A lancha down the Usumacinta, howler monkeys in the ceibas and the carved temples of the Jaguar kings — with Bonampak’s murals on the way home. Honest advice, hand-picked tours and everything you need to plan it.
Yaxchilán was a Classic Maya kingdom built in a great loop of the Usumacinta, the river that divides Mexico from Guatemala. No road reaches it: you travel about three hours from Palenque to the village of Frontera Corozal, then ride a narrow covered boat downstream to a jungle landing below the ruins.
What waits there is one of the most atmospheric sites in the Maya world — the dark passages of the Labyrinth, the Grand Plaza under giant ceibas, Structure 33 with its stone-lace roof comb, and some of the finest relief carving the Maya ever made. Most visitors add Bonampak and its painted murals on the same day. This guide covers how to get there, what to see, which tours are worth booking and where to sleep.
Yaxchilán and Bonampak day trips, two-day jungle tours with a cabin night, and the Palenque classics that pair with them — booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting points; tap any tour for live availability.
Day trip from US$111 The most-booked way to see Yaxchilán: an early pickup in Palenque, the drive along the Frontera highway, a lancha down the Usumacinta to the river city, then Bonampak and its painted rooms on the way back. Close to a hundred reviews and one of the lowest prices.
Day trip from US$133 A long, well-organised day that bundles almost everything — transport, the boat on the Usumacinta, entrance fees and breakfast — so there is little extra to pay on the day. Solid reviews and a clear inclusions list.
Day trip from US$220 A long-running classic with dozens of reviews: the boat to Yaxchilán, the murals of Bonampak and the Lacandon rainforest in between. Priced a little higher than the basic day trips, with more of a jungle focus.
Day trip from US$106 The same classic route — highway, boat, Yaxchilán, Bonampak — at one of the lowest starting prices on GetYourGuide. Good reviews from a smaller number of travellers.
Multi-day tour from US$186 The better way to do it: both ruins at a gentler pace, a night in a cabin at Lacanjá Chansayab and a jungle walk with a Lacandon guide. Excellent early reviews.
Multi-day tour from US$228 Two days that combine Yaxchilán and Bonampak with a night in the forest and a hike to jungle waterfalls. A comfortable pace and a good introduction to the Lacandon Maya communities.
Guided tour from US$104 A focused guided visit of Palenque, the UNESCO-listed city of K’inich Janaab Pakal. It sets the scene perfectly for Yaxchilán, one of Palenque’s neighbours and rivals in the Usumacinta world.
Day trip from US$90 The other classic day out of Palenque — ruins in the morning, waterfalls in the afternoon — with close to a hundred reviews. Pair it with a Yaxchilán day and you have seen the best of northern Chiapas.
Real-time prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide. Free cancellation on many experiences.
Structure 33 and the carved lintels are the stars, but the boat from Frontera Corozal, the murals of Bonampak and Palenque itself make the journey.
Yaxchilán archaeological zone Yaxchilán archaeological zone The temple of Bird Jaguar IV
The masterpiece of Yaxchilán: a temple high above the Grand Plaza with a pierced roof comb, three carved lintels over its doorways and a hieroglyphic stairway showing the king playing the ballgame. Inside sits his headless stone statue.
Yaxchilán archaeological zone Shield Jaguar, Lady Xoc and the vision serpent
Yaxchilán is famous for its carved stone lintels — the finest relief sculpture in the Maya world. The most celebrated, from Lady Xoc’s temple (Structure 23), are now in the British Museum and Mexico City, but dozens of others remain on site.
The Usumacinta & the Lacandon jungle Where the boats leave for Yaxchilán
A Ch’ol Maya river town on the Usumacinta, the border with Guatemala. Long covered lanchas leave from its jetty for the trip downstream to Yaxchilán, and for Bethel and La Técnica on the Guatemalan side.
The Usumacinta & the Lacandon jungle 
Palenque, Chiapas & beyond Base yourself in Palenque for tour pickups, or sleep on the Usumacinta at Frontera Corozal and in the Lacandon jungle — our picks, with live rates.
An elegant, Maya-inspired boutique hotel in the forest just off the ruins road, with a river running through the gardens and consistently excellent guest scores.
A comfortable, modern hotel on the edge of town with a large pool and gardens — easy for early tour pickups and close to restaurants.
The community-run lodge on the riverbank at Frontera Corozal, named after Yaxchilán’s great king — cabins, a restaurant and the boats to the ruins right outside. Not bookable on Trip.com: this link opens the Frontera Corozal hotel search; contact the lodge directly if it is not listed.
A walk through the site: the Labyrinth, the Grand Plaza, Structure 33, the acropolises and the lintels.
Tour, colectivo or private transfer — and how the boat from Frontera Corozal works.
Dry season, rainy season and what the river and jungle are like month by month.
An hour down the Usumacinta, howler monkeys in the ceibas and the carved temples of the Jaguar kings — plus Bonampak’s murals on the same day. Compare Yaxchilán tours from Palenque and book in a couple of taps.
Absolutely, if you like your ruins wild. The boat ride, the jungle setting and the quality of the carving make it one of the most memorable Maya sites in Mexico — and it sees a fraction of Palenque’s visitors. Compare the options on our best tours page.
Only by boat. Travel about three hours by road from Palenque to Frontera Corozal on the Usumacinta, then take a lancha downstream for around 40 minutes. Our Palenque to Yaxchilán guide covers every option.
Yes — that is what most day tours from Palenque do. It is a long day, typically leaving around 6 a.m. and returning in the evening. With an extra day, a two-day tour with a night at Lacanjá Chansayab is more relaxed.
Independently you pay the INAH entrance ticket, a small community fee at Frontera Corozal and your share of the boat. Organised day trips from Palenque start at roughly US$110 per person on GetYourGuide at the time of writing, usually including transport, the boat and often the fees. Check current rates before you go.
Thousands of travellers visit every year without problems, mostly on organised tours. The Carretera Fronteriza runs through a remote border area with military checkpoints, and the security situation in parts of Chiapas can change — check your government’s current travel advice, travel in daylight and consider a tour. See our travel guide.
