Though it is one of the Mexico's more impoverished regions, the southernmost state of Chiapas is rich in ways that cannot be measured in monetary terms. It  is rich in history, cultural and ethnic diversity, and wildlife. The state capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez, is the center of  a thriving coffee-growing region and home of Mexico's famed marimba music.  Accessible by air service from Mexico City, Tuxtla offers a good base for  exploring picturesque villages where pre-Hispanic customs have survived.

San Cristobal de las Casas is a characteristically indigenous Chiapaneca town nestled in the heart of the state's jungle highlands,  at a 7,200-foot elevation. It's a short flight from Tuxtla Gutierrez, or a scenic two-hour drive away. The winding, ascending road is probably the most  attractive way to arrive at this mountain top town.

En route, the tropical heat  and plant life prevalent in Tuxtla gradually give way to the nippy mountain air and pine forests that surround San Cristobal, where days are sunny and warm, and  nights chilly, or even cold when it rains. Amber, the translucent stone derived  from fossilized coniferous resin, is plentiful in the region, and attractive  shops in town display creative jewelry fashioned out of silver and the ancient  rock.

Chiapa de Corzo is an interesting stop going up the  mountain, and a departure point for boat trips through Sumidero Canyon. There is a pleasant town square and archaeological remains which can be seen by  arrangement with landowners. This area was one of the first in Mesoamerica where  nomadic groups established permanent settlements, around 1500 B.C.

As a market town, San Cristobal draws Indians from surrounding areas who come to sell their handwoven goods and earthenware. The most prominent group are the  Chamulas, members of the Tzotzil and Tzeltal Mayan tribes.