Planning a Trip

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 none 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. Both Oaxaca and Chiapas offer so much to do that each place can easily absorb a week or two. If you decide to do both in the same trip, you're in luck -- there are now direct flights between Oaxaca and Tuxtla Gutiérrez, which is close by San Cristóbal. If choosing Oaxaca, keep in mind that Oaxaca's coastal resorts -- including Puerto Escondido and Puerto Angel -- are not far away.