Yaxchilan Transportation, Frontera Corozal
From Palenque
How to Reach Yaxchilan Ruin Site    Information Gathered January 2012
  • Auto
Good roads connect Palenque with Villahermosa to the east and north
and San Cristobal de las Casas to the west.
  • Bus
ADO  Bus runs first class service to Palenque from the City of  Villahermosa,  
through Oaxaca, San Cristobal de las Casas, from Merida, Cancun and other
cities.
  • Air
A small airport on the outskirts of the town of Palenque has cab service into the city
of Palenque.

Palenque offers a variety of transportation to many ruin sites.

Transportation To Yaxchilan Ruin Site

  • Collective Van Transportation To Yaxchilan Ruin Site
Two van services run no frills collectivos to the Frontera for boat trips to the Mayan
Site of Yaxchilan.  
The vans reach Frontera Corosal, a small town on the banks of the Usumacinta
River in the Zona Lacondona. This town is about 90 miles from Palenque.   
When making this trip have small change for water, food and the 15 pesos park
entrance fee.
  • Auto
Out of Palenque on Calle Benito Juarez head for the Cabeza Maya.  Go left at the
rotary and take Federal Route 199 until the Bonampak Crossroads. At the
Bonampak Crossroads take a left and head west for the Frontera.
  • Boat
At the village of Frontera Corozal there will be small outboard boat transportation to
ferry passenger downriver to the ruin sit of Yaxchilan.
Boat  transportation reaches Yaxchilan,
there are no roads
A Visit to the ruin site of Yaxchilan will include
transportation to Frontera Corozal and then a boat ride
on the Usumacinta River to Yaxchilan.
Travelers to Palenque can find bargain transportation or
complete package tours of the ruin of Yaxchilan.
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Reach the ruin site of
Yaxchilan by boat on
the Usumacinta River
Boats from Frontera Corozal reach the
ruin site of Yaxchilan.
No roads reach
Yaxchilan, you must
boat for an hour on
the Usumacinta
River to reach the
isolated ruin site.
Transportation to Other ruin Sites

  • Transportation to Bonampak Ruin Site.   
Visitors often combine a visit to yaxchilan with a visit to the Bonampak Ruin.  The
Collectivo vans coming from frontera Corozal will drop passengers at the
crossroads for Mayan Bonampak.   From there visitors can find collective taxis to
the 14 miles of dirt road to the Bonampak Ruin.
  • Transportation to Flores Guatemala and the Ruin Site of Tikal
Visitors often continue on from Yaxchilan to Guatemala and the ruins of Tikal
To reach Flores Guatemala and the ruin of Tikal,  take the same collectivo to
Frontera Corosal and find a launch that goes to Bethel Guatemala.   They will be the
same ones used to go to Yaxchilan.  
You can do this independently or arrange this before hand with an agent for San
Juan Tours in Palenque.  San Juan runs regular van service from the guatemala
border to Flores Guatemala and Tikal.
By pre-arranging this you will be sure there will be transportation available for you at
Bethel Guatemala and that the roads are passable. ( Bethel to Flores, 90 miles, a
lengthy portion of unpaved road,  4 hours)

All the drivers and boat drivers use cell phones to make arrangements.  They know
when the vans and tour buses are available.  
To make the trip to Guatemala you must pass through the small Mexican Customs
station in Frontera Corozal.  You will give up your Mexican Tourist card,(visa)  
You board the launch for the half hour trip up the Usumacinta River and reach the
small village of Bethel in Guatemala.  You pass through Guatemala customs.  No
payment is needed, you pay when leaving the country,  40 Guatemalan Quetzals.  
(GTQ) about $5. USD.  This could vary, you might pay at the check point in
Bethel and not pay when leaving the country)    (Actually there should be no
payment if your stay will be less than 90 days but the officials might ask for payment.)
See  Exchange Rate

A money changer will be at the border station.  Start very early on these trips or plan
on staying overnight in Frontera Corozal.   Lodging     www.Escudojaguar.com
  • Tikal
Lodging and transportation options are available in the town of Isla Flores located
on Lake Peten Itza.  Lodging is also available at the Tikal ruin site.
From Flores,  Guatemala and Tikal,  independent travelers often go on and travel
through Belize or to Guatemala City.


Collectivo Transportation Services

  • Chamoan Transportation
Chamoan runs white vans from their terminal located just off (west) of  the Cabeza
Maya sculpture,  just down the hill and to the right side of the road you will see their
terminal.  (Just a parking lot)   Vans start at 5 am and run hourly for the 90 mile trip.   
to Frontera Corozal, 100 Pesos one way.
  • Benemiento  (Mextomiento)
Transportes Benemiento runs vans from the same terminal  (parking lot) to the
Frontera for 70 Pesos starting at 3:30 am running hourly until 5 pm   70 Pesos one
way. (Seasonal schedule and price may change)

These  vans will pick up and drop off passenger along the way.
The collective vans are the local bus for the people living along the highway that runs
parallel to the Usumacinta River.  The drivers are just drivers they do not tour or
answer questions or offer information on customs, money exchange or any other
topic.  They just drive.  The vans do not have AC.   This is the budget option for
travel to Frontera Corozal.
Immigration authorities are active on the road, best to have a passport and copy of
your Mexican visa.  102 miles


Package Tours from Palenque to Ruin Sites
For visitors that want a level of comfort there are several tour agencies located in
the town of Palenque that run trips to Yaxchilan, Bonampak,  Tonina, Agua Azule,
the cascades. and to Flores, Guatemala for trips to Tikal.
(Note on Flores trips.)
The Flores trips are package deals that include transportation by San Juan Travel
from Bethel Guatemala to Flores, Guatemala,  These vehicles are not air
conditioned.  The drivers are just drivers not tour guides so there might be no help
with customs and immigration and money changing.  

  • Mundo Maya de Viajes Misol-Ha  offers  packages via AC
van to Bonampak, Yaxchilan, and other destinations.  They are located on Calle  
(Street)  Benito Juarez, the main street in Palenque City.  English and Spanish
spoken.   www.viajesmisol-ha.com.mx
  • OTC tours running vans tour packages to Bonampak, Yaxchilan, and Flores.
English and Spanish spoken.   Flores via San Juan Travel
  • Kichan Ba-jlum, packages, Yaxchilan, Bonampak, Agua Azule  www.
    kichanbajlum.com

I
Area Ruin Sites, Sightseeing:
  • Bonampak Ruin Site, is an abandoned stone city built by the Mayans
between the 5th and 10th centuries AD near the Usumacinta River and the border
with Guatemala in Mexico's southern most State of Chiapas.
Bonampak was once an important Mayan political center allied with nearby
Yaxchilan.
  • Yaxchilan. The Mayan inhabitants abandoned the city around 1000 AD.
    The site is isolated and reached by boat on the Usumacinta River.
From the city of Palenque, collectivos and tour buses make the two and a half hour
trip to Bonampak and Yaxchilan.   
  • Tonina
Tonina is a Mayan ruin site in the town of Ocosingo on the San Cristobal de las
Casas road.  Tonina Photos

Tours also leave Palenque and follow a different road for the cascades
  • Agua Azule is on the road to  San Cristobal de las Casas. On that road,  the
Mayan Ruin of Tonina can be reached from the town of Ocosingo which also
has an ADO terminal.
Mayan Ruin Tikal
Tikal
Yaxchilan
The narrow launches
are powered by
outboard to reach the
ruin site of Yaxchilan  
on the Usumacinta
River
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Up to Date Ruins Travel Information as of  January 2012, Transportation Details For:   
Tikal Flores     Frontera Corozal,   Tonina,    Uxmal,     Bonampak / Yaxchilan,    Palenque,    Chichen Itza,
Tulum,      Merida      Valladolid Cenote and Bus,