A new airport just opened in Palenque with direct flights from [wiki=0b4596f8efe110dc55bbe564213dfb33]Mexico City[/wiki] with Interjet (~$150 USD each way) and [wiki=58fc8da5d89a94dacd405bfbf88a4920]Tuxtla Gutiérrez[/wiki] with Ka'an Air (~$115 USD each way). As of May 2014 there was no shuttle bus from the airport. The only option are fixed priced taxis - to city centre only 3km away (M$200) and to the ruins area about 7km away (M$250). The closest public bus from the airport is over 2km away.
The next closest airport is in Villahermosa is about 2.5 hours away by road. [wiki=58fc8da5d89a94dacd405bfbf88a4920]Tuxtla Gutiérrez[/wiki], the airport for [wiki=a55fc777ad5be8ece304cdc9b221ab1a]San Cristobal de las Casas[/wiki] is five to six hours away by bus. Both airports are well serviced with flights from [wiki=0b4596f8efe110dc55bbe564213dfb33]Mexico City[/wiki] and other points in Mexico.
The easiest way to get to Palenque is by bus. From airport you can take prepaid taxi to bus station in town, which is 280 Pesos(on august 2014)and it takes 30 minutes. There are two bus stations in town and both are just 2 minutes walk distance between them. There are many buses daily from [wiki=a55fc777ad5be8ece304cdc9b221ab1a]San Cristobal de las Casas[/wiki] (five hours), [wiki=ec210d0d94f7cb376eaaf9a64a3890aa]Tuxtla Gutierrez[/wiki] (six hours), [wiki=e0842a1ab08b252ff5488288fc73f3b1]Villahermosa[/wiki] (2.5 hours), [wiki=1399d043315471d4177e9ec91671e87e]Merida[/wiki] (8 hours), [wiki=8fdb4de435eb9aff6c1968284cd14fc8]Campeche[/wiki] (5 hours), [wiki=fd5a6f048c89ada0ec63459c7d4467dc]Cancun[/wiki] (13 hours). Daily (one or two buses) also ply from [wiki=0b4596f8efe110dc55bbe564213dfb33]Mexico City[/wiki] (16 hours), [wiki=a48f7dfe488185fe9b9c8c723d318c66]Oaxaca[/wiki] (15 hours), [wiki=80641aeee9616559ce67bb5d4837755b]Playa del Carmen[/wiki] (12 hours), and [wiki=f68e43cd78d566c2092c0d3595a7ee52]Tulum[/wiki] (12 hours).
Also if you would like to blend in with people and culture collectivos (Passenger Van) are best way. Take collectivo from Tuxtla Gutierrez bus station to [wiki=a55fc777ad5be8ece304cdc9b221ab1a]San Cristobal de las Casas[/wiki] (2 hours/50 Pesos), then to [wiki=1e2b930bb91ae25264d2c25e0de303d4]Ocosingo[/wiki] (2.30 hours/60 Pesos)and finally from there to [wiki=afeceb25d90563a94232708ca432b260]Palenque[/wiki] (2.00 hours/ 50 Pesos). Also you can stay overnight any of this towns to continue journey for next day. Taxis are really cheap around 20 Pesos to most of the hostels/Hotels. Collectivos starts service early morning mostly by 4.
It is also possible to get to Palenque from [wiki=2661b408da2bfe8e0e62a16cf42967c3]Flores[/wiki] in Guatemala by bus (6h, leaving Flores daily at 5am, USD 35.00).
El Panchan, [http://www.elpanchan.com]. It is relatively near the ruins and has cabanas and small cabins and common sleeping areas with hammocks. A cabana with access to a common showers and bathrooms facility is 80 pesos, approximately 8 USD. The little Otulum river runs through the location.
* Offers mixed budget accomodation from camping, dorms, and small cabañas all with shared bathroom. Showers have hot water.
* Very friendly, clean, but not super cheap. They have icey cold airconditioned rooms, a bare necessity after hiking through the ruins at Palenque during rainy (and pretty much all other) season(s).
Very friendly, clean budget spot in the town of Palenque. Laundry, free internet and WIFI. Hot water (also in dorms). Dorms are very hot with no fans, no lockers, the tin roof is extremely loud when it rains, the corner outside is unnecessarily loud from early in the morning, and the staff isn't that friendly.
* there are plenty of Posadas in town range from 150 to 250 for a double room.
* Just 2 Km from the ruins there is a newly opened Eco park that rescues endanger animals and breeds endanger spices from the area. It is Aluxes http://ecoparquepalenque.com worth a visit on the way to and from the Archeological Ruins. They also offer night tours and special activities for children.