1

There are frequent second-class buses (perhaps the first-class buses stop there too, check the ADO website) and colectivos (shared vans) that operate between San Cristobal de las Casas and Ocosingo (two or three hours). In Ocosingo walk down from the highway to the central plaza, a couple of blocks beyond that is the tiangus where the colectivos depart for the ruins of Tonina (20 mins, approx 15 MXN.)

Similar for the route from Ocosingo to Palenque, but I have not been to Agua Azul, so I´ll let others comment.

2

I've never heard of anyone flying commercially into Playa del Carmen. Playa has become a tourist boom town because of its proximity to the Cancun airport, which is just an hour's drive or bus ride away.

Most flights into Cancun's airport come from other countries, or from Mexico City. So, Sturca, if you've found any direct flights from Villahermosa to Cancun, please let us know about that interesting development. Some travelers would find it more practical to bus (with interesting stop overs) from Palenque to the Mexican Caribbean (Cancun, Playa, etc.) rather than flying there via a connecting flight thru Mexico City.

3

There are day tours from SCLC that stop at Aqua Azul and Palenque.. You can arrange to have them drop you at the hotel of your choice in Palenque. More expensive than the bus but a much better use of time. Just walk down to Centro and shop.

4

Thank you all for your answers. Yes chris0daniel you are correct. I thought it would be possible to fly to Playa del Carmen. I believe we will have to now fly to Cancun then catch a bus...

5

When in ScSC you cn go to a tourist tour place and get a car and driver to take you to Tonina. When I was there no guides spoke any English so be prepared. For the other places you mention bus yourselves to Santo Domingo de Palenque and hit day tour offices to set up trips to these locations. For Palenque itself just get a combi in town to the ruins. Photos of all of this see my website wolfcalls.com. Best to stay in the town itself as easy to get to tour offices and the ruins.

6

There are direct buses from the Cancun airport to Playa. Hourly, mas o menos. Just ask.

7

Hi,

I just got back after twelve days in Chiapas. From SCDLC take a combi to Ocosingo (just a little over 2 hours) for 50 pesos. Like mclarjh says "In Ocosingo walk down from the highway to the central plaza, a couple of blocks beyond that is the tiangus where the colectivos depart for the ruins of Tonina (20 mins, approx 15 MXN.)" The cost is actually 10 pesos to Tonina.

I really enjoyed Ocosingo, stayed overnight at the Hospedaje Esmeralda. Got a ride to Tonina in the back of a pick-up truck, only saw three other people at the ruins. It was incredible!

From Ocosingo it is another 2 and half hours to Palenque via combis for 50 pesos. You could ask to be dropped off at Aguas Azul and take a taxi, since there are tons of them waiting by the road, to Aguas Azul. It would be a really long hike in on foot from the road to the waterfalls.

I also saw at the OCC/ADO bus ticket office in San Cris, posters on the walls stating bus rides to Aguas Azul for 85 pesos.

Have fun!

P.S. Just want to mention, from the town of Palenque you can do a daytrip to Yaxchilan and Bonampek, which was the highlight of my whole trip!! Cost was 550 pesos; left at 6 AM, included breakfast buffet, boat ride, guide at the ruins, all entrance fees to both ruins, lunch and transportation. Got back to Palenque town by 7:30 PM.

One other thing I want to mention here before I forget, just before you get to Misol Ha waterfalls, there are some really adorable cabanas, but sadly I couldn't find the name of the place anywhere. Saw a blue morpho butterfly go happily soaring by me when I was taking pictures of the cabanas.