Maya for waterfall, Misol-Há (21 km/13 mi south of Palenque, 7 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, US$1.50) is definitely that, and a beautiful one to boot, falling some 30 meters (98 feet) from an overhanging semicircular cliff down into a broad shimmering pool.
The water doesn’t appear blue here—the pool is too deep—but it’s a gorgeous sight nonetheless, and fantastic for swimming, especially on hot afternoons. (Unfortunately most tours stop here in the morning, before you’ve had a chance to get hot and sweaty!)
There’s a fairly deep cave on the far side, but getting there is the most memorable part—by way of a slippery path along the base of the cliff and behind the falls, buffeted by mist from the falling water.
A newly expanded welcome center includes a large restaurant (7 a.m.–8 p.m., US$5–15), bathrooms, and expanded parking. From there, it’s just 50 meters to the falls.
Misol-Há has a bevy of wood cabañas (tel. 55/5329-0995, ext. 7006, US$29 d, US$63 1–5 people with kitchen) built in a stand of thick trees within earshot of the crashing waterfall. Surprisingly well outfitted, all have hot water, fans, and one or two queen beds; family units have separate bedrooms and dining area, and you have the falls all to yourself in the early morning and late afternoon. Still, with Palenque [1] and Ocosingo [2] on this same road, it’s hard to imagine a travel itinerary that includes a night here.
Misol-Há is the closest of the three Río Tulijá [3] sites to Palenque [1]. The welcome center and falls are about two kilometers from the highway turnoff.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/palenque/palenque-town/palenque-archaeological-zone
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/palenque/ocosingo
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/palenque/along-the-rio-tulija