Mayabell is kind of a hippy hang out, which is a bit of an inconvenience if you're not into drinking and smoking and drums. I love being in the shade of the huge trees and watching the monkeys above. The rooms are small and not so cheap at about $50 usd a night. The swimming pool is large and not cristal clean but then you are in the jungle. My children loved it. The restaurant food is good and reasonably priced. If there was WiFi this place would be great.

I chose Maya Bell for 1 night based on a guide book. It was OK, but I visited another hostel and decided to check out early.

The grounds are nice, but since its an RV park as well, not as much jungle as I had hoped. The pool is large but disgusting and brown water, dont get excited about it! There were mostly families when I was there, not many backpackers. The bar was open till 10pm with live music from Villahermosa.

I wouldn't stay here again, but I suppose I could recommend it to someone with an RV or desiring family camping grounds.

Reaching the location is $10 MX pesos via the "ruinas" colectivo from Palenque city.

We decided to stay here over christmas after reading a good write-up in the Lonely Planet and I left regretting my decision. The staff were some of the unfriendliest I had encountered during in my entire 6 week trip to Mexico. To begin with they acted like we were inconveniencing them to stay there, even though we had made a reservation several days prior (which they couldnt find, and of course behaved like it was my fault). Then in two whole days we did not receive one single "hello", "thankyou", "goodbye" or even so much as a smile from any of the staff. Our room was one of the worst in all of Mexico and was far from being the cheapest too. It smelt musty and damp and after paying 650 pesos per night + meals & drinks, they had the hide to ask for another 30 pesos per locker to store our baggage for a couple of hours after we checked out! I hope someone in management can read this review because I honestly do not know how anybody could be proud of their establishment being run this way.

Until there are drastic changes I would definitely recommend you to choose another place elsewhere on the road to the ruins!!!

I first came here in Dec 1997(?) alone. I slept in a hammock outside. It was great. lots of travelling people from everywhere. At night people played guitars and sang. You can hear the howler monkeys as you fall asleep and in the morn.

I stayed here for two weeks, every day exploring the ruins, exploring the jungle, the water falls, and people.

In June 2007, I returned with my boyfriend. We drove all day from Tuluum and arrived at 3am. I was determined to sleep in a hammock again and relive my experience so we had to wait to check in. we walked up to the ruins and listened to the howler monkeys at the newer museum till the sun rose.

Unfortunatly we didnt make it thru the night in the hammock tho. Boyfriend didnt like it. So halfway thru the night we ended up getting one of their newer palapas but it was good as we stopped getting bit by mosquitos! lol!

JUne 2008 I returned with my 8 year old son. We rented a room with a bath this time. much easier. The rooms are very clean and cozy. My son was sick all day in one room (something we ate on the drive to palenque from tuluum). The younger howler monkeys would hang in the trees in the distance looking in on him. (for real)

This campground is right on the edge of the jungle that goes into the ruins. When i came here alone in 97 i actually walked thru the back of the campground and traversed thru thick thick jungle over old ruins that have never been uncoverd to get into the Palenque ruins. (led by a young mexican kid). However i wouldnt do it again. i tried it when i went back in 2007 and saw too many snakes just setting foot on the other side of the fence. I guess im not as daring as i used to be.

The staff ARE friendly but you kinda have to speak some spanish and really try to make friends with them. They are DEF not looking to be friends with you but are open and friendly if they see you putting the energy out.

They have music at night from locals. Great Food. Good bar. A nice swim pool.

Lots of toads (at night) and bugs to look at around the campground. Have seen a toad in the shared campground shower.

Beautiful flowers all over.