Chilly pine-forest highlands, sultry rainforest jungles and attractive colonial cities exist side by side within Mexico’s southernmost state, a region awash with the legacy of Spanish rule and the remnants of ancient Maya civilization. 

Chiapas is the southernmost state in the country of Mexico and is still quite a hidden gem. If you’re looking to escape the crowds of Yucatan, you’ll find Chiapas way more authentic and less touristy. Not only is Chiapas home to a number of ancient Mayan ruins, it also contains Mexico’s largest population of indigenous people.

Palenque and Yaxchilán are evocative vestiges of powerful Maya kingdoms, and the presence of modern Maya is a constant reminder of the region’s rich and uninterrupted history. 

The colonial hubs of San Cristóbal de las Casas and Chiapa de Corzo give way to sandbar beaches and fertile plots of coffee and cacao in the Soconusco, and for outdoor adventurers, excursions to Laguna Miramar and the Cañón del Sumidero are unmissable.