National park · Mexico
YaxchilánZona Arqueológica de Yaxchilán
Go only if you accept a boat-only ruin: combi Palenque→Frontera Corozal (M$140, 2.5 h), then a 30-min launch upriver; be at the embarcadero by 07:00–08:00, pay entry plus M$1,500–2,500 per boat, and take the 2-hour site window — or skip it if you want paved access and cafés.Go only if you accept a boat-only ruin: combi Palenque→Frontera Corozal (M$140, 2.5 h), then a 30-min launch upriver; be at the embarcadero by 7:00 AM–8:00 AM, pay entry plus M$1,500–2,500 per boat, and take the 2-hour site window — or skip it if you want paved access and cafés.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
25 km²10 sq mi
approximate
Established
1981
Best months
Nov–Mar
UNESCO
None
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.
At a glance
- Country
- Mexico
- Area
- 25 km²10 sq mi
- The protected archaeological zone is small; the surrounding Lacandon forest and the Usumacinta corridor are far larger. Boundary figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1981
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
Yaxchilán sits on the Mexican bank of the Usumacinta, the river that separates Chiapas from Guatemala, inside the Lacandon jungle. No road reaches it: you cross from Frontera Corozal by lancha, about 30 minutes upriver. At its height it was one of the strongest city-states of the Usumacinta, with three acropolises and more than 120 monuments, and it keeps more carved lintels than any other Maya site. The trade-off is logistics — one boat, one captain, one fixed two-hour window — so the day is decided by when you leave Palenque and how you split the boat.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1981.
Size and age
25 km²10 sq mi · national park since 1981
The protected archaeological zone is small; the surrounding Lacandon forest and the Usumacinta corridor are far larger. Boundary figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- More intact carved lintels than any other Maya site — reliefs you read at eye level, not from a rope.
- The approach is the experience: a shallow, rocky river with Guatemala on the far bank and crocodiles sometimes on the sandbars.
- Howler and spider monkeys are routinely heard, often seen, in the trees over the plazas.
- Few visitors: the boat-only access keeps the coaches away, so you may share the ruins with one or two other groups.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanDrier, cooler; river lower and clearer
- FebDry; good boat conditions
- MarHot and dry; start early
- AprHot; humidity climbing
- MayWet season starts; mud and mosquitoes
- JunHeavy rain; slick stone stairs
- JulWettest stretch; downpours most days
- AugRain and heat; leeches on trails
- SepPeak rain; river can run high
- OctRain easing; green and quiet
- NovDry season returns; clear mornings
- DecDry, busy with Palenque day groups
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howler monkeysAll year · Heard daily; often visible in the canopy above the plazas. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Spider monkeysAll year · Less common than howlers; look for movement in the upper branches. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Bats in the LabyrinthAll year · At least two species use the underground corridors. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Crocodiles on the riverAll year · Occasionally seen from the boat; keep hands inside and follow the captain. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Mosquitoes and biting insectsMay–Oct · Worst in the wet season; repellent and long sleeves matter more than in the dry months. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Palenque
Combi from the Selva Lacandona station (three doors down the hill from the ADO station) to Frontera Corozal, then walk or take a mototaxi to the embarcadero and hire a lancha.
2.5 h + 30 min boat
From San Cristóbal de las Casas
Bus or shuttle to Palenque first, then the combi and boat; there is no direct service to the river.
7–9 h total
From Bonampak and Lacanjá Chansayab
Jungle-road transfer from the Lacanjá area toward Frontera Corozal, then the boat; often sold as a two-ruin day.
2–3 h by road
From Guatemala (Bethel / Flores side)
Cross the Usumacinta by boat to Frontera Corozal, then join a lancha to the ruins; immigration status at this crossing is unsettled (check).
30 min crossing
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Frontera Corozal | Ch'ol village on the Mexican bank: ticket office, embarcadero, hotels, simple restaurants, no ATMs. | Open; community checkpoint on entry. |
| Great Acropolis | The largest of the three acropolises, built along the west bank of the Usumacinta; likely royal or elite residence. | Open with a ticket; stairs throughout. |
| South and west hill acropolises | The two upper groups, with the structures whose lintels carry the best-known reliefs. | Open; steep, uneven steps. |
| The Labyrinth (Structure 19) | Underground corridors and small basement rooms beneath the structure; bats and insects inside. | Open but dark and low; bring a torch and watch your head. |
| River and Guatemalan bank | The Usumacinta channel and the far shore; a submerged stone piling in the river is thought to be a dock or bridge base. | By boat only; border rules apply on the Guatemalan side. |
Sketch map
- 1Frontera Corozal embarcadero · Ranger station≈16.822, -90.888Boat landing and ticket office; approximate.Map ↗
- 2Frontera Corozal village · Town≈16.819, -90.885Hotels and restaurants; approximate.Map ↗
- 3Yaxchilán landing · Gate≈16.900, -90.967Where boats tie up below the site; approximate.Map ↗
- 4Great Acropolis · Headquarters≈16.900, -90.967Coordinates from the site record; approximate.Map ↗
- 5Structure 44 · Trail≈16.900, -90.967Shield Jaguar I lintels.Map ↗
- 6Structure 42 · Trail≈16.900, -90.967Bird Jaguar IV lintels.Map ↗
- 7The Labyrinth (Structure 19) · Cave≈16.900, -90.966Underground corridors; approximate.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| INAH site entry | MXN 90–100 | person | 2026 estimate; Mexican nationals and residents pay a lower rate. Confirm at the taquilla — the fee is collected at the Frontera Corozal parking-lot ticket office before boarding. |
| Boat (lancha) Frontera Corozal – Yaxchilán, return | MXN 1,500–2,500 (≈ US$85–140) | boat | Per boat, not per person; the captain normally waits 2 hours. Groups of three or more often pay about M$400–500 each. |
| Birding trip to the ruins | MXN 2,000–3,000 (≈ US$110–170) | boat | Roughly 7 hours on the river and at the site; arrange at the palapa between the parking lot and the riverbank (check). |
| Combi Palenque – Frontera Corozal | MXN 140 | person | One way, Transporte Caramelo, from the Selva Lacandona combi station; hourly from about 06:00, last departures around 17:00. |
| Taxi Palenque – Frontera Corozal | MXN 1,500 (≈ US$85) | car | About 2.5 hours; price may be out of date (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Site entry ticket permit or guide
Community checkpoint permit or guide
Border check-in no permit
Park rules
- No camping at the ruins
- Camping is not permitted in the archaeological zone; sleep in Frontera Corozal or Lacanjá Chansayab.
- Stay on the trails
- Vegetation hides drops and holes; slips are the main injury risk. Sandals and smooth-soled shoes are a bad idea.
- No fires, no litter, no collecting
- The area is protected by law; take out everything you bring and leave plants, animals and sherds in place.
- Follow INAH staff
- Do as site staff and boatmen instruct, and report any emergency to them — there is no phone signal at the ruins.
- Confirm the boat window
- Captains normally wait two hours. Agree the return time before you walk in, and expect to pay more for a longer stay (check).
Where to stay
Near the park
Posada Liz Beth
Cheapest option in Frontera Corozal, walking distance from the embarcadero; fan rooms with shared or private bathroom, AC rooms higher.
Near the park
Hotel Nueva Alianza
Riverside cabañas with mosquito nets and an on-site restaurant; its tour desk can book boats and takes cards.
Near the park
Escudo Jaguar
Basic riverfront cabañas with bunks and fans, next to the beach where the boatmen wait.
Near the park
Lacanjá Chansayab jungle camps
About 40 minutes by road toward Bonampak; an option if you have your own transport and want two ruin days.
Safety
Heat and humidity high
Slippery stairs and escarpments medium
No phone signal at the ruins medium
Cash-only village medium
Border and checkpoint uncertainty medium
Accessibility
- The ruins are not wheelchair accessible: the only way in is a boat, then uneven ground and many stairs.
- The boat ride itself is manageable for most people who can step down into a lancha; ask the captain for help boarding.
- In Frontera Corozal, mototaxis cover short distances cheaply if walking is difficult.
Visiting lightly
- Share a boat rather than hiring one alone — fewer lanchas on the river means less fuel and wake on the banks.
- Take all rubbish back to Frontera Corozal; there is no collection at the ruins.
- Buy food, water and souvenirs in the village so the community keeps a stake in keeping the site open.
- Do not join any trip that offers to touch, climb or take fragments of carvings.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Yaxchilán?
The INAH entry fee is about M$90–100 per person (2026 estimate; Mexican nationals and residents pay less), paid at the ticket office in Frontera Corozal before you board — there is no ticket window at the ruins. On top of that comes the boat: roughly M$1,500–2,500 per lancha for the return trip, so a group of three or four pays about M$400–500 each. Add M$140 per person for the combi from Palenque.
What are the best hikes in Yaxchilán?
There are no long trails — the site is a walk, not a trek. The core route is the Great Acropolis circuit (1–1.5 hours) from the landing, then the steep steps up to the south and west hill acropolises for the lintels of Structures 42 and 44, and a short detour into the Labyrinth under Structure 19. Budget two hours if you are sightseeing, most of a day if you are photographing or birding.
When is the best time to visit Yaxchilán?
December to March: drier, slightly cooler, and the river is easier to read. April is still workable but hot. June to September is the wet season, with slick stone stairs, heavy mosquitoes and a higher river — boats still run, but the site is at its least comfortable. Whatever the month, take the earliest combi from Palenque and be on the water by 08:00.
Can I drive to Yaxchilán?
No. Roads stop at Frontera Corozal; the last 30 minutes are by boat up the Usumacinta. Park at or near the embarcadero, buy your entry ticket at the taquilla, and hire a lancha — captains normally wait two hours at the ruins.
Do I need a guide at Yaxchilán?
Not required. Boatmen are river guides, not site guides, and many Palenque tours include a guide for an extra fee. If you want the lintels explained, either pay for the guide or read up beforehand — the carvings are the reason to come.
Is Yaxchilán worth it compared with Palenque or Bonampak?
It is the least convenient and the least crowded of the three. Choose it for the river crossing, the lintels and the monkeys; skip it if you want paved access, cafés and a short taxi ride. Many travellers pair it with Bonampak, which is reachable by road from Lacanjá Chansayab.
Can I cross to Guatemala from Frontera Corozal?
Boats cross to the Guatemalan bank and onward transport runs to Flores, and the crossing has normally been an official one. The immigration office in Frontera Corozal has been closed until further notice, so treat a border crossing as unsettled and confirm the current status locally before you commit (check).
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go