Palenque Travel Forum

How much time do I need to see the ruins properly?

How properly do you want to see the ruins? Do you like to try to see sunrise and or sunset? Do you like to just do a guided tour and then move on, or do you like to commune and perhaps soak in the space awhile. I remember many years ago that bathing in the nearby creek was especially refreshing as a restbit during a visit.

One thing I like to do is spend some time at a site when the number of visitors is minimal to be able to just let my imagination run free. Sometimes this means arriving very earlier, at other times it can mean visiting during the hotest part of the day. For Palenque the number of visitors is not likely to be high at any time unless a tour bus has arrived. Still you should plan enough time to let the people come and go.

So although Palenque if fairly compact and you could see everything in less than a couple of hours, I would suggest 4 hours might be a better estimate of how much time you would want to spend to see it "properly". I would strongly urge you to do some serious reading about the place and history before you arrive. This would add value to anytime you spend on site. bob

Agree with Bob.. for average tourist 4hrs would be great. Clearly if you have stong arch. interest you could spend a lot longer there.
Albert

I just had 3 hours and I love exploring each place so they were not enough. I would suggest spending as our friends suggest a minimum of 4 hours and up to 8 if you feel like exploring each pyramid, the museum, etc.

PALENQUE WAS ONE OF THE MOST PEACEFUL AND MELLOW PLACES I EVER BEEN. I GUESS HOW MUCH TIME YOU WANNA SPEND THERE IS DOWN TO WHAT YOU INTEND TO DO REALLY AND WHETHER YOU GOT FRIENDS WITH YA.

BUT I'D SAY MINIMUM 3 HOURS YOU SHOULD SPEND THERE. BUT THEY CLOSE IN THE EVENING MIND.