Palo, or Las Reglas de Congo are a group of closely related denominations or religions of largely Bantu origin developed by slaves from Central Africa in Cuba. Other names associated with various branches of this religion include Palo Mayombe, Kimbisa or Santo Cristo Buen Viaje. The word "palo" ("stick" in Spanish) was applied to the religion in Cuba due to the use of wooden sticks in the preparation of their altar, also call "la Nganga", "el caldero" or "la prenda". Adherents of Palo are known generally as "Paleros"or "Ngangeros". Membership is by initiation into a "house" or "Temple". The organizational structure follows the model of a family. During slavery when blood families often were broken up by slave holders, this model was particularly significant and taken literally Palo has its roots in the Congo basin of west, central Africa, from where large numbers of African slaves were brought to Cuba and the Americas, as well as to the colony of Santo Domingo, the present capital of Dominican Republic. Accordingly, a great part of Palo Monte's liturgical chants and invocations are in a mixture of the Spanish and Kikongo languages, other influences being introduced through their presence in Black Spanish-speaking Latin America.

During the mid 19th century Palo began to spread out among the Hispaniola Island (Haiti and Dominican Republic) and Afro-Latino communities in the United States, Venezuela, Colombia, and Puerto Rico. Eventually, members of non-African Latino groups, as well as Anglo-Americas, gained access to these traditions. The religion remains largely Afro-Latino in character. The most traditional form can be found in Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

The number of followers of Palo in Cuba and Dominican Republic is not known, though it is assumed that a slight majority of Cubans and Dominicans, particularly in the African-influenced cities, believe in all or part of its principles. In Puerto Rico the Palo Religion has grown among non-black people. In this Caribbean island, a commonwealth of the United States, an extensive study by Prof. Eric M Miletti, revealed that over 5,000 people are active as "paleros". The Palo belief system rests on two main pillars: 1. The veneration of the spirits of the ancestors. 2. The belief in natural ("earth") powers.

Natural objects, and particularly sticks, are thought to be infused with powers, often linked to the powers of spirits. These objects are known as "nganga" and are the ritual focus of Palo's magical rites and religious practice.

A certain number of spirits called Mpungu inhabit the Nkisi (sacred objects, also spelled Inquice, Inquise, and Enkisi). Mpungu are well-known in name and deed, and are venerated as gods. They are powerful entities, but they are ranked below the High God Zambi or Nzambi.

The main worship and practice of Palo focuses upon the religious receptacle or altar known as a Nganga or Prenda. This is a consecrated vessel filled with sacred earth, sticks (palos), human remains, and other items. Each Nganga is dedicated to a specific spiritual Nkisi. This religious vessel is also inhabited by a muerto or spirit of the dead (almost never the direct ancestor of the object's owner), also referred to as "Nfumbe", who acts as a guide for all religious activities which are performed with the Nganga.

The divination methods used in Palo are various. One, called Shamalongos utilizes shells or disks of various materials, often coconut shells. A more traditional method, Vititi Mensú, is a form of envisioning or scrying, using a sanctified animal horn capped with a mirror.