Palenque Northeastern Groups

Palenque

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East of the Grupo Norte, the main path crosses Arroyo Otolum. Some 70m beyond the stream, a right fork will take you to Grupo C, a set of jungle-covered buildings and plazas thought to have been lived in from about AD 750 to 800.

If you stay on the main path, you’ll descend some steep steps to a group of low, elongated buildings, probably occupied residentially from around AD 770 to 850. The path goes alongside the Arroyo Otolum, which here tumbles down a series of small falls forming natural bathing pools known as the Baño de la Reina. Unfortunately, you can’t bathe here anymore.

The path then continues to another residential quarter, the Grupo de los Murciélagos, and then crosses the Puente de los Murciélagos, a footbridge across Arroyo Otolum.

Across the bridge and a bit further downstream, a path goes west to Grupo I and Grupo II, a short walk uphill. These ruins, only partly uncovered, are in a beautiful jungle setting. The main path continues downriver to the road, where the museum is a short distance along to the right.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Temple of the Inscriptions. Ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Palenque, in the jungles of Chiapas, Mexico; Shutterstock ID 38923966; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; Project no. or GL code: 56530; Network activity no. or Cost Centre: Online-Design; Product or Project: 65050/7529/Josh Vogel/LP.com Destination Galleries

    Palenque Ruins

    0.35 MILES

    Ancient Palenque stands at the precise point where the first hills rise out of the Gulf coast plain, and the dense jungle covering these hills forms an…

  • Templo de las Inscripciones Group

    Templo de las Inscripciones Group

    0.42 MILES

    As you walk in from the entrance the vegetation suddenly peels away to reveal many of Palenque’s most magnificent buildings in one sublime vista. A line…

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    Templo de las Inscripciones

    0.37 MILES

    Perhaps the most celebrated burial monument in the Americas, this is the tallest and most stately of Palenque’s buildings. Constructed on eight levels,…

  • Cascada Welib-Já

    Cascada Welib-Já

    17.62 MILES

    Thirty kilometers from Palenque, these 25m-high curtains of water aren't the most dramatic water features in the area, but the turquoise river pools make…

  • Temples of the Cross Group at the Mayan ruins of Palenque.

    Grupo de las Cruces

    0.3 MILES

    Pakal’s son, Kan B’alam II, was a prolific builder, and soon after the death of his father started designing the temples of the Grupo de las Cruces…

  • Acrópolis Sur

    Acrópolis Sur

    0.36 MILES

    In the jungle south of the Grupo de las Cruces is the Southern Acropolis, where archaeologists have made some terrific finds in recent excavations. You…

  • Templo XIX

    Templo XIX

    0.4 MILES

    In 1999, in Templo XIX, archaeologists made the most important Palenque find for decades: an 8th-century limestone platform with stunning carvings of…

  • Templo del Sol

    Templo del Sol

    0.35 MILES

    The Templo del Sol, on the west side of the Acrópolis Sur plaza, has the best-preserved roofcomb at Palenque. Carvings inside, commemorating Kan B’alam’s…

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Nearby Palenque attractions

2. Baño de la Reina

0.1 MILES

A series of small falls tumble down to form natural bathing pools. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to bathe here.

4. Museo de Sitio

0.12 MILES

Palenque’s site museum is well worth a wander, displaying finds from the site and interpreting, in English and Spanish, Palenque’s history. Highlights…

5. Grupo C

0.14 MILES

A set of jungle-covered buildings and plazas thought to have been lived in from about AD 750 to 800.

6. Grupo II

0.14 MILES

On the river, overlooking the Baño de la Reina, this small group has a lovely jungle setting.

7. Grupo I

0.18 MILES

Just north of the Grupo Norte, this small group of buildings is right before the bridge across the Arroyo Otolum, which gives access to the Grupo de los…

8. Juego de Pelota

0.22 MILES

Palenque's ball court is towards the center of the site, and overlooked by Templo X.