Wanderlust World Wanderlust World First documented as a ruin in 1567 by Father Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada, Palenque had a population of 6,220 at its peak. Most of what is known about the city dates to the Classic Period (600 to 900 A.D.)
About 34 of Palenque's 500 structures have been opened and explored. One impressive structure is the Temple of the Inscriptions, which contains a large collection of glyphic text detailing the city's history.
Palenque was most likely a religious and burial complex. This is based on discoveries of a sacrificial site, a high noble's funeral chamber and three royal burial tombs, including that of Mayan king Pakal the Great.
The site is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and requires a fee for admission and photography. Bus service is frequent from Villahermosa, where an international airport connects to the rest of the world.
Mayans were sophisticated astronomers with exceptional skills in mathematics. Their calculations were so advanced that they could determine a period of time far into the future. According to Palenque glyphs associated with King Pakal, the current pictun cycle--when the universe is destroyed and re-created--ends in 4772 A.D.