeological zone of Palenque

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Palenque lies in northern Chiapas, where the mountains meet the Tabasco plain, and is one of the best-known Maya cities of the Classic period. The archaeological zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, occupies a slope covered by tropical jungle, with temples, a palace with a tower, and streams running between the structures. It was there that the tomb of the ruler Pakal was found in 1952 inside the Temple of the Inscriptions.

The modern town of Palenque, about 8 km from the ruins, is the base for visits, with hotels in the center and in the La Cañada neighborhood, and also along the road to the site amid the forest. From the region depart tours to the Misol-Ha waterfall, a drop of about 35 meters into a natural pool, and to Agua Azul, a series of turquoise-blue waterfalls.

About 140 km to the north is Villahermosa, the capital of Tabasco, a large, hot city crossed by rivers and lagoons. The La Venta park-museum there houses the colossal heads and other Olmec sculptures, the oldest civilization of Mesoamerica, in a park by a lagoon. Near the city is Comalcalco, the only major Maya city built with bricks.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Palenque, Villahermosa.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Palenque is
PalenqueVillahermosa

Limites: INEGI / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Palenque

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional de Palenque (PQM) · 4 km to Palenque

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional de Villahermosa (VSA), in Villahermosa · 140 km to Palenque

Confirm before booking. Palenque has an airport (PQM) with few domestic flights, and a Tren Maya station. Villahermosa airport (VSA), about 140 km away, has more flights and buses to Palenque. From San Cristóbal it’s about 200 km by mountain road.

Suggested arrival point: Palenque

The local experience

Things to do in Palenque

Parque-Museo La Venta
Villahermosa · Tabasco · Open-air museum

Parque-Museo La Venta

Park-museum on the shore of the Laguna de las Ilusiones with colossal heads, altars and stelae of the Olmecs brought from the La Venta site, along a trail in the forest, with a small zoo.

Zona Arqueológica de Palenque
Palenque · Chiapas · Archaeological site

Zona Arqueológica de Palenque

Classic‑period Maya city in the Chiapas jungle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Temple of the Inscriptions — where Pakal’s tomb was located — the Palace with its tower and the Group of the Crosses.

Cascada de Misol-Ha
Palenque · Chiapas · Waterfall

Cascada de Misol-Ha

About a 35-meter waterfall in the jungle, roughly 20 km from Palenque, that falls into a natural pool, with a trail that passes behind the waterfall.

Zona Arqueológica de Comalcalco
Villahermosa · Tabasco · Archaeological site

Zona Arqueológica de Comalcalco

Maya city of the Classical period on the Tabasco plain, the only major Maya city built with fired-clay bricks, featuring the Great Acropolis and Temple I.

See 1 more place in Palenque
Cascadas de Agua Azul
Palenque · Chiapas · Waterfall

Cascadas de Agua Azul

A sequence of cascades and turquoise-blue pools on the Xanil River in the Chiapas jungle, about 60 km from Palenque.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From December to April it usually rains less, although the jungle is humid year‑round; April and May are the hottest months. From June to October there is more rain. Agua Azul usually shows its strongest turquoise color in the dry season; with rains the water can become muddy.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days in Palenque: one for the ruins and the museum, another for Misol-Ha and Agua Azul. Villahermosa needs an additional day for La Venta and Comalcalco.

Which city to stay in

In Palenque, the town center has basic hotels near the bus station and the restaurants; the La Cañada neighborhood, leafy, lies between the center and the road to the ruins; and along the road to the site there are hotels and cabins in the forest, closer to the archaeological zone. In Villahermosa, hotels are located near the center and the Tabasco 2000 area.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Palenque

How to go from San Cristóbal to Palenque?

By mountain road, about 200 km with many curves, a trip of around five hours by bus or van. Many tours stop at Agua Azul and Misol-Ha along the way.

Does Palenque have a Tren Maya station?

Yes. The train links Palenque with Campeche, Mérida and Cancún.

Can you climb the Temple of the Inscriptions?

No. Climbing and entry to Pakal’s tomb are usually prohibited; a replica of the tomb is in the site museum.

When can you see Agua Azul truly blue?

In the dry season, from December to May; with rains the water can become muddy.

Is it worth going to Villahermosa?

It’s worth it for those who want to see the Olmec heads at the La Venta park-museum and Comalcalco, or to use Villahermosa’s airport.

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