Palenque Things to Do Tips by nepalgoods

Bonampak

Bonampak was discovered in 1946, and has some of the best-preserved color murals at any Maya site. A visit to this site requires accompaniment of a guide from the Lacandon Maya on whose property the site is situated. The site is in the midst of a tropical rainforest, with a small plaza surrounded by a group of buildings. It has elaborate stelae, and is still used by the Lacandon as a ceremonial site. This site provided some of the first evidence that the Maya waged war on their neighbors.

For more about my excursion to Bonampak please see my travelogue.

Old Mayan City

A bit outside of the modern town of Palanque is the big Archaeological Parque of Palenque. About 100 years ago the ruins were rediscovered. Even today many of the temples and palaces are still covered with dense rainforest. Sometimes you can hear the loud roar of monkeys. Colorful butterflies and birds live in the high trees.

Website: http://www.mesoweb.com/palenque/

Yaxchilan

The city was most influential around 700 AD, with two famous kings, Shield-Jaguar and his son Bird-Jaguar. The site has a large number of excellently preserved stelae, and many buildings with ornate carvings. A guide is necessary for this site since it is widely spread and remote. The site has lots of wildlife.

Monkeys are shouting their scary cries, which sound like a lion roaring. Tucans and other colourful birds assemble on the trees at the banks of the Usumacinta River.

For more please see my travelogue!

Palenque

Surrounded by a dense forests of mahogany, cedar and sapodilla trees, the ruins are among the most impressive in Mesoamerica.

Palenque represents the western regional variant of Classic Maya civilization. Although the earliest occupation of the site dates to about 100 BC, it becomes a major population center only at about 600 AD and all construction at the site has ceased by about 800 AD. The ruins now visible are the heavily restored remains of the ceremonial center of a more extensive settlement bordered by agricultural fields.

Website: http://www.mesoweb.com/palenque/