Palenque & Agua Azul Waterfalls: Swim & Mayan Ruins Day Trip

Two waterfalls and a thousand-year-old ruin in one day from Palenque

You get hotel pickup, entry to Palenque's archaeological site with a guide, then self-guided time at two major waterfalls with swimming pools: all in one day, no separate tickets to buy. The trade is that you're on your own at the waterfalls (no guide narration there) and you'll wait 30 minutes at the end for your final transfer depending on where you're headed.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Misol-Ha WaterfallEntry included30m
2. Agua Azul Waterfalls2h 30m

Palenque ruins and waterfalls visit

• Pickup from hotel in Palenque
• Visit Palenque Archaeological site
• Explore Misol-Ha Waterfall
• Visit and swim at Agua Azul Falls
• Free time for lunch at Agua Azul

The experience

"The water is cold but it wakes you up," our driver said as we pulled away from the hotel, and he wasn't wrong. The day starts with hotel pickup in Palenque city, then heads straight to the archaeological site itself: a UNESCO World Heritage zone buried in jungle so thick you can barely see the sky. The guide walks you through the ruins, explaining how this ceremonial center anchored Maya culture during the Classic period, and how Spanish colonizers named the place almost two centuries before archaeologists even found it. After that, the guide steps back and you're on your own for the waterfalls.

Misol-Ha comes first: a single waterfall dropping 35 meters into a pool ringed by jungle cliffs, the kind of place where the water is so clear and the air so humid you feel like you're inside the landscape rather than looking at it. The walk down takes maybe ten minutes. Then you drive to Agua Azul, which is different: not one waterfall but a cascade of them, each one feeding into the next, the biggest around 6 meters high. If the weather holds, you can swim in the pools between the drops. The water is cold. The rocks are slippery. It's worth it. You eat lunch on your own at one of the restaurants near the falls: no guide, no group meal, just you deciding what you want.

The catch is the ending. Depending on which option you pick (round-trip to Palenque or drop-off in San Cristobal) the whole group waits about 30 minutes at the end for a transfer to a different vehicle to take you to your final stop. It's not ideal, but it's how the logistics work when people are heading in different directions. The transport between stops is all in an air-conditioned minivan, and the entrance fees to both the ruins and the waterfalls are already covered, so you're not stopping to pay at gates.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Palenque city, round-trip or one-way transport by air-conditioned minivan, entrance fees to Palenque Archaeological Site and both waterfalls, and a local guide at the ruins only. The transfers to and time at Misol-Ha and Agua Azul are self-guided, and you arrange your own lunch at restaurants near the falls.

Options for this experience

3 options

Palenque + waterfalls, no guideGuide in Spanish · No fixed timeNo guide is included. Duration: 10 hours, with pickup around 08:00 am and return to Palenque around 18:30. Tour: a 10-hour tour of the Palenque Archaeological Site and the waterfalls, returning to Palenque. Pickup is included.

Archaeological Site + WaterfallsGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeGuide: the guide is only included at the Palenque Archaeological Site; no guide is included at the waterfalls. Duration: 10 hours, with pickup around 08:00 am and return to Palenque around 18:30. Palenque Archaeological Site: a 10-hour tour visiting the Palenque Archaeological Site and the waterfalls, returning to Palenque. Pickup is included.

Palenque + Drop-off in San CristobalGuide in English or Spanish · No fixed timeA 12 to 14 hour tour covering the Palenque Archaeological Site and the waterfalls, ending in San Cristobal de las Casas. Drop-off: please provide a hotel in San Cristobal for drop-off. Guide: the guide is only included at the Palenque Archaeological Site; no guide is included at the waterfalls. Duration: 14 hours, with pickup around 08:00 am and arrival in San Cristobal around 22:00. Vehicle change: after the sites, you will switch to a Sprinter or Toyota to continue to San Cristobal. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Lasts 6h–14h, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 101.50 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 24 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Encuentro T

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Palenque's ruins and swim at two major waterfalls without renting a car or buying separate entrance tickets: the minivan and guide at the archaeological site handle the logistics, leaving you free to move at your own pace at the water.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

Is a guide included the whole day?

No. A guide is only included at Palenque Archaeological Site. The waterfalls and transfers are self-guided.

Can I swim at both waterfalls?

Yes, if weather permits. Both Misol-Ha and Agua Azul have pools deep enough for swimming. Water is cold year-round.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned minivan transport, entrance fees to Palenque site and both waterfalls, and a guide at the ruins only.

How long is the full day?

The itinerary covers Palenque ruins, Misol-Ha, and Agua Azul in one day. Exact duration depends on how long you spend at each stop and lunch time.

Do I have to choose between Palenque or San Cristobal at the end?

Yes. You select your return destination when booking: either back to Palenque or drop-off in San Cristobal. Plan for a 30-minute wait for the final transfer vehicle.

Is lunch included?

No. There are restaurants near Agua Azul where you can eat on your own.

What's the difference between Misol-Ha and Agua Azul?

Misol-Ha is one tall waterfall (35m) dropping into a calm pool. Agua Azul is a series of cascades (largest around 6m) flowing one into another, better for photos.