The name Palenque comes from Spanish and means "wood stake fence." It is a literal translation of the Ch'ol word "otulun" which means fenced or fortified place. In the past, it was called Lakamha or Big Water. The ruins date from 226 BC to 799 AD. It is located near the Usumacinta River, just as Yaxchilan and Piedras Negras, two of the greatest Mayan sites in Chiapas. It is one of the unique places about which so much is known. It was the first Mayan site to attract exploration in the 18th Century.

Palenque is a medium size site, smaller tan Chichen Itza or Tikal in Guatemala, but it contains some of the finest architecture, sculpture, roof comb and bas.relief carvings that the Mayan produced.

The most famous ruler of Palenque was K'inich Janaab Pakal or Pacal the Great, whose thomb has been found and excavated in the Temple of the Inscriptions, the main building in the area.

Despite all that is being known about Palenque, a vast area remains to be excavated, and major findings are still being made.

As for Palenque, we offer some great circuits where you can see more of Chiapas such as Yaxchilan, Bonampak, San Cristobal de las Casas and some waterfalls. Check the circuits Dream Chiapas.