After You Land: San Cristobal de las Casa, Mexico

San Cristóbal de las Casas lies in the heart of Chiapas, the final frontier in Mexico.

And with streets lined with colorful Crayola buildings, it’s by far the best base for explorations into the jungle. The city is 2,200 meters above sea level, so dress warmly and expect mountain weather.

There’s a seriously artsy and bohemian spirit here, mostly due to its proximity to the "gringo trail" snaking through the highlands and down toward Guatemala. 

It's the sort of place where one wrong turn and instead of checking out the Mayan medicine museum, you've ended up in an ecstatic dance with another type of "medicina" thrust your way. 

Everywhere you go, you’ll see reminders of the Zapatista movement—in Mexico, most graffiti holds deep political messages, and Chiapas is no exception. For those of you keen on learning 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.

Alternatively, you can also take part in an English-speaking free walking tour to learn more about the town's history, including the 1994 uprising. 

Mercado de Artesanias is a must; its maze of market stalls is chock-full of indigenous-made textiles, jewelry, and Chiapas amber—some of the best in the world. 

Actually, scratch that. Two things better than Chiapas amber? Cacao & Coffee. Being in the land of the Olmecs and the Maya, it's no surprise. You'll find heaps of chocolaterias and coffee shops to weave in and out of. But my favorite spot to grab a cup on the go is Carajillo, located on the main tourist drag, Real de Guadeloupe. 

For brunch, I've got a soft spot for La Frontera's laid-back courtyard, shared with a few other businesses like 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.

And finally, you'd be a fool not 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 several temples and Mayan pyramids, it's estimated that a good 95% of the ruins are still buried within the surrounding rainforest.