The Great Outdoors

If you'd rather be climbing ruins than hanging out in colonial cities, you've come to the right place. Fly to Tuxtla Gutiérrez and head first to the impressive Cañón del Sumidero. Then head over to San Cristóbal on the brand-new toll road and use it as your base for exploring the nearby villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán. When you're done in San Cristóbal, start along the Road to Palenque. From your hotel in Ocosingo, you can arrange horseback-riding trips to the ruins of Toniná or you can hit the stunning jungle waterfalls of Agua Azul before landing in Palenque Town. End with a day or two at Palenque.