Palenque, Comalcalco & the Usumacinta River Tour: An Ancient Maya Adventure

November 5–14, 2026 | 10 Days / 9 Nights

The Usumacinta River basin was a hotbed of political rivalry and warfare in the ancient Maya world. This tour offers a more in-depth exploration of the region, visiting more archaeological sites than most tours offer.

Along with the popular and well-visited sites of Bonampak and Yaxchilán, we will visit other important Maya sites in the same geographic area that many travelers may be unaware of.

Our tour begins and ends in Villahermosa, Tabasco, the nearest international airport for our travels. Starting here also gives us the opportunity to visit two Maya sites, Moral Reforma and Comalcalco, that were outliers of the great city of Palenque before we take our deep dive into the Usumacinta region.

Why This Tour?

The Usumacinta River basin played a major role in the political history of the ancient Maya world, where powerful cities competed for influence, trade, and control of the river.

This tour goes beyond the region's best-known archaeological sites. We will spend two different days traveling by boat on the Usumacinta River, visit both Yaxchilán and Piedras Negras, and explore lesser-known ruins including Moral Reforma, Pomoná, Plan de Ayutla, and the recently identified site of Sak Tz'i'.

With five nights based in the same hotel and the knowledge of local guides, we will have the opportunity to explore this remarkable region in greater depth.

Highlights of This Trip

• Comalcalco, the westernmost Maya city

• La Venta Park and the nearby INAH museum in Villahermosa

• Moral Reforma, home to the tallest pyramids of any archaeological site in the state of Tabasco

• Two different days on the Usumacinta River, exploring Yaxchilán on the Mexican side and Piedras Negras on the Guatemalan side

• Five nights in the same hotel while exploring the Usumacinta region

• Local guides

• Plan de Ayutla and Sak Tz'i', two remarkable ruins seldom visited by travelers

• Palenque and its wonderful museum

• An exhilarating exploration of the Usumacinta River basin and lesser-known but important Maya cities along the way

  
  

Our Tour Day by Day

Day 1: Arrive in Villahermosa and join us for our welcome dinner. Overnight: Villahermosa.

Day 2: Comalcalco, La Venta Park & Villahermosa. Today we'll see some of the important sites around Villahermosa before continuing our journey. We'll visit Comalcalco, the westernmost Maya city, followed by La Venta Park with its famous Olmec colossal heads and the INAH museum in Villahermosa. Overnight: Villahermosa.

Day 3: Moral Reforma & Pomoná. On our way to the Usumacinta River basin, we'll visit two archaeological sites that are seldom seen by travelers. Moral Reforma has the tallest pyramids of any archaeological site in the state of Tabasco. Situated on the banks of the San Pedro Mártir River, near the mouth of the Usumacinta River, Moral Reforma occupied a perfect location for controlling who and what traveled up and down the river.

On the same day, we'll visit Pomoná, another small Maya polity that was important for control of the Usumacinta and connections between the Guatemalan highlands and the river. There is also a nice site museum here. We'll then settle into Finca Vallescondido, our base for the next five nights. Overnight: Finca Vallescondido.

Day 4: Yaxchilán. We'll go by boat to Yaxchilán! This extraordinary Maya city is world-famous for its architecture and staggering number of richly carved stelae and lintels. Surrounded by jungle along the Usumacinta River, Yaxchilán is a magical site to visit. Overnight: Finca Vallescondido.

Day 5: Plan de Ayutla & Sak Tz'i'. Today we'll explore two remarkable Maya sites: Plan de Ayutla and Sak Tz'i'. Plan de Ayutla, once considered a possible location of Sak Tz'i', is a beautiful Maya site nestled in the mountains of Chiapas. Sak Tz'i' was mentioned in ancient Maya texts, but its location remained a mystery. Only recently did conclusive evidence establish the location of the ancient city. On this tour, we'll have the opportunity to visit both sites. Overnight: Finca Vallescondido.

Day 6: Piedras Negras & the Usumacinta River. A day on the Usumacinta River! On the Guatemalan side of the river lies Piedras Negras. This important Maya city was a major rival of Yaxchilán in the struggle for control of the Usumacinta basin. The University of Pennsylvania conducted extensive archaeological work at Piedras Negras during the 1930s. Overnight: Finca Vallescondido.

Day 7: Bonampak, of course, is one of the essential Maya sites that must be seen.

The site's fantastic painted murals are without rival and provide an extraordinary glimpse into the life, ceremony, and history of the ancient Maya. Overnight: Finca Vallescondido.

Day 8: Palenque. After thoroughly exploring many of the ruins of the Usumacinta region with Willy, our host and local guide, we'll travel to Palenque. The Maya ruins of Palenque contain some of the finest examples of architecture and sculpture in the Maya world. It truly is a "must-see" site.

We'll explore its magnificent structures and palaces before visiting the equally impressive site museum after lunch. The exhibits here will enhance your understanding of Palenque and its rich cultural heritage.

The most famous ruler of Palenque was K'inich Janaab' Pakal, whose tomb was discovered in 1952 inside the Temple of the Inscriptions. Years ago, visitors could descend a winding stairway into the temple to see the tomb itself. The number of visitors eventually took an environmental toll on the structure and tomb, and it has been closed to public access for more than two decades. The museum has an excellent reproduction of Pakal's tomb. Overnight: Palenque.

Day 9: Palenque & the Templo Olvidado. On our last full day, we'll return to the ruins of Palenque and, with a local guide, try to find the "Templo Olvidado." Anyone who wants to join the excursion can come along, while others may choose to return to the main archaeological site or museum.

There should still be time in the afternoon to visit the town of Palenque itself. Many travelers never take the time to experience the sights and sounds of today's local community. We'll finish our adventure together with a farewell dinner. Overnight: Palenque.

Day 10: Return to Villahermosa. We'll return to Villahermosa for our flights home.

Almost Everything Is Included

As with our group tours, almost everything is included.

Your tour includes:

• Transportation

• Lodging

• Local guides

• All meals

• Entrance fees

• Tips

You are responsible only for your alcoholic drinks, souvenirs, and personal expenses.

Not included:

• Airfare to and from Villahermosa

• Taxi transportation to or from the airport

• Personal expenses

  
  

Trip insurance is strongly advised.

Ready to Explore the Maya World?

Join us for an extraordinary 10-day journey through Palenque, Comalcalco, and the Usumacinta River basin, exploring famous Maya cities alongside remarkable archaeological sites that few travelers ever experience. November 5–14, 2026

For more information about the tour, please contact:

Dan GriffinEmail: xtobodos@hotmail.com