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Major city · Mexico

Palenque

Give Palenque two nights: one full day at the ruins (arrive at opening), one half-day for Misol-Ha and Agua Azul. Skip it as a day trip from San Cristóbal.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Apr (drier, cooler)
avoid Jun–Oct (heavy rain, humidity, occasional site closures)
Airports
PQM · VSA · TGZ
Nights
2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
  • Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
  • Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
  • Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.

Palenque is a small jungle town in northern Chiapas whose whole reason to exist is the Maya site 6 km away — a UNESCO-listed city of temples, roof combs and bas-reliefs that is still mostly under forest. Two nights covers the ruins properly plus the waterfalls on the road to San Cristóbal. It is a stop, not a base: the town itself is hot, low-key and cheap, and the ruins are the trip.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Palenque, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Street or quick mealTaco or simple meal in townMX$40–120 (≈ US$3–7)
  • BeerBeer in a bar / at a shopMX$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)MX$20–35 (≈ US$2)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekMX$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)
  • Museum or sight ticketRuins entry (INAH + state tickets)Bought separately at the museum officeMX$100 (≈ US$6) + MX$215 (≈ US$12)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm or hammock space, a night, per personMX$150 (≈ US$9)
  • Mid-range bedDouble room with fan or AC, a night, per roomMX$900 (≈ US$50)
  • High-end bedDouble room with fan or AC, a night, per roomMX$1,800 (≈ US$100)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$600 (≈ US$35) · Mid MX$1,200 (≈ US$65) · High MX$2,200 (≈ US$120)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Temple of the Inscriptions and Pakal's tombThe Palace and the Temples of the CrossMisol-Ha and Agua Azul waterfallsJungle setting and howler monkeysGateway between Chiapas and the Yucatán
Airports
PQM Palenque Airport (Small field; flights from Mexico City's AIFA (NLU) on limited days — check the current schedule) · VSA Villahermosa (About 2 h by road; the usual fallback airport) · TGZ Tuxtla Gutiérrez (5–6 h by bus; use it if you are coming from San Cristóbal)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Palenque: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

28°C

18°C

8 rd

Feb

30°C

18°C

6 rd

Mar

32°C

20°C

5 rd

Apr

34°C

22°C

5 rd

May

34°C

23°C

10 rd

Jun

33°C

23°C

17 rd

Jul

32°C

22°C

18 rd

Aug

32°C

22°C

19 rd

Sep

32°C

22°C

20 rd

Oct

31°C

21°C

16 rd

Nov

30°C

20°C

10 rd

Dec

28°C

18°C

9 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Combis run town ↔ Ruinas every 10–15 min through the day (MX$30, 2026 estimate); flag one on Benito Juárez or near the ADO roundabout. Taxis cover the same route and the waterfalls road. DiDi and Uber do not operate here — order an official taxi by phone or WhatsApp. For Misol-Ha and Agua Azul, a pooled day tour is the practical option.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Misol-Ha and Agua Azul waterfalls

go

Door to door: Half day to full day

Pooled day tour from town, or combi plus local transport on your own

Tours leave around midday and return about 19:00, with roughly 30 min at Misol-Ha and 2.5 h at Agua Azul; about MX$500 (2026 estimate). Do it on a different day from the ruins.

Roberto Barrios waterfall

caution

Door to door: Half day

Tour or taxi from town

Best swimming of the three but the most remote and least visited; go with a tour or a driver who waits.

San Cristóbal de las Casas

go

Door to door: 8–9 h by ADO; a full day by shuttle

ADO bus via Villahermosa and Tuxtla (8–9 h), or a scenic shuttle on the shorter 190 km road stopping at the waterfalls

The shuttle route is shorter and stops at Misol-Ha and Agua Azul — a good way to move on without losing a day.

Bonampak and Yaxchilán

overnight

Door to door: Full day, early start

Long day tour by road and boat from Palenque

Very long for a single day; only worth it if you are set on the murals and the river ruins.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Palenque town (Centro)

Around the zócalo and Central Sur/Pte: cheap posadas, restaurants, bars, ADO station nearby. Best for buses and town evenings.

Road to the ruins (El Panchán and Km 4–6)

Cabins and hammock camps in the jungle, 4–6 km from town and closest to the site gate. Quiet, some places have no Wi-Fi or phone signal.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
MX$600–1,000 (≈ US$35–55) excl. bed
Mid
MX$1,000–1,800 (≈ US$55–100) excl. bed
High
MX$1,800 (≈ US$100)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Double room with fan or AC1 × 2 nights × MX$900MX$1,800
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × MX$1,200MX$4,800
Ruins entry, both tickets2 × MX$315MX$630
Shuttle to the ruins gate, round trip2 × MX$60MX$120
Misol-Ha and Agua Azul day tour2 × MX$500MX$1,000
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250MX$500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$885
Trip total≈ MX$2,434 per person per day, bed includedMX$9,735≈ US$550

2026 estimate in pesos; long-distance buses and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Combi, town to RuinasMX$30 (≈ US$2)
Ruins entry (INAH + state tickets)Bought separately at the museum officeMX$100 (≈ US$6) + MX$215 (≈ US$12)
Shuttle to the ruins entrance, round tripMX$60 (≈ US$4)
Misol-Ha and Agua Azul day tourabout MX$500 (≈ US$30)
Waterfall admission (Misol-Ha)about MX$30 (≈ US$2)
Taco or simple meal in townMX$40–120 (≈ US$3–7)
Beer in a bar / at a shopMX$40–70 (≈ US$3–4) / MX$20–35 (≈ US$2)
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekMX$200–400 (≈ US$11–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Palenque is a small, calm tourist town and the ruins area is well patrolled; the real risks are heat and humidity, slippery waterfall rocks, and rural roads at night. Use official taxis, keep valuables in your room, and don't walk the ruins road after dark.
  • Ruins tickets are bought in two parts at the museum ticket office about 1.3 km before the entrance, plus a separate shuttle ticket — bring cash and expect queues at opening.
  • Wet rocks at the waterfalls are slippery; wear shoes with grip, not flip-flops.
  • The ruins are in rainforest: rain can close paths or the site with little notice in the wet season — check before you go.
  • El Panchán and some cabin areas have no mobile signal or Wi-Fi; arrange your onward bus before you go out there.
  • ADO's website lists its Palenque terminal under a different town — the terminal is in Palenque; don't panic.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies
911
Tourist assistance (Ángeles Verdes / SECTUR)
078

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

PalenquePalenque

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies911
  • Tourist assistance078

Embassy

No embassy in Palenque; the US, UK and Canada have embassies in Mexico City and consulates in Tuxtla Gutiérrez or Villahermosa — check which covers Chiapas.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Combi town → Ruinas: about MX$30 (≈ US$2), 10–15 min
  • Ruins entry, both tickets: MX$315 (≈ US$18) total, cash, bought at the museum office
  • Taxi town → ruins road: MX$80–150 (≈ US$5–9)

Say or show

  • Disculpe — Excuse me / Sorry (dees-KOOL-peh)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syahs)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
  • Dos boletos, por favor — Two tickets, please (dohs boh-LEH-tohs por fah-VOR)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
  • ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the toilet? (DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyoh)

Cash is king in Palenque: the ruins ticket office, combis and waterfall admissions are easiest with pesos.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Palenque. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr (drier, cooler) · avoid Jun–Oct (heavy rain, humidity, occasional site closures) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for PQM and VSA: last flights, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: zócalo and Central Sur, ADO station and Benito Juárez, museum and ruins gate, El Panchán road.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (ruins, museum, Misol-Ha, Agua Azul) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Wet-season closure fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources