SURROUNDING AREAS, TOURING AND NOTABLE PLACES

Touring Palenque’s Surrounding Regions – Begin your tour in the town of Palenque, where you can have some breakfast in one of the restaurants in the city center. After the meal, take Highway 199 in the direction of San Cristobal de las Casas, which will take you to the Agua Azul waterfalls, a national park located 55 km (34 mi) from Palenque. There you can see one of the nation’s most impressive waterfalls; the water flows from the Tulija River. You can also go hiking in the park, giving you the opportunity to observe diverse flora and fauna. Continue along Highway 199 for about 60 km (37 mi) until you’ll reach a fork in the road at Ocosingo, where you can take a turnoff to the Tonina archaeological zone, once an ancient Mayan capital. At this site you’ll find ruins of temples and palaces that are connected by tunnels and passageways. Among its main attractions are a stucco relief called the Mural of Four Suns (or Eras) and the Temple of the Earth Monster, which appears to be devouring a spherical rock that represents the sun.

The tour ends in the picturesque city of San Cristobal de las Casas, located 207 km (128 mi) from Palenque on Highway 199. There you can visit the cathedral, which houses interesting pieces of Baroque art, or you can walk around on cobblestone streets and check out some of the colonial buildings. You can also buy all kinds of crafts: beautiful embroidered skirts, serapes and vests, among other items.

Touring The Ruins In Palenque’s Surrounding Regions – The tour begins in the town of Palenque. From there, take Highway 307 heading in the direction of southeastern Chiapas. Your first stop, the Bonampak archaeological zone, lies 147 km (91 mi) from Palenque. Building 1 has spectacular frescoes that narrate mysterious bellicose scenes and acts of celebration carried out by the ancient Mayans. Continuing along Highway 307, 64 km (40 mi) ahead you’ll arrive at Frontera Corozal, a town that borders Guatemala near the shore of the Usumacinta River. There you can take a boat to the ruins of Yaxchilan, an amazing Mayan ceremonial center where you can see numerous temples and other structures nestled in the jungle. From the top of Building 33, you’ll get an incredible view of the jungle landscape below. If you want to learn more about the important structures of these ancient Mayan cities, we recommend that you hire a tour guide from Palenque to accompany you on the trip, or you can hire guides at each site.