The Palenque ruins, a huge mayan city set in the jungle not too far away from the Guatamalan border.

Easily accessible and fun to explore, this site make a great location for a morning (less hot) of adventure and discovery.

Previously the central palace, you can see into what is left of the small rooms and courtyards. The lookout tower can not be entered but can be appreciated from a distance.

Lots of dark tunnels to explore (they didn't really lead anywhere... but it was fun to search for hidden carvings, etc.).

Here's the most beautiful and visible carving of the site -- there is a warrior standing proud and his wife giving him an offering. Around them, hieroglyphs explain the story of the picture.

This carving of a deer skull makes a big impression at the entrance of this temple.

This interesting little building at the top of a mini-hill overlooks the site. A handful of workers on the top of the building were pulling out weeds from the roof to keep it clean.

Here is the view of the site from that building.

Here I am exploring the site with my "keeping me cool hat" (more for the temperature than anything else). It gets pretty hot in these ruin sites!

Deeper in the surrounding jungle lies more ruins still in their early discovery (and cleanup) days. I think they look great just as they are.

I had a hearty laugh when I saw the steps leading up to the tree so that people who wanted their pictures with it could have an easier time.