Misol Ha:

More Photos of Misol Ha

Misol Ha is the closest waterfall to Palenque, and is gorgeous. While you won’t need a full day to visit, once there don’t be surprised if you aren’t in a hurry to leave. The site is small, but you are able to swim at the base of the waterfall. And there is also a path that leads behind the falls and to a small cave with a small waterfall inside. Best to wear shorts and sandals for this trek, or go barefoot, as the water is about a foot deep inside the cave. It’s only about 35 meters back to the waterfall, but this side-adventure is worth it if you’re at Misol Ha. As we said, the park isn’t very large, but there is a gift shop and restaurant, and bathrooms that can be used as changing rooms if you brought a bathing suit.

Price: P$30 entrance fee, plus P$10 for entrance into the cave. On the road into Misol Ha, you’ll be stopped and asked to pay P$10. Then once in the park, it’s another P$20.

Getting There: There are tours that you can book from Palenque, some that visit Agua Azul the same day. However, going on your own is easy and saves a few pesos. From town, if you head to the Ocosingo Colectivo Station, you’ll be able to catch a ride to Misol Ha. Or, if you walk towards the ruins, just around the corner from the round-about is a colectivo station, headed in the direction of the ruins. If you wait here, you can flag down a combi or colectivo headed to Ocosingo or Palenque. Sometimes the guys working at this bus station will help you flag one down. The ride to Misol Ha should cost around P$20 or P$25. You’ll be dropped off at the road leading to the falls. It’s an easy 1.5 kilometer walk, or a short ride if you can catch one.

To leave, head back to the same road before dark, and you shouldn’t have trouble catching a ride back in a van headed to Palenque from Ocosingo. (Although with large groups, 5 or 6 people, fitting into one colectivo that’s passing may not be as easy. I would consider catching two separate rides.)

Agua Azul:

Agua Azul is a popular day trip from Palenque. Beautiful waterfalls, best when there hasn’t been heavy rains. If headed to San Cristobal, it’s easy to book a tour that will stop at Agua Azul, and Misol Ha on the way. This saves a trip back in forth, but the price is around P$350 and doesn’t include entrance fees.The falls are about an hour and a half away from Palenque, in the direction of San Cristobal.

Going on your own is easy as well. It’s the same procedure as visiting Misol Ha. You’ll want to catch a collectivo headed to Ocosingo. You can stop at the station in town, or again wait on the road to the ruins by the colectivo station. (See info on Misol Ha.) Let the driver know you want off at Agua Azul, and ask the price. It should be around P$35. You’ll be let off at the road that leads into Agua Azul, where it is a decent hike to get back to the park. But there will be taxis waiting here, and the price should cost P$10-P$20 for a ride to the entrance.

To leave, another taxi ride back to main road, and here you’ll wait on a colectivo headed back to Palenque. There will be colectivos running into late evening, but our recommendation is to be headed back before dark. Not every colectivo that passes is guaranteed to have space for more passengers. However they should be running frequently.

Or, either in the park or with a taxi waiting near the main road, you can coordinate a ride back to Palenque, though it will likely be a little pricier.

Total price, ideally: around $100 pesos, plus entrance fee into park.

Las Ruinas:

The Ruins at Palenque are wonderful, and the main attraction for tourist traffic in and around town. It’s absolutely worth the visit. The park is quite large, with several buildings that have been excavated, and many, many more that are still enclosed by jungle. And once you’re in the park, you’re able to explore both areas. While the largest temples and structures are those that are out in the open, there is an entire village of ruins, now only crumbling piles of stones, tucked inside the nearby forest.

The walk through the excavated portion of the ruins can take as long as you would like, but an hour is a good estimate. There isn’t much explanation at the site itself, only plaques which list names and importance of the different buildings. Thus, a guide can provide deeper insight and information that would otherwise be missed. However, paying for a guide isn’t in everyone’s budget, and if you don’t want to pay the extra price, we would recommend going this route instead:

Palenque Ruins without a Guide

In the undiscovered portion of the ruins the forest is old, and beautiful, and if you enjoy being in nature you could easily spend as much time walking the paths here as you would inside the Archaeological Park. Keep your eyes open for Monkeys and Toucans while here.

It’s possible to visit the Ruins in a couple of hours, however, to take it all in, start early and give yourself the day to explore. The entrance and transportation fees add up, so with enough time you won’t be debating about coming back the following day, or feeling like you missed out on part of the Park.

There are food and souvenir vendors at the ruins, and at least one small restaurant. Bring food if you’d like to save your pesos, but you’ll also be able to find snacks here if you don’t pack anything.

Getting There:

From Palenque, there are colectivo buses that leave frequently for the Ruins, about a 15 minute ride. Most of them don’t wait until they are completely full, so it doesn’t take long. If in town, vans are parked across the street from Hotel Lacandonia. Coming from the bus stations, the road into town Ys, and you’ll stay to the left, to be on Av. Juarez, the main tourist road. Once the road levels and straightens out, the first Left is the street you’ll want. Coming from the park, it will be the last Right before the road curves and heads downhill.

Colectivos to the Ruins are found here.

From La Canada (Hostal Yaxkin) cross the bridge into town and make the second Left. You’ll see the vans parked on the right side of the street.

The cost is P$20 to the Ruins.

Also, if you want you can start walking on your own, and catch a ride along the way. However, we’ve had no luck at getting a lower rate for traveling a shorter distance. Every driver has been firm about P$20, even if you’re getting dropped off or picked up at El Panchan, for example. Still, you can try to bargain…

So from town, walk toward the Mayan Face (the roundabout) and turn Left. You’ll see large road signs for the ruins. Stay to your right.

There is a walking path that leads all the way to the entrance to the park. It’s along the road so you could hitch a ride if you got tired. It takes over an hour to do the entire walk on your own, but if you have the time, you can save a little money and enjoy the scenery…

GETTING // GOING          •          SLEEPING          •          EATING          •          DOING          •          MAP

Take me back to MEXICO // Take me HOME