Moon Chiapas (Moon Handbooks)
Together, Liza Prado & Gary Chandler have co-authored and contributed to several guidebooks, including Moon Chiapas, Moon Cancún & Cozumel, Moon Yucatán Peninsula, and Moon Spotlight Cozumel & the Riviera Maya. They share their latest Chiapas tips. To read the entire Q&A;, please visit Moon.When people think of Mexican vacations, their minds often go to posh resorts in Cabo or Cancun. What makes an offbeat locale like Chiapas worth visiting?Chiapas is a great place to discover just how much more Mexico has besides beaches and all-inclusive resorts. Chiapas has beautiful colonial cities, vibrant indigenous culture, fascinating archaeological sites, and incredible natural beauty, from rain forests to waterfalls. It's much less expensive than places like Cabo or Cancún (or even comparable inland destinations like Mérida or San Miguel de Allende) yet sees only a fraction of the visitors of any of those places. And a new airport in Tuxtla Gutiérrez and improved highways and bus routes make it easy to visit, even if you've got just a few days or a week. In short, Chiapas is safe, interesting, and accessible, and for many travelers, totally unexpected. That's a recipe for a good trip.What's the best time to visit Chiapas?Without a doubt, the best time to visit Chiapas is during the dry season--November to May--when the skies are clear and the sun always seems to shine. You'll also avoid the rain, which can be quite heavy in the summer months, especially June and September. If you plan to travel throughout the state, be sure to bring layers--San Cristóbal de las Casas and the surrounding highlands can be downright chilly during the winter months, whereas the lowlands and the coastal regions are warm year round.   --Moon.com