RideMex, Track 8, Las Guacamayas to Palenque
General Information:
This is one of those unusual tracks on RideMex that sticks to lower elevations between 52 and 1116 meters (171 and 3361 feet). As it is lower it is also warmer or hotter depending on the time of year. November through February are the cooler months. April and May are the really hot months. Track 8 is 379 kilometers (236 miles) long. There are many things to see along the way. The track starts out at las Guacamayas which translates as macaws and the particular species of macaw you will see here is the scarlet macaw, a long feathered, gorgeous red parrot, that must be one of the most attractive birds in the world. Because it is so good looking it is also highly endangered as it is in high demand in the illicit pet market. You’ll definitely want to see these birds at Las Guacamayas. From here the route wanders through the forests and pasturelands along the Guatemala border visiting a number of wonderful archeological sites in this Maya region. The pyramids in the steaming jungle where you can hear the roar of howler money…well, they are here in this region of Mexico. This track ends in Palenque, which is the gateway to the Yucatan Peninsula from all of the rest of Mexico. The Maya Train leaves Palenque and goes to various destinations throughout the Yucatan Peninsula including Merida and Cancun.
Recommendations:
- Spend time in Las Guacamayas to view the wild scarlet macaws. These endangered beautiful red parrots are a privilege to see in the wild.
- Stay at Nueva Alianza in Frontera Corozal and take motor canoe to Yaxchilan, down the river Usumacinta that is the border between Mexico and Guatemala in this area. The Yaxchilan Maya archeological site is a wonder to see, with its unique architecture and large number of wild spider and howler monkeys. The boat ride is a wonderful experience in itself. The river is quite large and the jungle comes down its banks to the water’s edge. You do not want to miss this experience! It was a long ride to get here!
- “Across the way” from Frontera Corozal is the archeological site of Bonampak, the next site along the track. This site is unique because it has original art work from the Mayan civilization dating back to 800 AD. The chapels the art is in are located on the side of a pyramid in the jungle. In the art painted on the walls and roof of the chapel you can see the dress and customs of the Mayan people from over a millennium ago.
- At kilometer 213 (mile 132) there is a turn off to the left that goes to the archeological site of Plan de Ayutla. This is not a tourist destination as almost no one knows of it. Before making the turn off to the left, you must continue on the track to the town of Plan de Ayutla and find the person who sells the official permission to visit the site. Ask at a local store or someone who appears knowledgeable. The town official will sell you the permit for US $5-10 dollars. After you get the permit, keep it as when you get to the site locals will stop and ask you if you have it. Many of them are armed. They don’t intent to use their weapons against you, but they can be intimidating. Just MAKE SURE you get the permit to avoid problems. Right where the tangent track ends to the archeological site you will find yourself situated directly between two huge pyramids. They may look like tree covered hills to you at first, but they have stair cases leading up them and intact temples at the top. There is at least one troupe of howler monkeys in the area. You can camp between the two pyramids where the road runs through. If you are lucky the howler monkeys will be there in the early morning and you will hear them roaring from the canopies of the trees at the top of the pyramid. While going to town to get permission makes the process more complicated after riding in the tropics, it is well worth the trouble as the odds are greatly in your favor that you will be the only one there. Almost no one knows about this spot.
- At kilometer 263 (mile 163.5) you will arrive at the small Lacandon town of Naha. There are nice air conditioned rooms at the ecotourism center with trails that lead out into the forest and to the lake shore. The lake’s water is pristine, full of fish and it is surrounded by a beautiful tropical forest. The mornings and evenings are magical. You will see many birds including flocks of toucans, parrots, and different species of raptors. The floating dock is an idyllic spot. The Lacandon culture is interesting and locals are mostly decendents of Chan Kin Viejo the founding father of their village. One of his wives still lives. Naha is well worth the stop.
- Your next stop: hidden deep in the Lacandon Jungle of Chiapas, is Metzabok. This remote lake system, surrounded by towering limestone cliffs and dense rainforest, offers adventure riders an unforgettable journey into one of Mexico’s most untouched landscapes. The ride to Metzabok is an adventure in itself—winding dirt roads, river crossings, and lush jungle trails make for an exhilarating challenge. Once there, you’ll find crystal-clear lagoons, ancient Maya rock paintings, and a silence broken only by the calls of howler monkeys and tropical birds. Metzabok is more than just a ride; it’s an immersion into raw nature, indigenous Lacandon culture, and the wild spirit of Chiapas. We have recommended a full week for this relatively short track of just 379 kilometers (236 miles) because of all the truly amazing places there are to see in such a short distance. You are in one of the wildest and least visited areas of Mexico, enjoy it!
- In Palenque visit the Aluxes Nature Reserve and the Palenque archeological site. You will get to view many species from Chiapas at the reserve including jaguars, ocelots, scarlet macaw, giant tortoises, crocodiles and monkeys. The Palenque archeological site has temples, palaces, plazas, tombs, sculptures, and hieroglyphic inscriptions. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987. The archeological site is quite touristic and often has a lot of visitors, but even so, it is worth going. Take water as it is very humid and hot in the rainforest.
Fill up on gasoline/petrol at the following places to avoid any range anxiety:
- If you arrived at Las Guacamayas on the route through La Trinitaria then you will want to make sure you got gas at the Santo Domingo Las Palmas gas station because there are no fuel stations along Track 8 until you get to Palenque.
- Get gas in Palenque,
- You might be able to make it through the region with no refills as it is just 379 kilometers or 236 miles, but we recommend carrying some extra fuel in a bladder or fuel can. You can also refill at local stores or homes as people in the area keep extra fuel on hand to avoid trips into Palenque. If you don’t want to carry fuel, you can ask around and you will find it.
Recommended places to stay:
- In all of the Lacandon communities except for Las Guacamayas there will really on be one place to stay and that is the community built lodge. There is a community lodge at Las Guacamayas, one at Lacanja (off the tangent that goes to Bonampak), one in Naha, and one in Metzabok. The community lodge at Laconia is situated right on a river teeming with fish. We have never seen so many freshwater fish in our lives. There are hiking trails along the river and you can swim everywhere. The Naha lodge is nice and has great hiking. The lake is a 10-15 minute walk along a beautiful forest path. There is the Canto de la Selva luxury lodge as well as the AraMacao lodge at las Guacamapas. In all of these communities you can camp too.
- At Frontera Corozalyou will want to stay at the Nueva Aliaza Lodge, where the Frontera Corozal tangent track ends. It is in a nice forested area with plenty of trees and shade and is more cozy than Escudo Jaguar, the other community lodge.
- The Piedra de Agua Hotel Boutique and Spa in Palenque is right across the road from the Aluxes Nature Reserve, has safe parking and very nice rooms, relaxing and well thought out common areas and a pool. It is in the shade of large trees which nice in such a hot and humid area. There is a large restaurant a 5-minute walk down the road. But, there are many places to stay in Palenque that meet all budgets, needs and desires.
