We arranged a day trip to Zona Arqueologica de Palenque and Casacadas de Agua Azul via our hotel for 750 pesos each. (for two people) We were picked up by a minibus at 09:00 AM from out hotel and had around 2 and half hours at the ruins. They offer tours, including a jungle tour at the entrance. From speaking to other travellers, the jungle tours are impressive - you can see monkeys and uncovered temples ala Indiana Jones etc., but be prepared to haggle, walk away, talk to different tour guides at the entrnace and pair up with other travellers to reduce the price. (also dress jungle appropriately, long sleeves, mosquito repellant etc.) We were quoted very high prices, so didn't decide on a tour, but other travellers found cheaper options. The ruins are amazing and unlike anything else we saw in Mexico. You can climb a few of the pyramids also. Our minibus dropped us off directly at the entrance to the ruins, but we had to pay a collectivo to take us from the entrance to the car park where our minibus was waiting to pick us up, so have change for the collectivo. (around 10/20 pesos each)

As you enter the Main Plaza of the site, the most imposing structure is the Temple of the Inscriptions. This temple was built in the 7th and 8th centuries during the reign of King Pakal. After his death his son,Chan-Balum, completed a burial chamber in the Temple for his father. The chamber was not discovered until 1952. Sometime later another burial chamber of a woman was discovered. Further along the site is the Sun Palace, Royal Palace and the Group of the Cross. The four story observation tower here is unique in the Mayan world. To preserve many of the artifacts they were moved to an on-site museum. The museum contains an incredible collection of artifacts, petroglyphs and photos of the excavation of the burial chamber of the woman known as the Red Queen. In a lower chamber is a replica of the sarcophagus of King Pakal. This was truly one of the great Mayan cities and an archeological site not to be missed.

The archaeological site of Palenque in the state of Chiapas is one of the most outstanding classic period of the Maya area, known for its exceptional and well conserved architectural and sculptured remains. The elegance and craftsmanship of the construction as well as the lightness of the sculpted reliefs illustrating Mayan mythology, attest to the creative genius of this civilisation. We visited in January 2023 on an overcast day but the experience was not diminished, we loved the forest and the waterfalls too.

If you need a very good guide, ask for ( the long) Edgar who is born and raised in Palenque and has seen almost all Maya sites in Mexico. . He is a very knowledgeable guide with 20 years of experience and a particular fondness of Dutch people. We learned a lot and had fun too.