Culture & Jungle in Chiapas

Upon arrival at Angel Albino Corzo International Airport, you will be picked up and taken to your hotel in Chiapa Corzo (approximately a 35 minutes drive). In the afternoon, your guide will give you a general explanation of the itinerary and some general recommendations for the trip. You will have a welcome dinner at the Árbol de la Vida restaurant in the evening.

Today, you will head towards the Islet of Cahuaré embarkation point near Chiapa de Corzo. Here, you and your guide will get into your respective kayaks to navigate along the breathtaking Sumidero Canyon, a stunning natural formation whose geologic roots reach back approximately 136 million years ago. Its walls reach 2,624 ft (800 m) above the Grijalva River in the middle of lush vegetation.

During this tour of approximately 4 hours, you will cover around 8 kilometers while observing a wide diversity of wildlife, flora, and fauna, such as bromeliads, pines, river crocodiles, and spider monkeys. You'll also see waterfalls, caves, and interesting rock formations as you learn about the area's nature. After your excursion, transfer to the charming town of San Cristobal de las Casas.

Today, hike to San Juan Chamula, an indigenous Mayan Tzotzil village immersed in the mountains of Chiapas. The hike is 9.3km and takes about 2 hours to complete. San Juan Chamula is characterized by its indigenous and religious traditions, which are manifested in its mystical rituals that combine pre-Hispanic and Catholic customs. Here you will visit the church of San Juan Bautista and its traditional market.

Next, walk to the village of Zinacantán (approx 2 hrs - 7.5 km), the "place of bats.” This village, Tzotzil, is less crowded than San Juan Chamula but just as charming. It stands out for its ancestral know-how of belt weaving of colorful traditional clothes and is adorned with many motifs rich in symbols waiting to be interpreted. You will have the chance to be invited to the house of a local to discover his weaving workshop and cooking and have the honor of enjoying the traditional drink "poshee.” Free time for lunch at a local restaurant.

Back to San Cristobal. Free afternoon to enjoy on your own the magical town of San Cristobal de las Casas, famous for its renowned gastronomy that has been recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Your adventure begins early in the morning in the town of Tzimol, where you will meet your local guide to receive instructions and the safety equipment you will need for today's experience. Board an all-terrain vehicle to take a scenic dirt road for about 45 minutes through the mountains and hills of this region, where you can enjoy the view of agricultural fields, sugar cane fields, and the Angostura Dam on the horizon.

Upon arrival, you will walk a trail of approximately 400 meters to reach the river. Your guide will take you from the tranquility and beauty of the forest to experience the different combinations of emotions in the river at the first and second waterfalls, where you can practice canyoning (walking, swimming, jumping into the water, sliding, climbing on the river bank) with jumps from half a meter to 7 meters high full of adrenaline, or if you prefer, you can relax in one of the hammocks under the shade while listening to the sounds of the nature At the end of the experience, you will enjoy delicious quesadillas or a sandwich to recover energy.

Enjoy a day of adventure, relaxation, and natural beauty before returning to Tzimol.

Today you will visit one of the most emblematic places in the state of Chiapas, Los Lagos de Montebello, a site made up of countless lagoons with turquoise and emerald tones that are part of this outstanding Natural Protected Area. This site is considered a national park because it is located in a hydrological region of high biological richness in which there are more than 157 species of orchids, as well as more than 93 species of fungi, and due to its characteristics is considered an area of high importance for the conservation of birds.

During this tour, which takes approximately 1 hour, you will visit one of the lakes in the area; paddling a traditional boat made of intertwined wooden logs, you will appreciate the shades of blue that, as the sunlight penetrates them, will allow you to contemplate a landscape of great scenic beauty surrounded by nature and tranquility.

Afterward, head out for a beautiful, moderate 3km hike that boasts epic viewpoints and lovely forest paths that twist along the hillside.The trailhead begins from Lago Pojoj in Lagunas de Montebello National Park.

After breakfast, you will head to Canto de la Selva, an ecotourism hotel in front of the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. To get there, you will take a boat to navigate the Lacantun, one of the last cleanest and most biodiverse rivers in the country. During this tour, you will be able to observe beautiful landscapes and fauna, such as aquatic birds and, with a bit of luck, macaws, and crocodiles.

After check-in, enjoy a walk through the jungle with an expert local guide for two hours (approx 2 km). Take an interpretative trail to learn the secrets and stories of the place, including its majestic ceibas. During the tour, and with some luck, you will be able to observe some species that inhabit the Lacandon Jungle, such as pheasants, toucans, red macaws, or howler monkeys. Being inside the jungle surrounded by its sounds is an extraordinary experience.

After sunset, you will go back into the wilderness for a one-hour night walk (approx. 1.5 km), unlike today's first walk, the jungle is more active, and you will be able to appreciate it differently. A unique experience.

After breakfast, you will take the road for 4 hours to visit the ancient Mayan city of Yaxchilan, the "place of the green stones''. Then, with your local guide, you will board a motorboat to navigate the Usumacinta River, the largest in Central America and a natural border between Guatemala and Mexico. You will travel the river for approximately 40 minutes while you go into the heart of the jungle until you reach the city of Yaxchilan.

Once at the site, you will visit and learn, for approximately 2 hours, about the history of the most emblematic buildings of the place through the original paintings thousands of years old, steles and lintels that narrate the lifestyle and government of that pre-Hispanic city, in the end, you will take the boat back to the pier, hopefully on the way before you can see some endemic birds and wildlife of the place. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a delicious meal at Escudo de Jaguar. Finally, your driver will take you to Campamento Lacandones (one hour drive).

After breakfast, you will start the day in the company of a Lacandon guide. You will immerse in the jungle for about 4 to 5 hours (9 km) to appreciate nature and a small archeological area called Lacanja. Also, there is a beautiful waterfall where you will have the opportunity to swim. Your guide will explain the type of fauna and flora that prevails in the place and medicinal plants; back to Campamento Lacandones, where you will enjoy a delicious lunch.

Afterward, you will head to Nahá (approx. two h 30 minutes drive), A place of landscapes, stories, knowledge, colors, sounds, and silence. Upon your arrival, you will participate in an archery workshop; your guide will provide the materials you will use to work and prepare your arrows and bow. At the end of the activity, these same will be the tools you will use to practice your shot and define how good an archer you are.

In the late afternoon, you will enjoy a walk of two hours (2 km) to hear the sounds that the jungle emits. With a bit of luck, you can observe owls in freedom and admire the beauty of these animals

After breakfast, head deep into the jungle today as a Lacandon guide accompanies you on a 3 to 4-hour tour through the remarkable Nahá Reserve. You will start with a 1-kilometer walk along a country road until you reach the trail entrance. This 3-kilometer trail (round trip) leads to the beautiful Nahá lagoon. During the trail, your guide will share their knowledge of the different species of local flora and fauna and contemplate the tranquility of Lake Nahá, where you'll board a boat to navigate the waters. Disembark for a 1-kilometer jungle trek near the water, where, with a bit of luck, you'll be able to spot a variety of local wildlife, including turtles and crocodiles. Lunch at Nahá.

Then you will visit Metzabok, an exuberant lagoon system born in the heart of the Lacandon Jungle of Chiapas. It is considered a natural wonder and is included in UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves. It extends along the banks of southern Chiapas with 8,322 acres (3,368 hectares) of rainforest ecosystem—home to flora, fauna, bodies of water, and spectacular scenery. This vast territory has been carefully guarded for hundreds of years by the Lacandon Maya, who preserve and protect its beauty as it thrives as an eco-tourism destination.

Explore its wonders with a boat trip to one of the lagoons, where you can discover trails leading to Maya ruins, cave paintings, and even human remains from hundreds of years ago. Then, you will head to Palenque, where you will spend the night.

Explore the lesser-known archaeological area of Palenque, where you can see how quickly the jungle can re-absorb an entire city. Once a center of civilization until the 7th century, the now-abandoned town was taken over by the forest until people rediscovered it and began excavations. Since then, the site has been recognized for its historical value and given a UNESCO designation. These days, the ruins are one of Mexico's most important Mayan sites, with plenty of artifacts that shed insight into the myths, rituals, beliefs, and lives of its people. As part of its importance, both regionally and nationally, archaeologists have determined that Palenque was one of the main sites that influenced other settlements of the Usumacinta Basin.

Then, you will head an hour outside the town of Palenque for a relaxing adventure at the Roberto Barrios Waterfalls. The falls are famed for their beautiful turquoise waters, which cast a refreshing spray into the surrounding air (perfect for cooling off!) Look around when you reach the falls—you might be able to spot fish in the clear water, monkeys in the trees, or even toucans, parrots, or motmots (clock birds) in the canopy above you.

Spend a couple of hours enjoying the scenery, a refreshing swim, and relaxing by the water. When you return, your guide will be waiting for you with a delicious barbecue on the banks of the river, where he will cook meat, chicken, fresh salad, and fried plantains for dessert. Back to Palenque. In the evening, you will enjoy a delicious dinner at your hotel.

Today, your driver will take you from Palenque to Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport (a 2-hours drive). We suggest flights after 1:00 pm.

We are sure you will not leave as you started, this is the charm of Mexico, unique and beautiful, and there are more places to explore; we wait for you for the next adventure.