Agua Azul and Misol-Ha

Both waterfalls sit off the highway between Palenque and Ocosingo, with Agua Azul about 65 km from Palenque town and Misol-Ha closer in at around 20 km, making the pair an easy half-to-full day trip covering 6-8 hours round trip. Combis and shared vans leave from the area near the ADO terminal in Palenque for both stops, or a shared shuttle tour can be booked to cover the same route with a fixed schedule. A typical itinerary visits Misol-Ha first on the way out, since it sits nearer town, before continuing to Agua Azul for the middle of the day when the light is strongest for photographing the turquoise pools. Misol-Ha is a single 35-metre curtain waterfall with a walkway leading behind the falling water into a shallow cave, a short and level walk suitable for most visitors. Agua Azul is a much longer staircase of calcium-carbonate terraces along the Río Xanil, with paths running alongside dozens of cascading pools; swimming is possible in the designated calmer pools near the entrance, though currents higher up the falls are dangerous and should be avoided. Both sites charge a community entry fee collected in cash at the gate, and vendor stalls at each entrance sell grilled fish, tacos and fruit, making them convenient lunch stops. The dry season from late November through April is the best time to visit, since the water runs a vivid turquoise; from September into October, heavy rain turns both falls a muddy brown and can make the access roads slower. Visitors aiming for the clearest water and lightest crowds should start early and reach Agua Azul before the mid-morning tour buses from Palenque arrive.