Destination: Mexico

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Southeastern Jungles

THREE WEEKS

This route offers the best opportunities to access the tropical forests of Chiapas and the Yucatán Peninsula, covering 1800km in about three weeks.



This trip from highland Chiapas to the Caribbean coast provides close encounters with exotic wildlife and visits some of Mexico’s most exciting archaeological sites. Starting at graceful San Cristóbal de Las Casas, head north to the jungle-backed Maya ruins of Toniná and on to the thundering waterfalls of Agua Azul and Misol Ha, and jungle-clad Palenque, arguably the most exquisite of all Maya cities. A fascinating side-trip leads southeast to Bonampak and Yaxchilán, two fine Maya sites situated in dense forest where you stand a good chance of spotting toucans, monkeys and other wildlife, then on to Las Guacamayas, a scarlet macaw reserve.

Return to Palenque and make your way east across the base of the Yucatán Peninsula to the huge Reserva de la Biosfera Calakmul, which protects hundreds of species of rainforest wildlife and shelters important archaeological sites including the awesome ancient metropolis of Calakmul. A visit here provides a good chance to spot a variety of exotic birds and animals. To the northeast, on the Caribbean coast, the jungle, marshes and islands of the Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka’an are home to a huge variety of land, air and water wildlife, best seen with an expert local guide.