These are only two pearls on a magnificent pre-Hispanic necklace that due to its historic, cultural and artistic value was included in the list of UNESCO's World Patrimony in 1987.
History goes that the ancient inhabitants called its city Otulum
(term of the Chol language meaning fortified or enclosed site),
but with the arrival of the Spaniards the name would be changed
to
Palenque, a denomination that was also used
for the plain town that Fray Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada founded in
1567, only at a 7 kilometres distance from the Mayan constructions.
But
Palenque is not the only pre-Columbian vestige
resting in this green wilderness. Some distance away, Yaxchilan
and Bonampak are found; two mysterious and impacting Mayan edifications
standing in the middle of the boundless jungle of Lacandona, a natural
realm on the border to Guatemala.
And the haunted enchantment of the archaeological complexes unites
with the fascinating and everlasting flow of beautiful cascades
and waterfalls, such as the Misol-Ha and the Agua Azul respectively,
where nice eco-tourist centres with rustic cabins, restaurants and
other services are found; ideal places to enjoy with much placidity
the geography of
Palenque.
The only thing left to say is that
Palenque is
an inescapable destination located 284 kilometres from Tuxtla Gutierrez
(the capital of the state of Chiapas) and 1081 kilometres from the
City of Mexico D.F., in a geographical zone of humid weather with
almost permanent rainfalls, characteristics that may cause visitors
to feel uncomfortable, but that will never "drown" the experience
of enjoying a city full of mystery, a city wrapped in mists.
