The easiest and fastest way to reach Palenque is by taking a direct trip which takes approximately 6 hours.

The bus leaves daily at 5:00 am at the front of the island at 50 meters from the bridge at the office of San Juan. Tickets are available at this hostel and cost $ US 30.00. We recommend buying your ticket at least one day in advance. Buy your ticket to Palenque at Los Amigos and earn yourself a free cuba libre at our bar.

The direct trip to Palenque is organized as followed: First a 20 passenger coaster bus will bring you to the Guatemalan border, Bethel. Here is where you get your exit stamp from Guatemala. Officially one shouldn`t pay an exit fee but often they ask for Q 10. Asking for an official receipt always helps.

The border of Guatemala and Mexico is the river Usamacinta. You will cross this river by a boat which will be waiting for you. The boat ride takes approximately 30 minutes. Once at the Mexican border, Corozal, a first class minibus will take you to Palenque. All these forms of transportation are included in the price.

Total travel time: 6 hours
Price: Q 240 or US $ 30.00

The cheapest way to reach Palenque is by taking a chicken bus from the company La Pinita at 5.00 am. The bus leaves from the new bus terminal in Santa Elena, which is located next to the new market. It is quite easy to get there: You cross the bridge and keep going strait ahead. The bus station is at the end of the street. It is a 15 to 20 minutes walk, though it is not recommendable to walk this early in Santa Elena. Another option is to take a taxi for Q 15 (per ride, not per person). You can even book the taxi one night before with our neighbor Rene. Tuc tucs are not riding this early. To be sure of a good seat in the bus it is recommendable to be present at 4.45 am at the bus station.

The bus of La Pinita will first take you to Bethel. Here you have to get off to have your passport stamped. (exit stamp from Guatemala) Bow there`s again two options:

Option 2a) You walk to the river and take a boat across the river Usamacinta to the Mexican border, corozal. The price of this 30 minute boat trip is about Q 200 per boat. This amount has to be divided by the amount of people who wanna cross. If you are crossing with two people you pay Q 100 each, with 4 people Q 50 each etc, etc…

If you are traveling on your own or with a small group and want to save money it is recommendable to choose for option 2b.

After you get your exit stamp at the migration office at Bethel you get onto the same bus again (You need to ask the bus driver to wait for you while you get your stamp). This way continues its way to a little village which is called ¨La Tecnica¨, which is located at the river right across from the Mexican border, Corozal. Here local people can cross you over for just Q 10 per person. Important… don`t forget to get your exit stamp in Bethel. If not they won`t let you enter Mexico.

The bus ride from Santa Elena to Bethel costs Q 15. If you want to go all the way to ¨La Tecnica¨ it is Q 5 more, so Q 20.00.

So… now you arrived at the Mexican border. Here taxi drivers will offer you rides to the next village, where the minibus to Palenque leaves from. The taxi drivers have a deal with the minibus organization and have to take you to their office for free.

Now you can take a minibus to Palenque. The ride takes approximately 2 hours and costs Q 50 pesos (Q 40).

Total travel time option 2a):
6 to 7 hours
Price option 2a):
Depends with how many people you share the boat to cross the river

Total travel time option 2b):
7 to 8 hours
Price option 2b):
Q 80 or US $ 10