During our travels through Mexico, we made the (excellent) decision to check out Palenque (pronounced puh-leng-kay), nestled in the lush jungles of Chiapas. It turned out to be the kind of place we love – authentic, uncrowded, and steeped in history.
The highlight of Palenque is the Palenque Ruins, aka one of the most impressive and well-preserved ancient Mayan cities. And not too far away are the hidden ancient Mayan cities of Yaxchilan and Bonampak, which we actually preferred to the Palenque Ruins because they are quieter, mysterious, and super hard to get to.
We spent 3 days in Palenque and had such a magical time. We stayed in a wooden hut in the jungle and could hear howler monkeys in the trees above us at all hours. And every evening we walked to a great restaurant, that’s hidden away in the jungle, for yummy woodfired pizza. Overall, it was such a unique experience, and we can’t wait to return.
In this blog post, I list 9 of the best things to do in Palenque. I’ve ticked off everything listed below and can personally recommend them all.
Is Palenque, Mexico, worth visiting?
Yes, 100% Palenque is worth visiting! We spent over a month in Mexico, and Palenque was the most unique destination we visited. Sure, it doesn’t have the white sand beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula or bright blue water (like Laguna Bacalar), but it is steeped in Mayan history – with not one but three very important Mayan sites nearby (Palenque Ruins, Yaxchilan, and Bonampak).
Day One – Mayan Ruins, a Hidden Gem Waterfall & a Fire Show
Morning – Palenque Ruins
Palenque is famous for being home to the Palenque Ruins, one of Mexico’s most captivating archaeological sites. This ancient Maya city, flourishing between 226 BC and 799 AD, is renowned for its stunning architecture and intricate carvings.
The site is home to the Temple of the Inscriptions, the tallest and most significant pyramid, which houses the tomb of the great ruler Pakal the Great. Palenque’s structures are renowned for their intricate stucco sculptures and hieroglyphics, which offer valuable insights into Maya history, culture, and mythology. This is all set against a backdrop of dense tropical vegetation – giving it a sort of ‘Tomb Raider’ vibe.
The ruins and the jungle that surround it make up Palenque National Park (Parque Nacional Palenque). And it is home to wildlife, including howler monkeys and jaguars.
If you don’t wish to do a guided tour of the ruins, you will need to either get a taxi or colectivo here – the ruins are around 5 km from downtown. The fees to enter the ruins are as follows: 105 MXN pesos per person for the national park entrance fee and an additional 90 MXN pesos per person for the archaeological fee, to be paid at a separate counter.
Best tours of the Palenque Ruins:
Afternoon – Roberto Barrios Waterfall
This afternoon, we recommend checking out Cascadas de Roberto Barrios (aka Roberto Barrios waterfall). This place is a real hidden gem. Unlike the busier Misol-Ha and Agua Azul (which you’ll tick off tomorrow), this spot is chill and less crowded, so you can really soak in the peace and quiet.
The waterfall is made up of a bunch of smaller cascades that form natural pools. Perfect for a swim to cool down after a sweaty morning exploring the ruins.
The water here is a stunning turquoise, and it’s surrounded by lush green jungle, making for a picture-perfect backdrop.
The best way to get here is on a guided tour like this one which includes the Palenque Ruins (with a guide) and a visit to Roberto Barrios. It’s a full-day tour (8.5 hours long) and costs from $63 USD per person.
Otherwise, you will need to head back into Palenque town and hop in a colectivo, which leaves from the corner of 5e Avenida Norte and Cuarta Pte Norte. It’s under an hour’s drive, and the fare will set you back around 50 pesos each way. Please note, you will also need to pay 40 pesos to enter the waterfalls. It’s also worth keeping in mind that the last colectivo from the falls back to Palenque is at 4 pm.
Evening – Dinner in El Panchan
During our stay in Palenque, we ate most nights at Don Muchos in El Panchan. This is a hugely popular restaurant in the jungle (around 7 km from Palenque town). The food here is great (we love their woodfired pizzas), and it’s such a unique setting. There’s traditional live music here most nights and a wow-worthy fire show on some nights.
Day Two – Downtown, Go Chasing Waterfalls & A Rooftop Bar
Morning – Wander the town
I always like to spend a chilled morning exploring the downtown area of where I’m visiting, as I feel like it gives me a good feel of what it’s like to live there. I wander aimlessly, snapping photos along the way and usually stopping in somewhere for a coffee.
And so, today I recommend spending a few hours after breakfast wandering around Palenque’s downtown area.
I reckon the prettiest part of Palenque is La Cañada, a leafy (slightly) affluent area with cobblestoned streets that’s home to several great cafes and restaurants with cozy outdoor areas and fairy lights when it’s dark. I really rate Cafe Jade for a coffee and a snack this morning.
Another area I recommend checking out this morning is the Zócalo (or main square) is the central hub for locals and it’s usually abuzz with activity. There are a couple of restaurants surrounding the square (many with balconies to watch the world go by down below).
Other key areas in the town include the Plaza de los Artesanos for souvenirs and shops selling handmade crafts, and various restaurants near the central park area.
Afternoon – Check out a waterfall
There are also two stunning waterfalls in the Palenque area – Misol-Ha and Agua Azul, which are well worth checking out. And the best way to see them both in one afternoon is on a guided tour like this one.
Agua Azul is the most popular waterfall in the area. It gets its name (which means blue water) from its mineral-rich water.
Yup, this waterfall is actually a series of cascades formed by limestone-rich waters, which as I said, give the river its distinctive blue color, which is particularly vibrant during the dry season when the water is clearer. You can swim in many of the leveled cascades – I found the nicest ones to be up near the top.
There’s plenty of amenities here – restaurants, changing facilities, toilets – but keep in mind it can get very busy. There’s also a viewing platform to admire the falls from and what’s quite cool, too, is that you can walk behind the waterfall!
You’ll also get to visit the quieter Misol-Ha waterfall as part of your guided tour this afternoon. This one is nestled in a lush tropical jungle and plunges approximately 35 meters (115 feet) into a tranquil, crystal-clear pool below – the perfect spot for a swim.
This tour starts at 12 pm and is around 7 hours long, it costs from $47 USD per person.
Evening – Have Fun in the Zocalo
This evening, we recommend getting dinner and drinks in Palenque’s town square (the Zocalo, which I mentioned earlier). It’s got a fab, fun vibe here in the evenings, and it’s safe. You’ll see locals and tourists mingling and watching the sunset here is unique as hundreds of birds gather on the square (not sure why).
For dinner, we really liked Maya Canada in La Canada, and as for drinks, we suggest checking out a cool, rooftop bar like Malaquita Rooftop or Templo Mezcalería.
Day Three – Day trip to Yaxchilán and Bonampak Ruins
Located deep in the jungle of Mexico, around 164 km from Palenque, are the Yaxchilán and Bonampak Mayan ruins. It’s truly an off-the-beaten-path adventure to get to them because the Yaxchilán ruins can only be reached by boat (you’ll see crocodiles along the ride), and the nearby Bonampak ruins are enshrouded in the Lacandon jungle and so, were only first discovered in 1946.
Yaxchilán ruins are, in my opinion, the most spectacular ruins in Mexico. It has a mystical atmosphere, and I loved wandering the jungle-shrouded temples and plazas here (again, I felt like I was on a movie set). It’s so quiet and peaceful there, in fact, there were only around 10 other people there when we visited – a stark difference from the super-crowded Chichen Itza.
As I said, Yaxchilán is located on the banks of the Usumacinta River and served as a powerful city-state from the 4th to the 9th centuries AD. The ruins are renowned for their impressive architectural structures, intricately carved columns, and well-preserved lintels that chronicle the history and mythology of the Maya. The site’s most famous structures include the Great Acropolis and the Temple 33.
Nearby Bonampak ruins are best known for their vividly painted murals that adorn the walls of the Temple of the Murals. These intricate frescoes, dating back to around 790 AD, depict various aspects of Mayan life, including ceremonial rituals, warfare, and daily activities. The site itself, though not as large as some other Mayan cities, is remarkable for its preservation.
Best tour of the ruins from Palenque:
The best way to see both Yaxchilan and Bonampak is by booking a guided tour from Palenque. We did it without a tour, but it’s a challenge as you need to get a collectivo (public minibus) from Palenque for 3 hours and then hop on a lancha (small motorboat) along the river for 45 minutes before getting to the ruins. The guided tour option is handy because it includes all transfers as well as a guide, breakfast and lunch, and, entrance fees for just $124 USD per person.
BOOK your guided tour of Yaxchilan and Bonampak from Palenque here!
Where to Stay in Palenque
We stayed next to the entrance to Palenque National Park at a gorgeous spot called Cabanas Kin Balam Palenque – the rooms are a series of wooden cabanas dotted throughout the jungle. And there’s a lovely outdoor pool and an on-site restaurant. We paid around $35 USD for a double room with a private bathroom.
In fact, from our room in the middle of the jungle, we could hear howler monkeys all day and night – if you’ve ever heard one before, you’ll know they make a sound similar to a growl (which can be a little scary!)
We also rate the following hotels in Palenque:
- Piedra de Aqua Boutique Hotel – This stylish and luxurious 4-star property is just over 3 km from Palenque town and boasts a lovely infinity pool and gorgeous, bright, and airy rooms. Expect to pay around $100 USD per night.
- Hotel Chablis Palenque – is a great option close to the downtown area. This 3-star property is painted bright yellow and has a large outdoor pool. The rooms are spacious and you can expect to pay around $70 USD per night.
- Chan-Kah Resort Village – is a large resort-style property in the jungle, around 4 km from downtown. It boasts a huge pool and heaps of amenities like a restaurant, a bar, a Cafe, a games room, etc. You will pay around $80 USD per night here.
Or if you’re on a budget, you can check out the best hostels in Palenque here!
Getting to Palenque
We got a train to Palenque from Campeche Train Station (Estacion Tren Maya Campeche), direct to Palenque. It took close to 5 hours and cost us around $50 USD. There is only one train per day, so you will need to book it in advance.
The closest large airport is Villahermosa International Airport in Tabasco, approximately two hours away by car. From Villahermosa, you can either rent a car or take an ADO bus or shuttle service to reach Palenque.
Unfortunately, Palenque International Airport offers very limited flights. And FYI, we use Skyscanner for booking our cheap flights.
If you’re already traveling within Mexico, you could take a comfortable, long-distance bus to here. We recommend the ADO or OCC bus companies. The most popular routes are those starting in Mexico City (a whopping 16-hour journey), Campeche (5 hours), and Merida (8 hours drive).
Coming here from San Cristóbal de las Casas is super-popular too, but the buses now go the long way around, driving via Villahermosa (where the airport is), so the journey will take 9 hours instead of 5. That’s because there are regular roadblocks on the shorter route. Some minibus services still go the shorter route, but it’s best to check with them in advance.
We use BusBud for searching for available buses and booking cheap bus tickets in Mexico!
Why travel insurance is important in Mexico:
We don’t recommend traveling to Mexico without travel insurance! Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you’re traveling – be it theft, illness, etc. And having insurance means that you have a safety net in place.
Travel insurance will provide you with coverage for a range of situations in Mexico, including flight delays, canceled flights, injuries, illnesses, etc. Depending on your policy, you could be reimbursed for hospital stays, meals, hotel stays, transportation, or even the entire cost of your trip to Mexico.
This is how we find the best travel insurance for our trip. It’s a search engine for travel insurance companies, so you can find the best travel insurance for your trip. On their site, you can compare the plans side by side so you can get the best insurance for your particular trip! As I always say, no trip is the same, so your travel insurance shouldn’t be either!
Thanks for Reading!
And there you have it, 9 of the best things to do in 3 days in Palenque. It truly is a unique region steeped in Mayan history and surrounded by lush jungle. I hope this blog post has given you lots of inspiration for your visit to one of my favorite parts of Mexico!
You can also see some of my most-read articles below –
How Many Days Do I Need For Antigua Guatemala? (3-Day Itinerary)
10 Epic Reasons to Visit Guatemala
Things to Know Before Traveling to Belize
PIN THIS
Last Updated on October 9, 2025 by snaphappytravel