Palenque Tour
Once you arrive at Palenque, be sure to allocate adequate time to see all that the area holds for you. Less than a full day and you will see next to nothing, so great are the number of attractions in Palenque.
The exotic area of the Mayan ruins will literally hold you captive once you arrive there, exploring the jungles, the mountains and the many caves. The array of wildlife and birds will keep you awestruck as you explore the rich history and amazing buildings that the Palenque ruins hold in store for you.
Palenque ruins
Nestled among the foothills of the Tumbala, the mountains offer you a breathtaking vista of a seemingly endless array of green that flows like a verdant river all the way to the gulf. The Usamacinta River would have been a primary source of life for the Mayans who lived here, even as it remains today, centuries later.
The Palenque ruins are in what is known as a high-canopy jungle. The landscape alone holds a powerful draw, just as the Palenque ruins do. As you move among the ancient Mayan temples, you'll be enveloped in a sense of wonder and peace that the landscape offers. The trees offer a canopy that shields you from the sun, with the setting nothing short of spectacular.
Palenque History
Remaining in Palenque for the full day, in fact, even arranging a second day will be your response no matter what time of the year you select for your visit.
One of the most awe-inspiring sights-and sites-that you will view in Palenque is the Temple of Inscriptions. Pakal the Great is entombed here. Renowned as the greatest and most mighty ruler that the Palenque ever had, Pakal compelled the temple to be built after he had passed out of the world. The pyramid steps lay unseen for many hundred years, found in the mid 1800's, but it was not until 1952 that Alberto Ruz solved the mystery of the staircase that led down into the tomb.
It requires special permission to visit this part of the Temple of Inscriptions, but when or if you receive it you will be deeply touched by your visit here. Palenque is quite literally, enough to compel you to learn more about the Mayan civilization, and to visit repeatedly in an effort to solve the many mysteries that remain there.
