We had a fine night with the sounds of jungle crickets in the background. At 6, we’re woken up by the sounds of jungle birds and howler monkeys. We go out to hunt them with our camera’s, but they hide in the trees. We make breakfast instead and set course to the ruins of Palenque.
We already doubt our approach when we pass a huge parking. Is this the entrance already? At the entrance of Palenque National Park, the road is blocked and we’re send back to the parking to buy our tickets and get a shuttle bus instead.
Also here, the parking and ticket offices are brand new. All Maya sights seem to have gotten an upgrade since the launch of the Train Maya this year. We’ve never seen a train and the sites are also quiet compared with the huge entrance halls and parkings. But maybe Mexico is just waiting for some Chinese and Indian influencers to advertise the sites.
The Palenque ruins date from ca. 226 BC to ca. 799 AD. After its decline, it was overgrown by the jungle. Parts have been restored since, but is estimated that less than 10% of the total area of the city is explored, leaving more than a thousand structures still covered by the jungle.
Luckily, enough is available for us to explore, starting with some tombes, some of which we can even enter. They are based on top of step pyramides. There are different chambers inside, big enough for one stone coffin. In the coffin of a queen we can still see a bright red color.
We hear many exotic birds singing and monkeys howlering around us, but they hide in the trees. We feel like we’re walking through jungle book, with all the wild flowers, lianen, and even a waterfall. We go up and down stairs until we’ve seen almost all ruins.
Much of the history of Palenque has been reconstructed from reading the hieroglyphic inscriptions on the many monuments; historians now have a long sequence of the ruling dynasty of Palenque in the 5th century and extensive knowledge of the city-state’s rivalry with other states. We indeed see many hieroglyphic clearly visible inside the buildings, and sometimes even on the outside.
The palace is located in the center of the ancient city, including an observation tower. An aquaduct brings water for its baths and saunas.
After two hours of exploring, some school classes arrive and the school kids want to take a picture with Cleo, Cleo is not really in the mood after climbing hundreds of steps. Zeno waves enthusiastic from the Deuter and the teachers need to pause their lectures as all kids are distracted by little blonde Zeno.
We take the shuttle back to the parking and we have lunch at our cabin which is only a five minute drive.
Then, we head to the Agua Azul waterfall, we’re warned that there will be agressive sales men and some road blocks from Mexicans who want money, so we are prepared for the worst. This helps, as we only need to pay twice at points that could be official state/federal/local points. There are many sales children and women, but they are not agressive.
The water fall is stunning. The water is super blue, because it is high in minerals. The falls consists of many cataracts following one after another. And there is a part where we can swim with the children. What a life!
When we’re refreshed, we head to the second water fall: Misol Há. This waterfall consists of one single cascade of 35 m in height that falls into a single, almost circular, pool amidst tropical vegetation. Tim leaves the childrens life jackets in the car, which is a pity as there is only deep water to swim. So Olga and Tim take turns while the other watches the children.
We can also hike behind the water fall, which is a relaxed walk as the kids are big enough to walk it on their own.
It’s 17:30 when we’re back at our jungle cabin. We promised the kids to go for a final swim. Unfortunately, their friends of yesterday (4 Mexicans from Tabasco) are not there today. The kids talked about them the whole day. Nevertheless, it’s a good end of a fantastic day. We eat the left-overs of yesterday, and go to bed early.
