Digital illustration of a Santeria, Palo Mayombe! Palo means "branch" in Spanish; "Mayombe" means "mysteries of the spirits" in Congo. Palo is an Afro-Cuban religion, and more broadly an Afro-American religion. Its name derives from palo, a Spanish term for sticks, referencing the important role that these items play in the religion's practices. Another term for the religion is La Regla de Congo ("Kongo Rule" or "Law of Kongo") or Regla Congo, a reference to its origins among the traditional Kongo religion of Central Africa's Bakongo people. Palo is also sometimes referred to as brujería (witchcraft), both by outsiders and by some practitioners themselves.

Although its origins draw heavily on Kongo religion, Palo also takes influence from the traditional religions of other African peoples who were brought to Cuba, such as the West African Yoruba. These African elements combined with elements from Roman Catholicism and also from Spiritism, a French variant of Spiritualism. The idea of Palo having African origins is important to practitioners. They often refer to their religious homeland as Ngola, a indicating a belief in the historical Kingdom of Kongo as Palo's place of origin, a place where the spirits are more powerful.

Palo has no sacred text, but is largely transmitted orally. There is no central authority in control of the religion, but separate groups of practitioners who operate autonomously. It has no systematized doctrine,k and no strict ritual protocol, giving its practitioners scope for innovation and change. Different practitioners often interpret the religion differently, resulting in highly variable practices. Several distinct traditions or denominations of Palo exist, called ramas, with the main ramas being Mayombe, Briyumba, Monte, and Kimbisa.

Palo is one of three major Afro-Cuban religions present on the island, the other two being Santería, which derives largely from the Yoruba religion of West Africa, and Abakuá, which has its origins among the secret male societies practiced among the Efik-Ibibio. Many Palo initiates are also involved in Santería, Abakuá, Spiritism, or Roman Catholicism. Practitioners will often see these different religions as offering complementary skills and mechanisms to solve problems. Some practitioners of Palo believe that the religion's adherents should be baptised Roman Catholics. Generally an individual is initiated into Santería after they have been initiated into Palo; the reverse is not normally permitted. There are some Palo practitioners who object to the introduction of elements from Santería in their religion. Palo also has commonalities with Obeah, a practice originating largely in Jamaica, and it is possible that Palo and Obeah cross-fertilised via Jamaican migration to Cuba from 1925 onward. Digital illustration made by me, Artistic Axel