Mexico - Palenque ruins

Here we have the chance to explore and spend time at the incredible Palenque ruins. So far, archaeologists have focused on unearthing and restoring the ceremonial centre of Palenque, where the leaders conducted their daily life and ran their city. Highlights include the Palace, the Temple of Inscriptions, Temple of the Cross, Temple of the Sun, the Aqueduct and of course the Ball Court. The Temple of Inscriptions is particularly noteworthy as its intricate use of hieroglyphic text provides a unique insight into Maya history and culture. However, some of the best-preserved inscriptions - many of which still carry original colour - can be found at the top of the temples of the Cross and the Sun (so be prepared for a climb). Only a relatively small number of the estimated 500-plus buildings at Palenque have been excavated, so in two to three hours you can enjoy all of the areas of interest at a fairly leisurely pace (a blessing in the heat of the jungle).
With Palenque's jungle location and depending on how busy the site is, you may have the chance to see (or hear!) howler monkeys, lizards, iguanas, and tropical birds such as toucans, kiskadees and woodpeckers.
After your tour, if you have time and are interested, there is a small museum that we can highly recommend, which is open Tuesday to Saturday.
It often rains in the jungle so we advise you take a light waterproof, some good walking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent and plenty of water. The water is particularly important if you plan to climb some of the temples at the site.