What to Do in Palenque: Perfect Two-Day Itinerary

Posted 20/06/2024 | 20th June, 2024

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Palenque is a beautiful area of Mexico. In fact, it’s one of my favourites! The ruins are absolutely breathtaking. Personally, I found them much more interesting than Chichen Itza, and only a fraction of the price.

The town itself isn’t the most magical you’ll find. But, there’s plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafes to keep you fed and watered throughout your whistlestop tour of the area.

Two full days in Palenque is the minimum you should spend here. This will allow you to see four main highlights: the Palenque Ruins, Roberto Barrios Waterfalls, Misol-Ha Waterfall and Agua Azul.

Table of Contents

Getting to Palenque

There are three main hubs where travellers tend to arrive in Palenque from:

San Cristobal de Las Casas (8 hours), Campeche (6 hours) or Merida (10 hours). Although these buses are long, the ADO service in Mexico is very comfortable and reliable.

Villahermosa is the closest airport, and the bus from here to Palenque takes around 2.5 hours.

To Tour, or Not to Tour

Before getting to Palenque, I was unsure about the public transport options and had read conflicting reports about the safety of this area.

Whilst I think it is a little beyond this article to discuss the security situation in Palenque and the wider state of Chiapas, I can say that plenty of travellers visited the sites without a tour and loved it!

I did note that the cost of an organised tour was only marginally more expensive than paying for the public transport and entry fees.

It is important to note that throughout Mexico, most ‘tours’ do not operate as tours you might experience in other countries. In Palenque, tours simply include transport and entry fees, so don’t be worried that you’re going to be shackled to a group of strangers all day.

You do have a third option, which is to rent a car and drive. Personally, I wouldn’t take that option as we saw lots of evidence of roadblocks as we were driving through the state and have read about many unsavoury experiences in the area.

None of the above is written to sway you either way (I read enough scaremongering whilst planning my four months in Mexico, trust me!). In each attraction featured below, I have included links to relevant tours and info on accessing them without a tour.

I took tours on both days and absolutely loved it! Day one in Palenque was a fun group of 12, and the second day was a much quieter group of six. These trips also offer a great opportunity to practice your Spanish as you will find a unique mix of domestic and international tourists.

Palenque Day One (Ruins and Roberto Barrios Waterfalls)

Get Your Guide Tour: Palenque Ruins and Roberto Barrios

Palenque Ruins

The Palenque ruins, nestled in the dense jungles of Chiapas, Mexico, stand as a testament to the ancient Maya civilisation’s architectural and cultural prowess.

The ruins date back to the Classic period (c. 600-900 AD), when Palenque thrived as a political and cultural centre. The archaeological site showcases meticulously crafted structures, including the iconic Temple of the Inscriptions, which houses the tomb of the notable ruler Pakal the Great.

The site’s intricate carvings, stelae, and hieroglyphic inscriptions provide invaluable insights into Maya history and mythology. I was honestly blown away by the Palenque ruins. I really enjoyed Monte Alban in Oaxaca, so I knew this site had a lot to live up to, and it did not disappoint!

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Palenque remains a destination where visitors can marvel at the ancient wonders while appreciating the rich cultural legacy of the Maya civilisation. The tour allows you around three hours to explore the area, which is perfect.

Visiting Palenque Ruins Without A Tour

🚎 Palenque Ruins are the easiest item on this list to visit without a tour. If you’re hugely into ruins and know you will want to spend a long time here, I recommend going on your own rather than on a tour to enable you to move at your own pace.

Simply jump in a colectivo outside the Ado bus station which costs just 25 MXN. This takes around 25 minutes to get to the ruins, where you will need to pay 104 MXN to enter the National Park, plus 90 MXN to enter the ruins.

You can either then hop back in the colectivo to the park (if it waited) or walk up to the entrance to start your Palenque adventure!

Roberto Barrios Waterfalls

This is the lesser-known but most beautiful natural attraction in the Lacandon Jungle, offering visitors a chance to experience the region’s lush tropical environment.

Roberto Barrios features a series of cascading waterfalls flowing over limestone formations, creating picturesque landscapes and natural pools. The water in the pools is bright turquoise and crystal clear. You can swim in the pools, explore the surrounding jungle, and enjoy the serene and tranquil atmosphere.

It’s a relatively off-the-beaten-path destination compared to more famous waterfalls like Agua Azul or Misol Ha, providing a quieter and more secluded experience for those seeking a nature retreat.

Of the three, Roberto Barrios is by far my favourite! There is so much room to swim and relax, making it feel like the most authentic experience.

I recommend taking some flip-flops you’re happy to swim in with you. Getting in and out of the water was a little challenging, but this will help prevent any cuts on the bottom of your feet.

Visiting Roberto Barrios Without A Tour

🚎 If you’re visiting Roberto Barrios without a tour, you will need to take a shared colectivo. When we left the ruins, there were heaps of drivers that would take you back into town. From town, you can then take another direct colectivo to the Roberto Barrios falls.

The colectivos cost around 50 MXN per person.

Palenque Day Two (Misol-Ha Waterfall & Agua Azul)

Get Your Guide Tour: Misol Ha and Agua Azul Waterfalls Tour from Palenque

Misol-Ha Waterfalls

Misol Ha is a single waterfall that drops about 35 meters (115 feet) into a natural pool below.

You can appreciate the beauty of the cascading water from a viewing platform or take a closer look by walking behind the waterfall, as there is a cave-like area behind the water curtain. The mist generated by the falling water creates a refreshing and cool environment.

On our tour, we only had forty minutes to enjoy the falls, which I was initially very disappointed with. But this was plenty of time to walk behind the water, marvel at the falls, and take some great photographs.

A handful of people were swimming, but most saved themselves for an afternoon at Agua Azul.

Visiting Misol-Ha Without A Tour

🚎 You can certainly visit Misol-Ha waterfall without a tour, but expect a long, bumpy journey! There is a colectivo that runs through the centre of town, which costs 50 MXN.

When you get on, just tell the driver that you’re heading to Misol-Ha, and he will give you a shout when you’re there.

Agua Azul

The mineral-rich water at Agua Azul gives the falls a distinctive blue colour (hence the name!), creating a visually striking landscape.

Agua Azul is by far the most popular of the three water attractions in Palenque. Because of this, it is the most built-up (With plenty of toilets, changing facilities, restaurants, and shops).

I also didn’t find swimming as appealing in Agua Azul as in Roberto Barrios. This is because the swimming areas have much shallower water and many more crowds. However, there was no denying that the cool water was refreshing in the Palenque heat!

Visiting Agua Azul Without A Tour

🚎 If you’re visiting Agua Azul without a tour from Misol-ha waterfall, you just need to head back onto the main road and jump into the same colectivo. However, please be aware that the colectivo will drop you around 4km from the entrance site of Agua Azul.

There will be taxis waiting here, and they will complete the last leg of the journey for around 50 MXN.

Visiting San Cristobal de las Casas From Palenque

There are many tours offering a visit to San Cristobal de las Casas from Palenque. I honestly do not recommend this. The journey is extremely long, and if you’re not staying overnight, you won’t have more than a couple of hours in the magical city.

San Cristobal de las Casas absolutely blew me away. There is so much to see in the city and plenty of excellent day trips. To explore the best Chiapas offers, I urge you to spend a few nights in San Cristobal de las Casas rather than visiting via a day trip.

When to Visit Palenque

The weather in Palenque is tropical, so hot all year round! March to May are the hottest months, June to October have the most rain, and November to February is considered the most pleasant.

I visited at the start of March, and although it was very warm, it was a beautiful temperature to explore (and cool off in the falls!).

Where to Stay in Palenque, Mexico

There aren’t too many budget options in Palenque, Mexico. In fact, Palenque only has three offerings on Hostelworld. However, Palenque is still very much worth the visit and shouldn’t be missed from your Mexico itinerary!

When looking for a Pelqenque hotel, you have two main options: staying in the town or closer to the ruins. I personally recommend the first option, as you can walk to restaurants and bars in the evening.

However, if the ruins are your priority, there are many beautiful options in the heart of the jungle (where you may even get the option to spy a Howler Monkey if you’re lucky!).

Useful Links for Travelling Mexico:

🛌 Booking.com or Hostelworld for booking the best accommodation.

🌴 Viator or Get Your Guide for the best day trips

🚌 Busbud for organising long-distance busses in Mexico

🚙 Discover Cars to compare the best car rentals in Mexico