Temple of the Inscriptions
Pakal's tomb.
Jan Harenburg — CC BY 4.0 · Jan Harenburg — CC BY 4.0 · Bernard DUPONT — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Arian Zwegers from Brussels, Belgium — CC BY 2.0 · Bernard DUPONT — CC BY-SA 2.0
One of the most beautiful and evocative Maya cities, an ancient city-state in dense rainforest on the foothills of Chiapas, which peaked in the 7th century before being abandoned and swallowed by the jungle. It is on UNESCO's list, and less than ten per cent of it has been explored, with more than a thousand structures still buried under the trees. Its most famous ruler was Pakal the Great; in the Temple of the Inscriptions, which bears some of the longest carved Maya texts, his tomb was found in 1952 in a deep crypt inside the pyramid, one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in the Americas. Near the temple stand the Palace, with its courtyards and unique tower, and the Cross Group of temples on the hills. Palenque's magic is the surrounding jungle: pale grey temples among giant trees, howler monkeys calling in the morning, and streams and small waterfalls running between the buildings. On the way out, a trail descends through the forest to the site museum. It is hot and humid all year with frequent rain, so arrive at the eight o'clock opening, and bring water and insect repellent. Entry needs two separate payments, for the archaeological site and the national park.
Pakal's tomb.
Courtyards and a tower.
Howler monkeys and streams.
About 8 km west of Palenque town, Chiapas state, inside a national park
The archaeological site lies inside a national park, so there is one fee for INAH and another for the park, about 435 pesos in total for foreigners.