Palenque/Temp

A town in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, Palenque sits close to one of the country's most visited Maya archaeological sites, a UNESCO-recognised zone set within surrounding rainforest. The Misol-Ha and Agua Azul waterfalls lie within reach, as does the Río Usumacinta. The town has a walkable centre with a concentrated food-and-drink scene, and the wider municipality — home to a significant Ch'ol Maya population — spans more than 600 communities across rainforest terrain where howler monkeys occasionally wander into the urban area.

• Population42,947
• Nearest water2.5 km
• Nearest mountain7.5 km
• UNESCO within 50 km1