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Why
Palenque
is special

The Palenque (pah-lehn'-kay) archaeological site has well-preserved Mayan ruins. It is nestled in
a gorgeous steep-hill landscape blanketed by a lush tropical forest.

Tips & insights
on Palenque in Mexico

The
top two attractions of Palenque are:
Temple
of Inscriptions (left side of photo) - The building is best known for its
long, stone-carved glyphic story board, a
Mayan masterpiece. And, Pacal, the greatest of Palenque rulers, is interned
underneath the edifice.
Palace
(right side of photo)
- It sports a distinctive four-story tower and has a rambling complex of rooms and courtyards.
Other major attractions include the Temple of Cross Group and the Temple of
Jaguar.

Some
temples offer great views of Palenque and of the luxuriant forested plain
stretching to the Gulf Coast. But their steps are steep and short-tread, so wear
comfortable, good-grip shoes.

Some
temple climbers run out of breath, not realizing that Palenque is nearly 3,000
meters (9,000 feet) above sea level.

The
climate is typically quite warm, humid and rainy, so wear light cotton clothing
and bring hat and rain gear. Sun screen and insect repellent should also be on
your packing list.

Palenque
dates back to at least about 100 BC. Its glory days were from 600 to 800 AD.
Within a 100 years, the city-state collapsed and was abandoned to the
encroaching forest. Subsequent excavations, which continue today, have uncovered
only a small fraction of the structures.

Most
visitors arrive via the Villahermosa airport. They
then take a two-hour road trip to Palenque.

Many
tour busses make Palenque a daytrip out of Villahermosa.

However,
I recommend staying overnight in a hotel in the town just outside of Palenque so
you can explore the site when the gates open at 8 in the morning. You'll
beat the tour-bus crowds and the sweltering midday heat. As a bonus, you may see
the fog and mist mystically swirling around.

Another
low-tourist period is from 3 to 5 p.m., when Palenque closes.



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