Palenque’s city centre isn't very nice & there isn't much to do so I would highly recommend staying in an accommodation by the ruins.

We stayed at the Cabanas Kin Balam which was very nice and convenient as it’s a short walk away from the ruines. They also have a small pool, a restaurant and organise social events in the evenings. You’ll fall asleep to the sounds of howling monkeys, it’s oddly soothing.

Across the road from there, you can find a bustling italian restaurant called Don Muchos. It’s not your authentic italian but food was pretty good and ravioli are freshly made there too. 

Palenque Ruins
This is by far the main attraction here. It’s a popular site but you won’t get as many people as Chichen Itza which is nice.

The ruins are set in a prosperous jungle inhabited by howling monkeys. You can wander around the wilderness and the old mayan ruins, it's a truly magical place. If you want a guide, there's plenty of them offering their services at the entrance. You’ll get a discounted rate if you come in a group.

Getting there: 
If you are coming from San Cristobal, you can go on a day tour which will bring you to the ruins and back. I wouldn't recommend doing this as the return trip will take up to eight hours.


Go for a swim in Agua Azul Waterfalls
You can access these beautiful waterfalls from San Cristobal and Palenque. We took a tour from San Cristobal to Palenque which included a stop here. It was really nice as we were the first tourist load to arrive so it wasn't too busy. I can imagine the place getting really crowded in the afternoon. Make sure to take your swimsuit as there are beautiful clear water pools you can swim in! 

Visit the Aluxes Palenque reverse
This beautiful animal reserve is aimed to help endangered species rehabilitate into the wild. You will see giant turtles, lots of crocodiles from very close,  flamingos, snakes... etc... There's a also a lovely bamboo forest you can walk through.