Chiapas... an ecological dream

Located in Mexico’s southern region, Chiapas borders Tabasco to the north, Guatemala and the Pacific Ocean to the south and Veracruz and Oaxaca to the west.

Famous for its wide variety of festivities, traditions, crafts and cuisine, you’ll also find a lot of natural beauty in Chiapas at such places as Canon del Sumidero National Park, the Cascadas de Agua Azul Biosphere Reserve and the Montebello Lagoons, where you’ll see turquoise-blue waters surrounded by a forest with indigenous plant and animal species. What’s more, you can visit fascinating Mayan archaeological zones, including those at Tonina, Bonampak, Yaxchilan and mysterious Palenque, where archaeologists have made recent discoveries of the rulers’ tombs. Nearby, in the magical city of San Cristobal de las Casas, you’ll see beautiful religious buildings like the Cathedral and the Templo de Santo Domingo. You can also visit the plazas and markets, where you’ll find crafts, garments and wood sculptures made by Tzotzil, Tzeltal and Lacandon indigenous artisans.

In the surrounding areas of Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital, where you can marvel at important historic buildings like the Cathedral of San Marcos and the Antiguo Palacio de Gobierno, you can also visit the towns of Chiapas de Corzo, San Juan Chamula and Comitan de Dominguez. There you’ll see splendid architecture, various festivities and Spanish- and Mayan-influenced traditions.

PALENQUE
Located in the southern state of Chiapas, about 290 km (180 mi) northeast of state capital Tuxtla Gutierrez and 220 km (136 mi) from San Cristobal de las Casas, Palenque is one of the most important Mayan archaeological zones. Simply put, it’s a must-see destination on your next visit to Mexico’s southern region.

The ruins are embedded in the heart of a tropical jungle, which gets torrential downpours during the summer and has an average temperature of 26º C (79º F). Palenque offers amazing temples and structures dating back to Mexico’s Classic era (from 400—700 AD); the ruins were explored during the 19th century. Among the most important structures at the site are: El Palacio (The Palace), which has a notable tower that rises above the complex; Los Templos del Sol, de la Cruz and de la Cruz Foliada (The Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Cross and Temple of the Foliated Cross), which surround the Plaza del Sol. There’s also the Templo de las Inscripciones (Temple of the Inscriptions). In 1952, a tomb was discovered under this temple with a beautifully inscribed sarcophagus among the funerary furnishings of King Pakal. The ancient ruler of Palenque ordered the temple’s construction, which would also serve as a holy tomb after his death.

In the ruin’s surrounding areas, you can go hiking amongst dense jungle vegetation while appreciating the abundance of plant and animal species that inhabit the Palenque National Park, which covers some 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres). There, you’ll spot various bird species, howler monkeys, and you might even get a chance to spy a jaguar.

About 6 km (4 mi) east of the archaeological zone and the national park lies the town of Palenque, which offers everything you’ll need for your visit: lodging, restaurants, stores and markets, where you can buy all kinds of crafts and enjoy the tasty regional cuisine of Chiapas. Nearby, you can visit the waterfalls of Agua Azul and Misol-Ha, two important natural tourist attractions. There, you can go camping and take in the gorgeous scenery, which at one time could only be admired by Mayan princes.

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS
San Cristobal de las Casas is located in the central region in the state of Chiapas, 85 km (53 mi) east of Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital. The climate is temperate and humid, with rainfall in the summer and an average year-round temperature of 15º C (59º F).

In this city, which has one of Mexico’s most beautiful urban designs, you can discover impressive religious edifices like the Cathedral or the Templo de Santo Domingo. These buildings were restored using a combination of profuse baroque-style details and local architectural elements, which perpetuate the cultural heritage of ethnic groups that live in the surrounding areas, such as the Tzotziles, Tzeltales and the Lacandons. During your stay, you’ll also see exotic collections of crafts, objects of everyday use and pre-Hispanic pieces housed in anthropological and philanthropic institutions such as the Museo Na Bolom or the Centro Cultural de los Altos de Chiapas. In the city’s environs, you can experience a magical atmosphere in towns like San Juan Chamula, which hosts one of the most colorful and celebrated carnivals in the state. From there, you can head out to areas that are rich in natural resources, such as the Huitepec Ecological Reserve, where you can truly appreciate the region’s biodiversity. There’s also El Arcotete, where you can go rappelling down 30-meter (100-foot) cliffs.

SURROUNDING AREAS, TOURING AND NOTABLE PLACES
Route to the Montebello Lagoons – Departing from San Cristobal, take Highway 190 in a southeastward direction until you reach Comitan de Dominguez (a 95-km ride). In this city you can visit important historic buildings, such as the Templo de Santo Domingo, a 16th-century edifice with Moorish influences. You can also check out the Casa Museo Belisario Dominguez, where you’ll see the well-preserved building, office and personal objects of famed doctor and local politician Beilsario Dominguez. Continue along the same route until you arrive at the Tenam Puente archaeological zone, 10 km (6 mi) southeast of Comitan. Here you can see courtyards, buildings and ball courts on terraced platforms. Follow the same highway for 16 km (10 mi) until you reach La Trinitaria, where you’ll find the turnoff to Highway 307, which leads to the Chinkultik ruins. On the tiered limestone platforms of this ancient Mayan city you’ll see the main structures and a ball court. The last stop of this tour is 5km (3 mi) east of Chinkultik, at the Parque Nacional Lagunas de Montebello (Montebello Lagoons National Park), which lies 150 km (93 mi) southeast of San Cristobal. There you can visit a group of more than 60 gorgeous lagoons with turquoise-blue waters and sinkholes surrounded by a coniferous forest. In the surrounding areas you can do outdoor recreational activities such as horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking.

ECOTOURISM
In Tuxtla Gutierrez (the state capital of Chiapas) and its surrounding areas you’ll find important parks and ecological reserves that are ideal for observing the region’s indigenous flora and fauna.

Reserva Especial de la Biosfera El Ocote (El Ocote Biosphere Reserve). Located more than 60 km (37 mi) west of Tuxtla Gutierrez, off Highway 190. In this 48,140-hectare (118,831-acre) protected area you’ll see some of the most representative plant species of the region’s moist evergreen forests, such as the gumbo- limbo tree, the ramoon and allspice. As for the regional fauna, you can spy howler monkeys, spider monkeys, tapir, coypu, jaguars and many more species.

Cañon del Sumidero National Park. Located more than 20 km (14 mi) north of Tuxtla Gutierrez. This natural area covers 21,789 hectares (53,818 acres). It has some of Mexico’s oldest geological formations and some of its most relevant sites due to their ecological, historical and archaeological importance. At this place you can explore an ecosystem with a wide variety of tropical deciduous forest vegetation. You’ll also have the opportunity to observe endangered animal species, such as crocodiles, great curassows and anteaters.

Dr. Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden. Located at Calzada de los Hombres Ilustres and 5a Av. Norte Poniente. At this 4-hectare (10-acre) garden you’ll find important examples of indigenous forest vegetation from Chiapas, such as trees with precious woods, medicinal plants and house plants like orchids.

SURROUNDING AREAS, TOURING AND NOTABLE PLACES
Touring the Sumidero Canyon – Departing from Tuxtla Gutierrez, take Highway 190 east for 17 km (10 mi) to Chiapa de Corzo. At this place you can visit important architectural monuments, such as the emblematic Fuente Mudejar, a 16th-century construction built in the form of a chapel, and the Templo and Ex-Convento de San Domingo, a gothic renaissance-style edifice with three naves and murals from the colonial era. Here you also can visit the Regional Lacquer Museum (one of the town’s most representative crafts). After that you can hire a boat and set out on a tour of the Sumidero Canyon, one of the nation’s most impressive natural attractions. The tour lasts about two hours and includes tales about hidden treasures found at the bottom of the Grijalva River. Along the way you’ll see curious rock formations such as the canyon’s famous "Arbol de Navidad" (Christmas Tree). The 20-km (14-mi) tour ends at Presa Chicoasen, one of the country’s largest and most important dams. There electrical energy is generated for use in Mexico and Central America.

ARTS AND CRAFTS
In San Cristobal de las Casas you can buy quality handicrafts, including beautiful wool garments, textiles and embroidered items. In some of the neighborhoods, such as El Cerillo and La Merced, you’ll find forged steel objects, wax sculptures and silver and amber jewelry. A good place to purchase crafts is the Casa de Artesanias on Av. Hidalgo.

GASTRONOMY
In San Cristobal you can try exquisite dishes of indigenous and Spanish influences. Among the regional fare you can enjoy are tamales with chipilin leaves, chalupas, chiles stuffed with pork or vegetables and the delicious asado chiapaneco (a roasted pork dish). You can also enjoy pork, beef and vegetable stews, bread soup, beef tongue in saffron and Soconusco-style chanfaina (lamb organs served with rice). To accompany your meal, order a refreshing glass of punch or a tascalate (a fermented corn beverage).

Chiapas city Tour