This central, mountainous part of Mexico reminds us of the hillside towns of southern Spain, only we like this better. The Spanish mule trains traveled this route from the gold and silver mines to Mexico City in the 1500s, giving rise to settlements along the route that founders used to replicate the world they left behind. Among common sights are towering cathedrals, built by Indian workers, shadowing large, central squares. The Mexican government has declared San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato national monuments because they are free of stop lights, neon, and the trappings of cluttered modern life. The enduring, fine colonial architecture lies along hilly cobblestone streets, all preserved to look much as that of 400 years ago, This tableau reveals itself time and again in cities named for Mexican heroes whose fight for Mexican Independence began here in the early 1800s.
Palenque sits amid dense tropical rain forest in the lush foothills of the Chiapas Mountains. The Classic Maya architecture makes it one of the most beautiful of the Maya archaeological sites in Mexico. The entire area is dotted with rivers and waterfalls. If you are a nature lover or an explorer, the northern part of the state of Chiapas state where Palenque is located won’t disappoint you.
Palenque
Chiapas, the southern most state in Mexico, has the greatest biological diversity in North America for its size. The lakes, rivers and waterfalls and lush rain forest are virtually untouched by civilization. The local Lacandon and Maya Indians preserve many of their ancient traditions including their language, religion and living in communities deep in the jungle. A visit to Palenque gives you a real glimpse of what life must have been like here during the splendor of the Mayan civilization.
Palenque sits amid dense tropical rain forest in the lush foothills of the Chiapas Mountains. The Classic Maya architecture makes it one of the most beautiful of the Maya archaeological sites in Mexico. The entire area is dotted with rivers and waterfalls. If you are a nature lover or an explorer, the northern part of the state of Chiapas state where Palenque is located won’t disappoint you.