Exploring Oaxaca & Chiapas
Airline service to Oaxaca has improved in the past few years. The same cannot be said of Chiapas, where the most common port of entry for Palenque as well as the highlands is still the airport at Villahermosa, Tabasco. There are fewer flights into Tuxtla Gutiérrez (near San Cristóbal) and hardly any to San Cristóbal.
Most travelers should choose between visiting Oaxaca or Chiapas and not try to do both in the same trip unless they have a lot of time. First, the connections between these states are not good. So your choices will probably be to fly via Mexico City or take an overnight bus. Another thing to consider is that both Oaxaca and Chiapas offer so much to do that each place can easily absorb a week or 2-week vacation. And, if choosing Oaxaca, keep in mind that Oaxaca's coastal resorts -- including Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel -- are not far away.
