MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF THE CITY

• Palenque Archaeological Zone, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
• Site museum
  

MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA

• Archeological Zone of Yaxchilan
• Archeological Zone of Bonampak
• Archeological Zone of Toniná
• “Lacandón” Village of Lacania-Chansayab
• Camping and descent down the river at Lacania
• Chen Ulich Cascade and Ecological Center
• Misol-Ha Waterfall
• Agua Azul Waterfall
• City of Villahermosa

EXPLAINED TOURIST ZONES

One only needs to walk into forest, to feel the magic world of the Mayan culture, and to understand more about their myths, rituals, beliefs and architecture. The most important Mayan Archeological Cities are found in this region and two of their Site Museums are of great importance in the country.
In the region round the basin of the river Usumacinta, at the northeast of the state, it is located the Palenque Municipality. From here it is possible to go into the Lacandon Forest, which shelter monumental Mayan Cities and some of the most beautiful landscapes of the country.
Palenque was founded in 1567 by Fray Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada, who joined several “choles” families dispersed through the Lacandón Forest. The natives named the town Otolum (in chol “closed places”). The archeological site was discovered in 1790 by the priest Antonio Solís. Since then, Palenque is considered the most important Ceremonial Center of the Mayan Culture.

Palenque
The city of Palenque is the economic center of the north of the state. It has hotels, restaurants, bars and camping areas and serves as base to visit the many diverse tourist attractions to be found in the area.

Palenque Archeological Zone
Surrounded by forest and mysticism, this archeological site, one of the principal and most visited, enigmatic places in the country, is known for being a Mayan site governed by powerful leaders during the IV and VII centuries of our era, today considered as one of the world’s Cultural Heritage Sites and outstanding for its imposing architecture, an example of which is the Inscription Temple (Templo de las Inscripciones) where the funerary chamber of one of the most important Mayan leaders Pakal was discovered.
The Palace is the biggest and most complex architectural building in Palenque. Its most remarkable element is the four-sided tower, perhaps the only one of the Mayan Classic Period. Other important buildings in the site are the Reina Roja ( Red Queen), La Cruz (The Cross), Cruz foliada (foliated cross) and the Sun Temples.
The site is open from Monday to Sunday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Palenque’s Site Museum
The Palenque Site Museum, located inside this National Park, is a declared World Heritage Monument. Its rooms allow us to understand the different stages of development the Mayans of this location reached, as well as showing the different discoveries resulting from the studies and investigations made a long history. During this visit you should not miss the opportunity to observe the largest clay insence burner Collection.

Toniná
“La Casa de Piedra” (The Stone House) as it was called by our ancestors, is one of the archeological structures of great historical value, since we can discover through its stucco relieves and its stone sculptures, the general concepts of the Mayans’ Divine and Historical Calendar and, in general, of ancient México. The site is made up of seven platforms, where a multitude of temples and palaces, gems of the Mayan culture, were built.
The site is open from Monday to Sunday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m

Toniná’s Site Museum
Showing a collection of archeological pieces in situ, is, no doubt, the basic function of Site Museums, and an example of this we can find in the Site Museum of Toniná. This museum was arranged following the Mayan myth of the origin of the existential levels of human life, in the entrance there is a fountain with the shape of a stepped ornament which symbolizes the duality. The room explains the reason of the structural form of the Toniná pyramid and its relationship to the Gods of Time. The main room shows 13 sculptures of the governors of the different dynasties, and together this symbolizes the rising military and economic power of this Ceremonial Site.
The site is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Bonampak
Located deep in the heart of the Lacandon Forest, the Mayans built this Ceremonial Center, open today to the visitor as an encyclopedia which describes the social, politic and religious life of the richest cultural inheritance of Latin America.
The murals of Bonampark have a preponderantly dignified position in universal artistic iconography, due to their perfect integration of theme, technique, elaboration and natural color.

Yaxchilán
Built in a privileged place, embraced by the fancy of the sacred river Usumacinta and sheltered by the Lacandon Forest, Ya chilán is one of the most beautiful and powerful cities of the Mayan culture. It reached its maximum splendor between the years 250 and 900 of our era. It is essential to discover in this ancestral site, the secrets captured in stone which narrate the history of one of the most dominant military dynasties of the region.

Waterfalls Misol-Há
It is formed as the Tzaconejá River drops over calcareous rocks 72 ft. high. As it falls, the water forms a large pool in which it is possible to swim, with caution. The site works as a Community Ecotouristic Center and has huts, restaurants, handicraft shops, parking and touristic promenade.


Waterfalls “Agua Azul”
In the heart of the jungle, we can find one of the most significant natural wonders of México: The Agua Azul (Blue Water) Waterfalls are a natural phenomenon that will astonish any visitor who admires them for the first time. This waterfall is formed by a tributary of the Tulijá River, which forms on its way a series of natural pools, with different falls, that create a turquoise blue color in the water and together with the green of the forest, are the pride of all the Chiapanecs.

Montes Azules (Blue Mountains) Reserve Biosphere
On the other hand, the Integral Reserve of the Biosphere Montes Azules (Blue Mountains), located between the border and The Chiapan Jungle, is classified as high tropical rainforest, one of the richest and most complex plant ecosystems of the word. Here reside, the Lacanjá community, which gives a great historical and cultural value to the zone, since they are believed to be descendents of the old Mayas (Lacandons).
An apt place to appreciate Nature in all its splendor and watch the Red Macaw display and breed in the Guacamaya, Ecotourism Center, located on the edge of The Blue Mountain Reserve.

“Las Nubes” (The Clouds)
The goodness of nature was established in Chiapas, and the most obvious example is found in “Las Nubes” (the Clouds) which is a natural marvel of unequalled beauty which surprises all visitors.

Miramar Lagoon
The Miramar lagoon is a huge body of water, 25 miles in length, and is therefore, the largest lagoon in the Lacandon Jungle. In some parts, its sides are abrupt and mountainous, and in other parts there are white beaches. The color of its waters varies from indigo blue to emerald green.
In old days, there were human settlements on its banks, isles and adjacent caves, of which some remains, can still be appreciated. It is situated at the northeast of the state, in the valley of Saint Quintin, within the “Montes Azules” Reserve.