The archaeological site takes its name from the neighboring community founded in the late sixteenth century: Santo Domingo de Palenque. The last meaning, also of Spanish origin, means "Estacada" or "Pale", which is a wooden fence surrounding a site to protect it. Indians may retain in memory the existence of defensive works in the abandoned pre-Hispanic city.

Moreover that the name comes from the language chol, referring to Otulum stream that means "fortified houses" that crosses the archaeological site. They have also been used other names to refer to the ancient settlement: Na Chan "city of snakes," Ghochan "head or capital of snakes" Nacan, Ototiun "stone house" and Collide "carved snake", among others. Locals know him by the name of the stream Otolum, whose alternate means "place of fallen stones". Xhembobel-Moyos, immediate village name, was once also used to designate the ruins.

Importance Cultural. Palenque went along with Tikal and Calakmul one of the most powerful cities of the Classic Maya site of one of the most remarkable dynasties to It is belonging Pakal, whose tomb was discovered in 1952 by archaeologist Alberto Ruz Lhuillier. Like all Classic Mayan cities Palenque was related to another through exchange trading networks or alliances between groups of rulers. The territory was organized from the existence of city-states, the centers have been identified by the presence of so-called emblem glyph, but the basis of this organization: trade, alliances and of course war is a constant mobility of it. But the hieroglyphic inscriptions not only provide the identification of the site also realize matrimonial and political alliances and war situations between cities. Maya inscriptions have been extensively studied as one of the first manifestations of writing in Mesoamerica with logosyllabic alphabet and their calendar systems: a cyclical, as in other parts of Mesoamerica and other linear, called Long Count. Chronology: 500-900 d. C. Location main chronological: Classic, 400-900 d.

Services available in the area: There are museum, shops Services Unit and Brand INAH Chiapas, Library, Auditorium, Children's workshops, guided tours for school, health groups in Services Unit, at the door and into the site visits.

Hours: Monday to Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00 hours.

Contact: Chiapas INAH Center 01 (961) 12 60 and 6 83 28 24.

Recommendations not leave trails, respect not open to the public and information signs and restricted areas, and saw sitar site with comfortable shoes, preferably tennis.

From the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez is necessary to take the Federal Highway 190, in the direction of Ocosingo and later the Federal Highway 199 to the town of Palenque. From this last point is a path that after seven kilometers leading to the archaeological site. From Villahermosa, Tabasco, Federal Highway 186, take Escárcega Campeche. At kilometer 114 the deviation leading to the town of Palenque, where 38 km are crossed taken., Paved road. Visitors can reach the site by public transport, however, it must walk to the entrance of the site.

Arriving on any long-distance bus (except for Lagos de Montebello vehicles), you’ll be at one of two nearly adjacent bus terminals on Juárez, just off the main highway through town. If you know when you’re leaving it’s worth buying your onward ticket as soon as you arrive or at any rate as soon as possible as buses out of Palenque can be very crowded, particularly the more popular first-class services towards Mérida or San Cristóbal de las Casas. Palenque’s three main streets, avenidas Juárez, 5 de Mayo and Hidalgo, all run parallel and lead straight up to the plaza, the Parque Central.

Leaving Palenque by bus, there are first-class departures from the ADO/OCC terminal to Mérida (4 daily) via Campeche. There are also first-class departures for Oaxaca (1 daily at 5.30pm); Cancún (5 daily), via Chetumal; and overnight buses to Mexico City (2 daily). Buses for Tuxtla Gutiérrez (10 daily) all call at Ocosingo (2hr 30min) and San Cristóbal (5hr). The main regional transport hub is Villahermosa (10 daily), and you may find it easier to get there and change for your onward journey. You can also get a de paso first-class bus to Emiliano Zapata in Tabasco (9 daily), for Tenosique and Guatemala. Luxury ADO GL services run to Cancún via Chetumal at 9pm; and to Tuxtla via San Cristóbal at 7.05am. Second-class buses Auto Cardeso, Expreso Azul and others run to Cancún, Tuxtla, and Villahermosa from a terminal just down the street.

Transportes Comitán Lagos de Montebello, on Velasco Suárez, just past the market, and Transportes Río Chancalá, on 5 de Mayo, have numerous departures to destinations along the Frontier Highway, beginning at 3.40am. All go to the turn-off (crucero) for Frontera Corozal (for Yaxchilán), and Montebello’s earlymorning departures continue all the way to Comitán via Benemérito and the Lagos de Montebello. Transportes de Chamoán, on the west side of the traffic circle by the statue of the Maya head, runs regular minivans to Frontera itself; these cost a bit more, but you don’t have to pay for a taxi into town. You can find taxis on the northeast corner of the plaza to: Agua Azul (return, with 2hr waiting time), Bonampak (return, with 2hr waiting time), Frontera, Ocosingo, Palenque ruins and around town.