Exploring Palenque and its park
Located in the Maya region of the state of Chiapas, Palenque is an archaeological site known for its exceptionally preserved architectural and sculptural ruins. The site brings Maya mythology to life through elegant structures featuring finely carved reliefs. There are 1,400 buildings spread across 1,780 hectares, although only 10% of the area has been excavated to date.
The ancient city of Palenque
While popular with international travelers, the site maintains a unique urban layout that blends seamlessly into the surrounding jungle clearings. The architectural style is refined, light, and harmonious, mixing residential quarters, burial grounds, and administrative zones. The interior sanctuaries display sophisticated craftsmanship and rich ornamentation, serving as a record of Maya rites and mythology through the intricate stone carvings found on the walls of palaces and temples.
Palenque National Park
The park was established to protect the remaining Chiapas rainforest that encompasses the pyramids of Palenque. UNESCO designated the park as a World Heritage site in 1987. The Mexican government declared it an archaeological monument in 1993 to further safeguard its natural resources.
Essential landmarks
- Temple of the Inscriptions, where the tomb of King Pakal was discovered along with numerous stone blocks featuring Maya hieroglyphic writing.
- The Palace: one of the most significant structures from the Classic Maya period, featuring a four-story tower reaching 15 meters in height and various buildings surrounding an interior courtyard. Once painted in red and blue, these spaces served administrative functions for the city.
- Temple of the Red Queen: during excavations, researchers found a skeleton covered in red powder and wearing a funerary mask. While initially thought to be the king's mother, giving the temple its name, evidence now suggests the remains belong to his wife.
- Temple of the Skull: originally coated in red and blue stucco, this sanctuary was the site where over 700 jadeite artifacts were discovered.
Such a great memory from this visit. When we arrived, a French-speaking guide offered to show us the pyramids of the archaeological site and then the ones still buried in the jungle. We weren't really sure if it was a scam or not, but we accepted his offer anyway.
We saw quite a few things, like pyramids and ruins, but also howler monkeys at the tops of the trees. The guide turned out to be super nice, interesting, and funny. "It's pretty cool, right?" he kept saying to us :)
We don't regret visiting the site, and getting a guide!