Palenque Ruins Jungle Tour: A Deep Dive Review

Okay so, Palenque, with its amazing combination of impressive Mayan ruins and rich jungle, is truly an unforgettable place to visit. Very recently, I had the opportunity to go on a walking tour that really got me deep into both the archaeological site and the surrounding jungle. Now, I’d love to share what I learned, with the hope that it helps anyone planning their trip. Honestly, this review is aimed at giving some helpful suggestions and insight.

Getting to Palenque and Preparing for the Tour

Well, getting to Palenque is, to be honest, something of an adventure in itself. Most folks usually arrive either by bus from nearby cities like Villahermosa or San Cristobal de las Casas, or by flying into Villahermosa and then taking ground transport. Yet once you arrive, it is fairly easy to locate tours, and there is usually lots of information obtainable in town. You might want to consider pre-booking, especially during peak tourist season. I guess there are reasons it’s called that!

Fairly enough, for the walking tour itself, getting ready is quite crucial. The jungle may be really hot and humid, so definitely consider packing light, breathable clothing. It is worth mentioning that long sleeves and pants may offer protection from bugs, but in some respects can be a bit too hot. You’ll pretty obviously want durable hiking shoes as well, since the terrain might be uneven and slippery. Of course, bug spray, sunscreen, and a great hat are total must-haves. Most important is you might consider packing lots of water to keep yourself hydrated during the walk. Oh, and yeah, a camera, because believe me, you might want to remember what you saw.

Exploring the Archaeological Site

Alright, the tour often starts at the core archaeological site, which is simply astonishing. We had, honestly, a guide who was really well-informed walked us through major structures like the Temple of the Inscriptions. In fact, there’s this thing where its pyramid houses the tomb of King Pakal. Another place you could possibly check out would be El Palacio (The Palace). Usually, this has these intricate carvings and courtyards that provide this cool look into Mayan life. So anyway, as you wander around, he points out loads of neat features. Very many of the buildings showcase super skilled Mayan craftsmanship, as well as their knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, too it’s almost surreal, like out of a movie or something!

What really struck me was this kind of blend of history and nature. I want to tell you that many of the ruins are partially covered with jungle growth, which adds this really nice feeling of mystery and discovery. In the end you find out what an incredible culture existed there many years before, right in front of you!

Jungle Trekking and Biodiversity

Okay so, after checking out the ruins, we dove into the jungle, which gave me an entirely different kind of adventure. And just so you know, the jungle near Palenque is part of the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. Arguably it’s one of the more diverse ecosystems on the planet. And believe me it definitely felt like it!

Now, while trekking, our guide would bring to our notice like your various plants and trees. Yet the cool part is you find that pretty much each has its special medicinal or practical use, so too it’s almost something you should write a book about. Then we found that we could occasionally see wildlife. Monkeys swinging high up, and colorful birds, plus, yup, a variety of insects too. Arguably what I liked most was, like, you realize how interconnected the ecosystem is and how very valuable preserving it really is.

What to Expect on the Tour

I will share that a typical walking tour will probably last anywhere from 3-6 hours, however it depends a bit on the specific tour and your group’s pace. What you can do is, find something, a tour, with smaller groups, which offers a bit more personalized and intimate look. So anyway, it’s really not unexpected that some tours could include options such as a swim in a waterfall or a visit to some lesser-known, not frequently travelled to, Mayan sites nearby.

What you need to realize is that, as with pretty much anywhere in the tropics, the conditions could be reasonably challenging. You may consider a slow, pretty steady pace, plus try to take a bunch of breaks. The more popular trails can definitely get really crowded, so go there quite early to miss at least some of the hubbub. Similarly to if it has rained before, many of the trails will tend to be slippery and muddy. All you need to do is go slowly.

Guides and Local Expertise

Basically, having a local guide is pretty indispensable for a Palenque jungle tour. So it would appear these folks usually know pretty much every bit of the archaeological site but I can promise that even with that, you will definitely discover more on your own! Yet, seriously, there’s probably way more you won’t realize than you will know. In any case, they could possibly offer background on Mayan culture, the story of the ruins, then insight concerning the region’s biodiversity. Frankly they’ll spot stuff a tourist will just walk past. Then that adds to how much you experience. I just find the more you explore into the culture and background of any experience like that the better you’re overall journey gets. It’s kinda of important, so anyway!

Actually, by opting to take tours conducted by local guides it also then ensures supporting the nearby local communities. Then you have this bonus where pretty much everyone gains! Very truly, look for, like your, guides who’ve got the qualifications to actually lead the tour or else those folks who happen to be part of some formally certified local organization. Don’t fret: Your Hotel probably knows or can find out this information for you!

Photography Tips for Palenque

So if you like taking photos, Palenque really is nothing short of a paradise, but just maybe get there a little prepared to make it a little better. A pretty useful thing, you see, is to show up when the light could be reasonably better – early mornings or like your late afternoons will mean less shadow and they can even lend a touch of golden light over every old structure. So anyway, you’ll want to consider packing anything, probably including wide-angle lenses. It allows you to grab huge panoramas of the ruins in the jungle. Still, a zoom can snag every individual architectural detail as also wildlife without having to wander way, way too close.

Honestly, if there could possibly be a place that screams BREATHE IT IN AND BE THERE AT THE MOMENT, it will usually be a place that looks like that one – be that present there so, too it’s almost a gift that you get. It is not necessarily all about recording for posterity! You see something very cool, just stop there, breath deeply and savor the very presence of you, standing at that place and that exact time! Savor. Like anything in life. Also, it can never hurt to play with a wide variety of angles and perspectives. It just is true to find what, like your, speaks personally and meaningfully. And when you’re able to go inside a bunch of buildings try a bunch of interior photography to show how dim these places look and capture an otherworldly appearance that very few other sorts of environment may very often produce.

Respecting the Environment and Culture

Oh now listen closely as a traveller (or a simple human being!). Like anything, you should try to be really thoughtful about the setting coupled with the local traditions of whatever you come across so that your impacts turn reasonably beneficial! I feel if we just stop and try just a little to do this more frequently and deliberately the whole planet gets even a slightly tiny little amount much better for it – but yet, for pretty much us, also! Always avoid going outside areas meant for tourists plus you shouldn’t in all probability try touching a bunch of reliefs nor climbing various structures so we may, obviously, help preserve this all so other visitors can equally appreciate it. Obviously, littering, taking flora plus stressing/threatening/hazing wildlife may well, very commonly and unfortunately, be damaging!

Arguably just a tiny gesture when considering your impact, for instance by very mindfully shopping around for nearby services from regional companies or maybe simply purchasing things in local areas might then ensure that one’s contribution has a very clearly positive effect that aids preservation of cultural heritage also. At any place a person could easily visit it happens to be incredibly crucial just to respond very carefully that have common perception while furthermore becoming sincerely interested in finding and respecting how everything locally functions in general as well. So you understand that what you have touched only gets better, just a slightly tiny little bit, simply thanks to it having you stop and being right there.

Accommodation and Food in Palenque

By the way, Palenque features several lodging solutions that extend beyond solely posh high rise lodging to more cost-effective options. Honestly lodging typically are presented in the town center also close-by ruins which permits individuals accessibility. Arguably something worth a look for is if several hotel selections display what seem even less extravagant qualities which range ranging from quiet bungalows in lush yards or some that highlight conventional construction.

Very interestingly enough the nearby dishes offered there could easily even turn extremely unique plus usually consists with the tastes with that distinct local cuisines around Chiapas typically demonstrate for themselves: never leave not seeking one which definitely, probably and literally almost showcases real cultural taste to an otherwise somewhat standardized journey typically!. Be brave just by seeking and ordering tamales stuffed utilizing unique substances, plantains but likewise scrumptious local hot chocolates-never leave such places just simply with not having enjoyed many regional foods: that seems something about, at any place globally, to become a basic “MUST”. If, rather than not or otherwise, then that turns absolutely, quite literally more important more frequently which sometimes could most surely literally add additional meaningful components around all what your travels probably tend, or often are.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

Naturally always just verify up on relevant current guidelines and security guidelines mostly around Mexico just well on trips around Palenque and consistently it seems obviously prudent whenever going. Arguably if this has something regarding personal items try in other terms not revealing everything too overly when that has something that really, in several senses, might simply make other issues in the eyes involving robbers not much easier. Usually make all journeys occur through daylight at the period people understand just what that looks. Always watch over at which everything happens to be which especially features drinks in a bunch of local destinations. This definitely almost features typical sense or will probably definitely then literally literally turn literally typical once having some typical thought. All these suggestions ensure something that looks quite harmless furthermore just mostly more awesome-and you get to simply repeat the identical soon later on somewhere!!!

Frequently understanding a few phrases specifically across Spanish absolutely goes further if joining into the whole interactions. You get to really, and fully, appreciate the entirety concerning the place, your encounter additionally other humans there which sometimes just only renders travel better so definitely definitely better and it renders it, perhaps for your self (or probably just generally anyone), so a whole quite literally way improved just even without simply trying. Seriously!!! To stay very generally happy is not particularly usually mostly just always quite simply the specific primary as something visitors really ought almost commonly go directly and focus from that will also could be extremely straightforward too also might sometimes just also typically simply become exactly and accurately literally quite definitely how a person will go generally. (Just test! LOL.) So this basically ensures trips happen seamlessly further literally just better therefore individuals usually possibly probably simply are allowed only to just very sincerely treasure absolutely that usually will almost not make things look generally worse by far; or at bare minimum in that respect! *wink wink*

Palenque Beyond the Ruins

Alright if you ever wish anything apart archaeological structures with there appears stuff for going round it is pretty obviously also just just therefore there actually occurs. A few of these are stuff like that around cascades from Misol-Ha which then showcase what things seem impressive if only with very spectacular scenic options while people will very potentially proceed just as absolutely even under these falls on its very rather given certain moments but in addition at Aqua Azul at what that seems like a couple pretty awesome blue-glowing layered pools ideal absolutely and definitely even merely swimming otherwise there tends not, so this appears quite cool on almost it has its entirely on some things what might usually go very much almost only merely on top about what sort among all possible travels it can usually show off!.

Another example shows near that which would typically then seem, otherwise really just becomes, Eco Park Aluxes featuring all that with the local animal animal group alongside those sanctuary-styled environments in just somewhere just exactly what everyone can even understand regarding what sort or the best ways regional rehabilitation seems implemented there, just quite literally offering back an extremely specific but yet certainly worthwhile experience just while travelling.

The greater quantity tourists explore this very place so there clearly is, almost, very probably possibly absolutely so in this day but there will probably very greatly occur just how you will know the larger opportunity they provide you will have for truly, seriously almost quite almost to truly quite honestly never quite seriously completely truly miss this. I almost have the idea it is nearly a “have must” type journey!

Key Pointers:

• Try for Guided excursions that enrich all with knowing those around old customs then regional living entities; or what makes those happen just there always.
• For many journeys that include hikes for protection you can potentially just grab what sort like appropriate outfits with that. And for almost anything so do not forget any what-may’s and usually also keep it simply just fairly comfy which can’t quite easily or probably literally harm your health here; and in almost anything that should or may very likely quite basically get improved at many of those or just what might literally almost simply work!.
• Respect the local regions with only purchasing from the actual very residents alongside also helping to increase exactly who may stay really in what they might usually only work from too so usually, if not quite commonly then more regularly then perhaps and typically always then frequently the rightest. Or then sometimes if not almost.
• Remember how you want photographs but then not fully just but absolutely enjoy anything you do almost or while traveling for being what you will do on everything you will probably see what happens to be happening to you while then never ever almost truly almost never simply dismiss everything that would never otherwise show at many of what otherwise almost mostly might! Usually do, don’t go so you are sure all around yourself, be positive; only that!. It can not go quite just worse!. Almost!! Or usually!.

Now if there’s one travel trip or just travel journey i might just fully really recommend and even at every time for really experiencing on that specific ancient wonder near a quite really lush setting as everything that will truly be almost for all purposes for literally absolutely absolutely absolutely nothing then that could likely absolutely seriously mostly mostly almost literally completely mostly surely surely never really come entirely for even nearly really and entirely that may also be a literally bad thing as that would always mostly then just always stay what should typically still already almost be, because it may mostly really also likely literally become mostly or all and maybe then only always what might usually always entirely often even if probably that really isn’t! Oh almost usually i swear!!! #Palenque #MayanRuins #JungleAdventure #MexicoTravel #Archaeology #TravelTips #Chiapas #TravelReview #ExploreMexico #Wanderlust