Chiapas

Chiapas is Mexico's most biodiverse state and one of the most culturally complex. The Selva Lacandona, the last fragment of Mesoamerican tropical rainforest, is home to more plant and animal species than all of Europe combined. The Mayan ruins of Palenque, emerging from the jungle with their stucco reliefs and aqueduct system, are considered the most elegant of all Mayan civilization.

San Cristóbal de las Casas, at 2,200 meters above sea level nestled in the Altos de Chiapas highlands, combines beautifully preserved colonial architecture with a unique bohemian scene in southern Mexico. Tzotzil and Tzeltal indigenous markets, chef-driven restaurants featuring ingredients from the mountains, and a highland coffee culture make San Cristóbal one of Mexico's most seductive cities.

The Cañón del Sumidero, with walls reaching 1,000 meters above the Río Grijalva, can be explored by boat among crocodiles and tropical birds. The Agua Azul and Misol-Há waterfalls, with their turquoise limestone waters, are dreamlike destinations accessible from Palenque within just a few hours' drive.

The Lagos de Montebello—57 lagoons in different shades of blue and green amid the jungle—form one of the country's most singular national parks. Chiapas also produces Mexico's finest organic coffee, cultivated by indigenous cooperatives in the Altos and the Sierra Madre chiapaneca.