Temple of the Skull: This red and blue temple is the first you 
will see when you enter the site. 

Temple of the Inscriptions: there is a good view of Palenque from 
the top of this temple. The tomb of Pacal, one of the first crypts 
discovered inside a Mexican, is 80 ft down in the temple. The lid of 
Pacal’s tomb, weighing 5 tons, still remains.

Palace: Several buildings, galleries, and patios make up the 
structure. Ancient steam baths suggest that royalty once lived in the 
adjacent cellars.

Plaza of the Cross: Across the small Otulum River you will find 
this plaza that contains the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Cross, 
Temple 14, and The Temple of the Foliated Cross. Stunning roof combs 
are found on these structures.

Grupo C: This area contains homes of Maya nobles and several 
small temples. Funeral offerings, ceramics, kitchen utensils, and human 
burials were discovered here.

Museum: An on-site museum has a collection of preserved heads of 
Maya gods wearing elaborate headdresses. Exhibits have labels in Spanish 
as well as English. There is also a small snack store and handicrafts 
shop, which sells toys, jewelery, ceramics, and wooden crosses.

WHERE TO EAT:

Palenque’s main street has several small eateries and restaurants.  
Several of the hotels in Palenque offer dining options and usually 
have international cuisine on the menu.  Perhaps the most popular 
restaurant in Palenque is La Selva.  Meaning “the jungle?this 
restaurant is set amid jungle gardens and patrons can choose to dine 
inside or out.  Items on the menu include several seafood dishes and 
Mexican foods as well as a large buffet on Sundays.  Las Tinajas, 
where the locals flock to, serves up large portions of Mexican foods 
such as tostadas and empanadas.  Although service may be slow, the 
food is worth the few extra minutes. Touted as Palenque’s most 
romantic restaurant, with melodic music and candlelit tables, the 
Mero-Lec has excellent foods and even better prices. The Casa Grande, 
a small caf?with traditional Mexican meals such as tacos, offers a 
relaxed and casual dining experience.  This is the perfect place to 
sit back and sip a coffee of Mexican wine.

Visiting the Maya ruins, located 8-km (5 MI) north of the city, is 
the main activity in Palenque. 

The Hotel Ciudad Real has a small handicrafts store inside.  As well, you 
will find a souvenir/book store at the ruins site.  Along some of the 
streets you will come across local artists selling their wares, usually 
carvings and paintings.