The sacred city of Teotihuacan also known as the 'City where men became gods', is located about 50 km north of the cosmopolitan Mexico City.

Teotihuacan was built between the I and VII centuries; it is noteworthy that the Teotihuacan civilization is characterized by its majestic buildings, including the famous pyramids of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl.

The construction of these temples is perfectly designed with a geometric arrangement that meets the Calzada de Los Muertos and has great symbolism.

Monuments and Political platforms demonstrate the existence of a hierarchy quite similar to the organization established by the Lord Jesus Christ. As you stroll through the Quetzalcoatl temple you will find 12 elevated platforms with a seat for each member of the council. At the center, there is a rectangular platform with 3 seats or thrones all facing to a large temple dedicated to the god Quetzalcoatl, which many believe could represent Christ.

This mysterious city is full of amazing parallelisms that provide to those of the LDS faith a deeper understanding of the struggles and circumstances that these civilizations endured and provides a spirit of place to the stories read in the Book of Mormon.

This archaeological site is considered one the most important Olmec settlements that marked the beginning of a new era of expansion towards the east of Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

Relics and artifacts have suggested the earliest occupation of the area beginning around the 1800 ́s B.C., although, the city reached its peak between the 900 B.C. and 400 B.C.

The Olmec civilization is considered to be the oldest to settle in Mesoamerica dating as late as 3000 B.C. It is believed that they were pioneers in the worship of the Feathered Serpent God who many have associated with Christ. According to ancient manuscripts recorded by the Toltec civilization, they came from a land of Tartarycrossing the seas in vessels.

Today, LDS Scholars have compared this civilization to the Jaredites, since the story of their origin is very similar. The Jaredite people described in the Book of Mormon, were descendants of the people of Babylon of which language was confused by the power of God in order to detain the construction of the Tower of Babylon. They then were scattered throughout the face of the earth.

Thanks to the mercy of God, some were led to a land of promise in the American Continent.

This wonderful Mayan ceremonial center is in Chiapas, one of the most representative and culture rich state of Mexico. It was founded around 600 B.C. and it is believed that from the 500 ́s B.C., its influence was so great that it became the most important civil and religious center of the plain of the Pacific.

In the center square of Izapa, you can see more than 160 buildings including pyramids and platforms of up to 20m high. Also, they found near 252 stone monuments known as 'stelae', which have become known for narrating mythical and religious historical events. Izapa is home to the famous Stela #5, which narrates an elaborate setting of a royal family facing to a 'Ceiba Tree' which in terms of Mayan mythology was also known as the 'Tree of Life', portraying the 3 levels of existence of the Mayan Universe and a family ́s journey to such Tree.

In 1957, this 8ft tall stone tablet was interpreted by Max W. Jakeman who was a professor at Brigham Young Univeristy, who provided a rather in-depth interpretation far more elaborate than those who had studied the stone, explaining that this could be narrating the story of Lehi ́s Dream and their journey to the Tree of Life.

Palenque is an eminent Mayan sanctuary of the classical period that is located in the beautiful state of Chiapas. Palenque reached its peak between the sixth and seventh centuries exerting great influence throughout the Usumacinta River basin. It is characterized by its elegance and architectural quality of its buildings and the delicacy in their reliefs.

Palenque is an archaeological gem that highlights the intellect of the great Mayan culture. In an area of 16 square kilometers, there are 200 architectural structures, among which the Temple of the Inscriptions, the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Cross Foliada, the Temple of Sunrise and ball courts.

Knowing Palenque is to discover the soul of the Mayan world, rituals, beliefs and admire the majesty of its architecture. At Palenque, famous epigraphist and Mayan guru David Stuart discovered the phonetic relation of the characters engraved in hieroglyphs, thanks to his research on the tombstones of the Emperors DzPakaldz buried at the temple of the Cross. This discovery led him to the translation of a glyph with interchangeable characters that changed depending on the era; which was placed always at the beginning of the history engraved on the tombstones.

Today this glyph is internationally accepted and recognized as the 'And it came to pass glyph'...

Tikal National Park encompasses 575 square kilometers of jungle and thousands of ruined structures. The central part of the ancient city alone contains 3,000 buildings and covers about 16 square kilometers.

Tikal grew into an important ceremonial, cultural, and commercial center over the centuries. Most of the city's huge temples were constructed during the eighth century AD when Tikal became the greatest city in the Maya world with a population of perhaps 100,000.

Today Tikal is to Guatemala what the Great Pyramids are to Egypt, a national symbol and a source of pride in the past. Tikal's great stone monuments languished for centuries and were gradually reclaimed by the jungle. Hernan Cortes, the conqueror of Mexico, and his motley band of conquistadors marched by Tikal in 1525, but they failed to see its temples concealed by 40-metre-tall silk, cotton, cedar and mahogany trees.

Tikal is a sanctuary and ceremonial center, used to this day by the descendants of the people who built it. The use of Tikal for ceremonies is regulated and only byauthorized Aj Q'ij or Maya priests can perform ceremonies in the designated places. Perhaps you will be lucky to see a Maya fire ceremony while in Tikal.

Uxmal, meaning the city built 3 times, was the capital of a strong and powerful empire known as the Puuc Empire. It is located on the northwestern side of the Yucatan state of Mexico, established in the early 6th-century.

The archaeological site is 8 square kilometers and at the cities auge, it would ́ve had an approximate extension of 67 square kilometers. Uxmal once formed part of a ferocious military alliance formed by several other tribal capitals such as Chichen Itza, Mayapan, Dzibalchaltun known as the DzMayapan League.dz The league was formed as an attempt to counter the northern invasion led by the Toltecs. Eventually, the league was corrupted, and the allies all turned against each other.

The religious quarters were strategically organized facing to the east. To the Mayan people, the East was the direction to the heavens. Temples and ceremonial platforms served as portals to the different realms of the Mayan universe.

The most outstanding buildings uncovered so far are The Temple of the Wizard, The Nunnery Quadrangle, The House of the Governor, The House of the Pigeons, and more.

Amazing architecture is absolutely the highlight of visiting this wonderful site. Delight yourself at the intricate carvings and fretwork designs adorning the elaborate facades of each and every one of the buildings in Uxmal.

This amazing Mayan capital is located in the southern wetlands of the state of Quintana Roo, close to the Mexican border with belize. The name Dzibanché means “writing on wood” with makes reference to a large wooden lintel contained in the Temple of the Lintels that has eight glyphs carved into the “quebracho” wood. This wooden carving can be traced back to 618 AD.

The settlement was occupied from 200 BC to 990 AD. It was the early capital of the Kan dynasty, which later ruled Calakmul. Archeologists found the earliest known use of the Kan glyph within the structures. The Kan family moved to Calakmul around 590 AD.The overall style of the buildings has been identified as the Peten.

The City center for the two sites is found in Dzibanché . Government buildings indicate this was the center of social and economic activities for the local population.

According to Joseph Allen, famous Mormon scholar, it is interesting that as we analyze what was going on in Mesoamerica at this same time period, we can see a shift taking place from Chiapas to Belize, the northern Peten, and southern Yucatan. El Mirador, only thirty miles from Tikal, was very active during this time period, as was Tikal, Lamanai, Becan, Cerros, and many other sites in the region of Dzibanche, a proposed site for the city of Bountiful. Thus we have both textual reasons and cultural reasons for placing Bountiful at Dzibanche. [Joseph L. Allen, 'Discovering Bountiful,' in The Book of Mormon Archaeological Digest, Vol. III, Issue III (September 2001), p. 6]

This prehispanic city became the most dominant Mayan capital of the late Classic and post-classic era and eventually became the most revered center of worship in the Yucatan Peninsula.

The name means 'At the mouth of the well of the Itza' referring to an enormous sink hole with fresh water, used by the the Mayan 'Itza' people, who were known for their devotion to the war gods of the underworld using these 'cenotes' as portals.

Legends say that the temples were built in remembrance of the visit of the 'White-bearded God' who was known as 'Kukulkan' which means the 'God of the feathered serpent.' Hence the hundreds of serpent representations and even an amazing solar alignment that occurs once a year which portrays a serpent descending from the main temple as the sun casts a shadow on the northwestern side of the building.

The legends all throughout Mesoamerica, testify of the visit of a White-Bearded God who came to visit these nations to teach many wonders of the Universe, to serve and heal the sick, and also to unify these nations. These legends are possibly the most direct reference to the book the Mormon and may be refering to the visit of Crist; just as is describes in 3 Nephi.

Tulum means 'stone wall,' referring to a 12 feet wall that surrounds the main living quarters. Although, inscriptions have revealed that the original name of the city was once ' Zamá' meaning sunrise due to its location as it faces to the east overlooking the sea. Originally thought to be a Fort by the Spanish, until latter discoveries proved the existence of a caste system. Therefore, it became clear that the walled city served as a Gated community for the Elite society.

Thanks to its strategic location, fisherman and merchants had access to set sail into the Caribbean sea and trade with other coastal tribes. In the center of the city, there is courtyard surrounded by temples, platforms, altars and a wall 4-foot tall, which is considered the most sacred portion of Tulum. The temples show amazing intricate carvings representing their own version of Kukulkan, portrayed as a man upside down, known to many as the 'Descending God.' Even a solar alignment was dedicated to the 'Coming of Kukulkan' which can be seen every year on the sunrise of April 6th. Even though the timeframe of this settlement outdates the Book of Mormon, it is easy to find many similarities, such as their lifestyle, their belief in the Descending God, and the design of their temple quarters and how it vastly resembles Salomon ́s Temple.

Cancun is well known for being a paradisiac Caribbean destination for tourists from all around the world but also is the perfect place to be where the modern and ancient meet.

Cancun is located northwest of the Yucatan Peninsula and was built four decades ago in the year of 1967 when the Mexican government recognized the importance of creating new touristic sites as a strategy to improve the country’s economy.

Nowadays the famous ” Hotel Zone” of Cancun, has more than 180 first class hotels and resorts, hosting about 3.3 million visitors a year. In addition to its beautiful beaches, museums, night attractions, theme parks and restaurants. The cosmopolitan city of Cancun is located near to most of the magnificent archaeological sites of the Mayan civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Alma’s LDS Tours invites you to visit this wonderful destination with a team of professionals who will be in charge of showing the best attractions and above all create unforgettable memories for each of our customers.

Founded in 1325, Mexico City is the oldest capital city in the Americas. It was the capital of the Aztec Empire which had approximately 300 thousand people, a larger population than any European city at that time when it was conquered by Spain in the 16th century. Its original name in the local indigenous language (Nahuatl) was Tenochtitlan or Mexico-Tenochtitlan, which was preserved by the Spanish Crown. Afterward, the city’s inhabitants named it just Mexico. Subsequently, it was the capital city of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, the two Mexican Empires (in the 19th Century), the Mexican independent republic and the current nation of Mexico.

The city is located on mountains, 2.2 kilometers (6000 ft approx) above sea level, and its weather is mild rather than warm.

Mexico City has the largest amount of museums in the Americas and the second largest amount in the world, after London. It has 186 officially recognized museums and more than 200 if those with no official recognition are included. It has more museums than Madrid, New York or Paris.

UNESCO has declared four places in this city as World Cultural Heritage: the Historic Center, Xochimilco (a borough known for its canals and artificial islands –chinampas-), UNAM's Campus C.U. (Mexico’s largest public university) and Luis Barragan’s House and Studio (a prominent Mexican architect).

The city of Merida is located 35 kilometers south of the Gulf of Mexico with of a population of more than a million people, it is the cultural, financial and educational hub of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Merida is affectionately known as “the white city”, and the reasoning behind this varies. Some claim it is due to the common color of the older city buildings, which were painted and decorated with 'lime' material; while others claim that it’s due to the cleanliness of the city.

Merida is also home to the 6th largest LDS population in Mexico. The city today has more than 6 stakes, 17 church buildings, and a Temple.

The local mission is named after the city and is called the 'Mexico Merida Mission'. The Merida temple was built during the presidency of the President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1998.

Most of the architecture, especially in the downtown “Centro” area demonstrates heavy colonial influence. Large and grand beautifully designed buildings line the famous Paseo de Montejo avenue. Merida also boasts the title of safest city in Mexico, with one of the lowest crime rates in the country.

Merida is a city rich with culture, language, and education, as well as entertainment. It is the perfect balance of the old coupled with the new. It’s modern touches don’t take away from the history of the area, making it a wonderful place to both live and travel to in Mexico.

Cozumel is a magical island located in the southeastern región of the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is found 50 km east from the vacation Paradise of Cancun and also only 18 km from the beautiful city of Playa del Carmen.

The name Cozumel is a modern interpretation of the ancient Mayan name used among the inhabitants of this territory which was “kosom-mil” , meaning Land of the Golondrinas birds.

Ever since, the Island of Cozumel has populated and now considered a semi-massive touristic point and also the home of almost 160,000 people.

To arrive to Cozumel there are 2 options, you can fly directly into the Cozumel International Airport, or as most people do, you can fly into the Cancun International Airport and from there grab a shuttle to the Playa del Carmen Ferry terminal to Cozumel and grab the next ferry to the Island.

Cozumel is known today for its amazing diving sites ranked in the top 5 best places of the world for Scuba diving.

There are close to 100 different hotels, hostels and 5-star resorts to choose from. If you are looking for a quieter and a local experience? Then you should probably consider Cozumel as your next travel destination.

Playa del Carmen is located on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, about an hour south of Cancun. It's in the state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatán peninsula. Not so long ago, Playa del Carmen was a sleepy fishing village. The city didn’t see substantial development and population growth until the 1990s. People tend to think of Playa del Carmen as “Cancun South,” when in reality Playa has a much more small-town feel and genuine Mexican ambiance. In fact, buildings here are restricted to three stories to retain the charming village feel.

People know the city as 'playa' and people from Playa are called 'playenses', however, Playa del Carmen is a Spanish name; the original Mayan name for the city is Xaman-Ha, which means “Water from the South.”

Playa del Carmen’s main drag, Quinta Avenida or 5th Avenue, is the heart of the city with a long pedestrian road, featuring boutique hotels, restaurants and shops. All of the beautiful beaches in Mexico are public property. Playa del Carmen is parallel to the ocean, and 5th Avenue, is only one block from the sea, so you are free to explore the miles of golden sand.

Cozumel is just a short ferry ride away (about 35 minutes). Don’t miss a quick jaunt to this island, known as one of the most famous diving and snorkeling destinations in the world.

Situated on the north bank of the Rio Grijalva, along with the route from Tuxtla Gutierrez to San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapa de Corzo serves as the jumping off point for exploring the magnificent Cañon del Sumidero (Sumidero Canyon).

Marvel at the colonial Mudejar-style La Pila Fountain in the town’s main plaza. This monumental red-orange brick fountain with its octagonal design, arches, flying buttresses and domed roof dates back to the 16th century and is thought to have been built to resemble the Spanish crown.

Chiapa de Corzo is famous for its lively Fiesta Grande de Enero (Great January Festival) that takes place each year in early January. Colorfully costumed dancers called para chicos take to the streets during the festival, which is one of the most important cultural events in the state of Chiapas and has been declared an intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO.

Don’t leave town without touring the Sumidero Canyon. The canyon can be viewed from several lookout points and is best visited on Chiapas tours. Hire a motorboat for close-up views of the canyon walls that tower an impressive 800 m (2,625 feet) overhead. You may even spot a crocodile or two.

The Lagunas de Montebello National Park is a picturesque lake region in the far south of Chiapas. Here you’ll find more than 50 small mineral-laden lakes surrounded by pine and oak forests. The minerals in the lakes, plus the reflection of the sun give the lakes their remarkable hues that range from turquoise to emerald to violet to blue to deep green.

Located near the entrance to the Lagunas de Montebello National Park are the Lagunas de Colores, five strikingly vivid colored lakes, as well as a group of caves known as the Grutas San Rafael del Arco and a pair of underwater sinkholes called Dos Cenotes.

Situated within the boundaries of the park, the lakeside village of Tziscao offers a variety of basic visitor services including cabanas, many with scenic lake views, a hostel, and campground, small restaurants serving simple meals and guided Chiapas tours of the area. At the Tziscao eco-tourism center you can rent rafts, kayaks and paddleboats, hike an extensive network of trails that lead around the lake and go horseback riding.

Called the City of Hills and located right in the middle of the Yucatán Peninsula, Izamal may be the oldest city in Yucatán. Izamal is a jewel of a colonial city, with almost all the buildings painted an egg-yolk yellow. Cobblestone streets and colonial lampposts complete the scenery. Clean, peaceful and quaint, this is a great town to stroll through.

There are Maya pyramids, colonial-style buildings, parks and plazas, horses and buggies, and lots of people-watching.

Izamal was an important Maya religious center and today you can visit the ruins of four large pyramids that overlook the center of town. Climb to the top of the Kinich Kak Mo Pyramid. Built during the early-Classic period, this pyramid to the Mayan sun god spans an entire block and offers magnificent views of the town and surrounding Yucatán region.

The most important thing to see here is the Franciscan convent that was built over one of the Maya pyramids. This convent is also famous for the monk Fray Diego de Landa, its founder, who burned all the Indian scripts, and then, feeling remorse for what he had done, tried to rewrite all he could remember of the ways of the Maya.

It is here where Pope John Paul visited in 1993. This visit has been one of Izamal’s claims to fame ever since and is commemorated by a statue of the Pope in the convent courtyard.

Inside the church itself, you will see the beautifully restored altarpiece, the stained-glass window of St. Francis of Asis, and many statues along the walls. The second floor is where the statue of Our Lady of Izamal, Queen and Patron Saint of Yucatán, is housed. Note all the gold-leaf paint, crystal chandeliers, flowers and elegantly painted walls.

The amazing Magical town of Valladolid is located only 30 minutes east from Chichen Itza and 1.5hrs west from Cancun. The city originally was known as Zaci until the Spanish arrived and conquered, therefore renaming the city after the original Valladolid city from Spain. The city is nicknamed the “Sultan of the East,” because of its rich colonial splendor.

Southwest of the central park and main plaza you will see a 16th century San Bernardino Church and Convent. Locally known as the Sisal Convent, the San Bernardino Church and Convent is one of the most beautiful colonial buildings in Valladolid Yucatán. Inside the church are original frescoes and housed within the walls of the convent building are orchards, gardens and a large cenote (underwater sinkhole).

Valladolid is a great place to sample some of the distinct regional cuisines of Yucatán, including the city’s signature dish lomitas de Valladolid (pork in a tomato and garlic broth). Other Valladolid Yucatán Mayan dishes that you’re likely to find on the menus at local restaurants include longaniza (smoked sausage), pollo escabeche (Yucatecan-style marinated chicken) and Canre ahumada ( smoked pork).

This mysterious jewel, hidden beneath the thick Yucatan Peninsula forest is of great relevance to LDS scholars due to the tremendous evidence of infrastructure archaeologists have discovered, which are also mentioned in the Book of Mormon. A series of highways and roads developed to connect several cities such as Tulum, Muyil, Yaxuná with lengths varying between 30 to 190 miles; uniting a total of 7 tribes for both commercial and religious purposes.

An observatory built in the shape of a Beehive carefully assembled in three layers portraying the sacred three levels of existence; at the top a circular room with four entrances pointing to the cardinal points.

Astronomers and scientists would track the positions of the sun and moon throughout the year, after using the observatory; their discoveries were meticulously registered in long folded sheets of natural "Amate" tree bark books. Numerous temples and "Stelae" are found all throughout the site. The temples measure from 75 to 141 ft. It seems that such as many tribes from all over the world, the Mayans began to believe that the closer one was to the sky, the closer they were to their god. The stelae marked birthdays, astronomical events and relevant information regarding their leadership, such as their biography, lineage, and achievements.

At Cobá, you will learn about this lost city and the resemblance with the Book of Mormon and how the Nephites shared the same knowledge and infrastructure as the Mayans

This Magical Town is located only 60 km south from the capital of Quintana Roo state, the city of Chetumal and 300 km from Cancun.

Unlike major touristic destinations nearby, Bacalar is world-recognized as a sustainable eco-tourism destination and provides to Nature lovers, fans of adventure, history, and culture the perfect balance.

Bacalar is famous for the lagoon of Seven colors known by this name due to it's ever changing tones which range from sandy white to hues of green and blue. This variety of color occurs due to a combination of factors: the crystalline water, the soft color on the bottom of the lagoon, the sun's rays, and the undulating depth which doesn't exceed 20 feet.

Sail over the waters of the lagoon in a kayak, sailboat or aquatic motorcycle while you admire the beautiful scenery the area has to offer, surrounded by lush trees in various shades of green. Listen to the song of the birds which have made their home in this place, and allow yourself to be surrounded by the magic you will feel when you watch how the horizon and the sky blend with the water in different shades of blue.

The ancient mining town of Taxco is characterized by its cobbled and winding lanes, traditional plazas and antique houses with elegant colonial facades.

The small city of Taxco, sitting just north of the State of Guerrero, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico, and understandably so. This beautiful town is embedded in a region sheltered by rolling hills and mountains, but its historical past is also a major draw for tourists and visitors.

Due to the intense exploitation of its silver deposits, Taxco became one of the most important mining areas in the empire of New Spain. Today, in almost every corner of the town, you can find stores where locally-produced silver jewelry is sold. Beautiful, high-quality earrings, necklaces, cufflinks and other creations make the perfect gift to take home with you when you leave Taxco.

The city's name comes from “Tlachco”, which means “place of the ball game” in the Aztec language, Nahuatl. Following the conquest, Taxco acquired the name Taxco de Alarcon in honor of the famous colonial playwright, Juan Ruiz de Alarcon y Mendoza, who was born in the town in 1581.

Valle de Bravo is a Magical town located only 85 kilometers from Toluca and 145 from Mexico City. The town was established on the shore of the Lake Avándaro, Its calm waters are ideal for boating, sailing, water-skiing, kayaking… you name it. The town is most recognized for its cool weather all year around and the peculiar typical home decor featuring white stucco houses decked out in sienna wainscoting, with wrought iron balconies, elegant porches, and tile roofs. Valle is made for walking, so wear comfortable shoes and a hat for the sun. Evenings are often chilly, so don’t forget your sweater!

Not far from Valle de Bravo, don't miss the unique spectacle of the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries; the nearest sanctuary, Piedra Herrada, is just 20 minutes away. If you want to forget about telephones and the internet, the Bosencheve Nature Park – just 40 minutes from Valle – provides facilities for camping, wildlife watching, and trout fishing.

Another way to get close to nature is horseback riding or gently walking through the flower-scented forest around Avandaro, an even smaller town just 2 km from Valle. The Velo de Novia Falls are among the most popular and easiest to reach and invite you to walk alongside cascading waters and soothe your soul. Exuberant natural beauty and quaint cottages are the main attractions of this town, but it became famous in the early 1970s when the town hosted the very first rock concert in Mexico, in the style of Woodstock.

Puerto Morelos is considered a semi-massive touristic destination part of the world famous Riviera Maya. Just a 20-minute drive south from the Cancun International Airport; Puerto Morelos is known for its bohemian ambiance and small town feel which provides an authentic local experience to those looking for a less commercial area to stay when visiting Mexico.

This is the place to come and relax: watch the sunrise on the beach, meet the locals, explore the natural wonders such as the coral reef 500 meters from shore, work on your tan, or simply soak up the serenity. Wedged between the bustling cities of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, it has maintained its peaceful atmosphere of a charming Mexican fishing village living up to its nickname “La Joya del Caribe” (Jewel of the Caribbean). The community, a mix of locals and foreigners, works hard to protect Puerto’s status as a National Marine Park and keep development to a minimum. Its close proximity to the airports and bus terminals makes Puerto Morelos a perfect base for exploring the Yucatan peninsula.

Situated in a fertile valley surrounded by mountains in the southern state of Chiapas Mexico: San Cristobal de las Casas is today one of Mexico’s best-preserved Spanish colonial towns. The state of Chiapas is home to several indigenous people descended from the Maya, two of the largest being the Tzotzils and Tzeltals who inhabit highland villages surrounding San Cristobal.

The indigenous people of Chiapas speak their own language (often in addition to Spanish), practice their own unique customs and can be identified by their traditional dress that varies by group. It’s not unusual for them to travel into San Cristobal to sell their handmade crafts and shop in the markets for everyday items to take back to their villages.

You’ll want to set aside plenty of time to wander the narrow cobblestone streets of San Cristobal, past brightly painted buildings and colorful shops and markets. The town is laid out in a grid pattern and can be easily explored on foot. Several of the main streets leading to the center of town are closed to traffic and converge on the central park or zocalo (main plaza).

San Cristobal has been a well-known international tourist destination since the 1970s. Today, the town is home to numerous travel agencies, language schools, art-house cinemas, museums and artisans’ markets, as well as a dizzying array of shops, sidewalk cafes, and restaurants, many catering to international visitors.

With its laid-back, bohemian atmosphere, San Cristobal de las Casas continues to be a popular destination among international backpackers and foreign residents, many who arrive to study Spanish or volunteer with local organizations in the fields of sustainability, education and human rights.

Mexico has more than 2,000 archaeological sites registered in its territory; About 187 are open to the public.

Mexico has 111 Heritage cities that are distinguished for their high historical value, beautiful architecture and rich tradition.