Mountains, markets and Mayan temples

Coming from Campeche you'll be able to tell you're getting close to Palenque and the Mayan temples in the jungle when, after about 6 hours on the bus, the countryside becomes more tropical and mountainous.

You'll be staying in a hotel with pool in lush tropical surroundings, close to the bus station and within walking distance of the village. It's very peaceful here with the exception of tropical birds and the occasional howler monkeys making their presence known in the canopy overhead. Palenque village is 7km from the Mayan temples and as it's frequented mainly by tourists it's a good place to check your email, do some laundry or send some postcards. It's very hot and humid here though so unless you love saunas we suggest you find an air-conditioned restaurant for dinner, for example Las Tinajas.

Besides being an important trading post, San Cristobal de las Casas is also known as the base of the 'Zapatistas', the group of local Chiapas rebels that strive for an autonomous state and more rights for the indigenous Mayan people. As a visitor you won't notice anything of the previous unrest or road blocks but that doesn't mean to say the political tension has been diffused.

In the centre of San Cristobal you'll see a friendly mix of Mexicans, Indians and travellers. Spend the day wandering round the colourful winding streets that slowly lead uphill through the city. The higher you get, the more beautiful the view: bright sunlight reflects on the green mountains against a background of threatening clouds. Because San Cristobal is quite high up in the hills the evenings can get quite chilly so you'll need a sweater or a jacket. A tequila or margarita in one of the local bars usually does the trick too.

You can buy your ticket on the spot (approx US$8.-) and once the boat is full you'll set off. The boat (max 14 people) stops off at several breeding spots and a moss-covered 'Christmas Tree', and of course at the sighting of any crocodiles or monkeys. The trip lasts around 2 hours. Bring a warm sweater, it can get quite cold when the boat gathers speed. You'll leave San Cristobal around 8am, returning around 1.30pm.

We heard mixed reviews on the boat trip from our travellers, though we personally really enjoyed it and saw plenty of wildlife in and around the water. Other travellers who visited later told us the water in the river was quite polluted. Though we haven't included it in this module because we want to give you the flexibility, it's easy to book the trip in the square or at the hotel if you're planning on going.

This Palenque to San Cristobal tours module finishes this morning after you check out of your hotel.

From San Cristobal you can travel on to your next destination:

If you want to travel on to Mexico City, then choose our Mexico City to Oaxaca tour to explore Colonial cultures overland. If you'd like to visit neighbouring Guatemala, you'll take the early-morning bus to the border where we will arrange connecting transportation to Panajachel on the volcanic Lake Atitlan tour.

If you have limited time and want to head back to the Caribbean coast (Tulum, Playa del Carmen or Cancun), then you can spend the day in San Cristobal before catching the overnight bus back to the coast at 4.30pm. If you fancy going diving on snorkelling along the coral reefs of Belize, you'll take the same night bus and alight at the border post Chetumal in the morning.