Considered one of the best-preserved examples of Mayan architecture, the ruins of Palenque can be found in the dense jungle of Mexico’s Chiapas state. The city flourished between 500 and 700 AD, after which it disappeared into the rainforest until its rediscovery in 1746. Spread over 15 square kilometres, the area is home to hundreds of enthralling temples and palaces that were constructed without the help of metal tools, wheels, or animals. Adorning the structures are relief carvings illustrating Mayan mythology, and the site is dotted with sacred ceiba trees which the Mayans believed to connect the underworld, the earth, and the heavens.