Palenque
The Temple of the Cross at Palenque, Chiapas. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
A small jungle town that exists to serve one of the great Maya cities, whose temples and palaces rise from the rainforest. The Temple of the Inscriptions held the tomb of King Pakal, and the site museum displays his jade death mask. Waterfalls like Misol-Ha and Agua Azul are easy day trips.