RUINS OF THE MAYA CIVILISATION PALENQUE

Archeologists have discovered amazing temples, palaces and other ancient Maya ruins across Central America

Mexico’s most famous ruin is Chichen Itza and, while it should be on your must-see list, there are countless other equally, if not more, impressive Maya ruins. One of them is the ancient, wealthy city of Palenque, which was originally known as Lakamha.

Palenque’s limestone architecture is stunning and led to the ruins being made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The remains date from 226 BCE to 799 and were discovered by Europeans in the late 18th century. Importantly, they are well conserved despite centuries of being covered by dense jungle. As if to add to the mystique, eight rivers wind through this area too.

You can enjoy the hieroglyphics inside the nine-levelled Temple of the Inscriptions – the largest Mesoamerican stepped pyramid, built by the first son of legendary ruler K’inich Janaab’ Pakal. Visitors can also see The

Tomb of the Red Queen inside Temple XIII containing the remains of the noblewoman Lady Ix Tz’akbu Ajaw.

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The National Park of Palenque is open daily between 8am and 5pm. Adult entry costs 75 pesos (£2.70) plus 35 pesos (£1.25) for park entry. palenquepark.com

The second-longest glyphic text has been discovered inside the Temple of the Inscriptions

The enormous palace is the focal point of the city, set around a courtyard with a four-storey tower