San Cristóbal de las Casas lies at the heart of Chiapas, and where I called home. And with streets lined with colorful, colonial-era buildings, it’s by far the best (and prettiest) place for making your base for explorations out across the state!

The city is 2,200 meters above sea level, so dress warm and expect mountain weather, though. 

There’s a seriously artsy and bohemian spirit here, and you’ll find plenty of holistic activities (dream workshops, yoga, meditation, ecstatic dance).

Everywhere you’ll go, you’ll see reminders of the Zapatista movement and 1994 uprising captured in street art — in Chiapas, the graffiti always has a political message to it. 

If you are keen to learn more about the state’s political history, you can head to the Kinoki Cultural Forum, which offers regular film and documentary screenings on the topic.

There are some really cool shops here, run by indigenous communities that make handmade clothing, soaps, and art, as well as the Mercado de Artesanias: a massive market with indigenous made textiles, jewelry, and Chiapas amber. 

I’d also definitely suggest doing a walking tour here for some more info on the history of the Mayans and the Zapatistas — there are English-speaking free tours in San Cristóbal twice a day.

And don't get me started on the culinary scene. Chiapas coffee is the best in all of Mexico, so it’s important to try it while you’re there! My favourite morning spot was Carajillo. 

For brunch I’d head to Frontera (which also does good breakfasts); it has a lovely little courtyard that is shared with other cafés as well as a bar called La Espirituosa! Here, you can taste Chiapas’ traditional liquor, ‘pox’. It’s pronounced ‘posh’ and it’s made from corn — it’s a lot tastier than it sounds! 

Nearby, you can find a great restaurant called Kukulpan — it’s a punny name, after the Mayan feathered-serpent god Kukulkan, but focusing on bread (or ‘pan’)! 

And finally, you need to pay a visit to the magnificent Mayan ruins of Palenque, which sit in the heart of the jungle. This ancient city was abandoned some time in the 8th century — while you can visit a number of temples and gorgeous Mayan pyramids, it's estimated that a good 95% of the ruins are still buried within the surrounding rainforest!