Palenque
4/27/09 - 4/29/2009
Progressing into the mountains, we were greeted by some of the greenest and densest jungle that Mexico has to offer. Our destination was the Mayan ruins of Palenque. We set up camp in the Mayabell campground, located inside the gates of the Palenque National Park, which contains the ruins. An entrance fee is required at the main park gate and also at the ruin site. National parks in Mexico fall under the jurisdiction of the System of Natural Protected Areas in Mexico (SINAP) while archeological sites are administered by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). The location of the Mayabell within the national park provides an extremely lush and biologically diverse setting. Facilities at the campground are nice, complete with palapas for tents and hammocks, bathrooms with showers, RV hookups, rental cabanas of various sizes, a river-fed pool and restaurant with live music nightly.
The entrance to the ruin site is a walkable 1.5 kilometers uphill from the Mayabell. The ruins are impeccably maintained by INAH, with nicely shaded walkways throughout. Portions are even handicapped accessible, which is a rarity in most of Mexico. Palenque is heralded for the quality of the preservation, especially with respect to the bas-relief stucco panels. Although only a fraction of the more than a thousand year old site has been excavated, its highlights are formidable. The 90-foot tall Temple of Inscriptions is the center piece of the ruins and is believed to be one of the only temples in Mexico constructed to serve expressly as a tomb – this one for King Pakal who ruled Palenque for over 70 years.
Temple of Inscriptions - Tomb of Pakal
Temple of the Cross and Temple of the Foliated Cross
Painted Bas-Relief
Ruinas
El Palacio
Palenque
While the ruins here are fantastic, it is the complementary jungle setting that makes the experience a delight. The ominous and indescribable howl of howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), the array of tropical flora, and the colorful avifauna kept us fully occupied. While relaxing in the pool after our hike through the ruins, we spotted a howler monkey passing through the treetops and the day was topped off by a pair of Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus) - think small toucans - passing through the campsite.
Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra)
Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra)
Progressing into the mountains, we were greeted by some of the greenest and densest jungle that Mexico has to offer. Our destination was the Mayan ruins of Palenque. We set up camp in the Mayabell campground, located inside the gates of the Palenque National Park, which contains the ruins. An entrance fee is required at the main park gate and also at the ruin site. National parks in Mexico fall under the jurisdiction of the System of Natural Protected Areas in Mexico (SINAP) while archeological sites are administered by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). The location of the Mayabell within the national park provides an extremely lush and biologically diverse setting. Facilities at the campground are nice, complete with palapas for tents and hammocks, bathrooms with showers, RV hookups, rental cabanas of various sizes, a river-fed pool and restaurant with live music nightly.
The entrance to the ruin site is a walkable 1.5 kilometers uphill from the Mayabell. The ruins are impeccably maintained by INAH, with nicely shaded walkways throughout. Portions are even handicapped accessible, which is a rarity in most of Mexico. Palenque is heralded for the quality of the preservation, especially with respect to the bas-relief stucco panels. Although only a fraction of the more than a thousand year old site has been excavated, its highlights are formidable. The 90-foot tall Temple of Inscriptions is the center piece of the ruins and is believed to be one of the only temples in Mexico constructed to serve expressly as a tomb – this one for King Pakal who ruled Palenque for over 70 years.
Temple of Inscriptions - Tomb of Pakal
Temple of the Cross and Temple of the Foliated Cross
Painted Bas-Relief
Ruinas
El Palacio
Palenque
While the ruins here are fantastic, it is the complementary jungle setting that makes the experience a delight. The ominous and indescribable howl of howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra), the array of tropical flora, and the colorful avifauna kept us fully occupied. While relaxing in the pool after our hike through the ruins, we spotted a howler monkey passing through the treetops and the day was topped off by a pair of Collared Aracari (Pteroglossus torquatus) - think small toucans - passing through the campsite.
Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra)
Howler Monkey (Alouatta pigra)
Thanks a lot for sharing these beautiful pictures. The ruins of Palenque are really amazing. It is an important archaeological site in Mexico. It must be real fun visiting this place.
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