ECOTOURISM
The jungle area in which you?ll
find the archaeological zone and town of
Palenque covers 3,500 km2 (1,400 mi2).
There in the midst of the
dense jungle landscape, you?ll find rivers,
waterfalls, lakes and a wide variety
of flora and fauna, natural
attractions that make this the
ideal site for ecotourism outings.
Palenque Archaeological Zone
? Located just 8 km
(5 mi)
from the town of Palenque,
it is one of the main Mayan archaeological sites and a delightful destination
for ecotourism enthusiasts. Here, paths
cutting through the jungle lead to various temples and the gorgeous Montiepa
waterfalls, where over time, curious figures have taken shape in the rock
formations. Open daily from 8:00
to 6:00.
Parque Nacional Cascadas de Agua Azul (Agua Azul
Waterfalls) ? Located 50 km (31 mi) south of
the town of Palenque, off Highway 199 in the
direction of Ocosingo. Because of its abundant
vegetation and its impressive waterfalls, which are formed from the water flow
of the Tulija
River,
Agua Azul was declared a
national park in 1980. Here you can appreciate an abundance of flora and fauna
in a natural habitat full of mahogany, cedar and sapodilla trees, as well as
birds, insects and small mammals. You can also marvel at the
beautiful blue waters, which have that
color as a result of erosion; water flowing past the
rocks causes small particles of lime containing magnesium salts and other
chlorides to break off and
dissolve.
Agua Clara ? Head 55 km (34 mi) west of
the town of Palenque
along Highway 199 and then take the turnoff at Km 27. This tourist zone covers 90 hectares
(222 acres)
and lies between the Tulija and Shumulja
rivers. This is an excellent spot to go on a photo safari while hiking along
beautiful trails among the lush jungle vegetation. You?ll also have the opportunity
to observe toucans, doves, parakeets and howler monkeys.
Cascada Misol-Ha
? This is an ideal place for trekking, as it offers trails that lead to
impressive waterfalls. During the hike,
you?ll see such flora as mahogany, sapodilla and jiggerwood
trees.
