About
Maya ball court where the ritual ball game was played, important for both sport and religious ceremonies. Features sloped walls and central playing alley.
The Ball Court at Palenque is one of the monuments inside Palenque National Park, in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. It is also known as the Juego de Pelota. Here, in the Maya city, the ritual ball game was played, a activity that served both as sport and as part of religious ceremony.
What you will see
The court is built around a central playing alley, flanked by sloped walls. Walking along the open ground, you can read the shape of the space and imagine how the game once filled it. The setting is quiet and green, with the ruins sitting within the wider park.
Planning a visit
- Location: Palenque National Park, Chiapas 29960, Mexico
- Contact: +52 916 345 2721
- Best suited to: visitors interested in Maya history, ancient sport and ceremonial architecture
The court works well as part of a wider day among the Palenque ruins. Plan time to move between monuments at an unhurried pace, and check conditions with the park before you set out.