Visit Palenque Archaeological Site in Mexico

If you are interested in ancient archaeological sites, a visit to Palenque should satisfy your curiosity about the ancient Mayan culture. It is situated in the lush green Chiapas jungle. It offers visitors astonishing sculptural art and well-crafted architecture. During its peak period, which was around 600 to 900AD, the influence of the region was extended over what is today called the states of Tabasco and Chiapas.

The site is currently listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Palenque_temple_1

Attractions

Some of the features that you should not miss when visiting Palenque, include:

• The Temple of the Inscriptions acquired its name from the stucco panels where you can view engraved Maya script detailing the dynastic history of the site. During 1948, archaeologists uncovered a hidden passage in the floor of the temple. It led them to a burial chamber of one of the most important rulers of the Palenque, Hanab Pakal.
• The Palace is a complicated area of buildings connected to each other and courtyards. It contains carvings and sculptures, along with the four-storey tower.

Location

Palenque is located in the state of Chiapas, in the south. It is situated around 90 miles southwest of the capital city of Tabasco, Villahermosa, about 136 miles north of San Cristobal de las Casas, and about 180 miles northeast of Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital.

Travel

Santo Domingo de Palenque is situated around four miles east of the archaeological site. This is probably the best place for you to spend the night before or after you visit the ruins. There are not many attractions in the town itself, but you will be able to find good restaurants and hotels.

The roads to the area are good, so all you have to ensure is that you have adequate Mexican insurance. This is one of the compulsory pieces of paper you should take care of before you leave home. You can obtain Mexican auto insurance online, through a traditional broker, or you can purchase it at the border post.You can also buy your Mexican insurance policy at this URL. It is advisable to do an online search for insurance and compare prices and what you can get for the price.

In Mexico, you need to have at least liability car insurance. If you fail to obtain Mexican vehicle insurance and you are involved in a road accident, you will be arrested, pending investigation into who was responsible for the event.

When you have completed the purchase of your Mexican insurance, you should print a copy and keep it with you at all times. It may be a good idea to print a couple of copies and keep them in separate places, in case you lose one.

Admission and Hours

The archaeological site is open on a daily basis from eight in the morning to 4:30pm. The museum’s operating hours are from 9am to 4:30pm, but it is not open on Mondays.

Ruins at Palenque

An admission fee is payable for adults, but children under the age of 13 gain free entrance. If you intend using a tripod or video camera whilst inside the area, you will be charged an additional fee. The admission fee offers you entrance to the museum as well.

The weather in the area is normally quite hot and humid all year round.