Chiapas Specials
Welcome to Chiapas. This program covers a wide range, as well as various days as if it was already a full program by itself. Of course, this can be extended, put together with central Mexico, as well as with Yucatán peninsula and Mexico’s Caribbean or Pacific coast.
DAY 1: AIRPORT TUXTLA GUTIÉRREZ – SUMIDERO CANYON – CHIAPA DE CORZO
Welcome in Tuxtla Airport by your local mexican, english speaking guide.
Important: this day’s services will be possible with flight arrival in TGZ not later than 13h/1pm local Tuxtla Gutierrez time!
From airport, drive to nearby boarding point for a boat tour on Grijalva river through the mighty Sumidero Canyon, where the high and steep rocky walls finally will rise over 1000mts on both sides of the water flow. Also, the local flora & fauna is worth to be visited.
Overnight in Chiapa de Corzo.
DAY 2: CHIAPA DE CORZO – SIMA DE LAS COTORRAS – EL AGUACERO – SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS
Today’s excursion goes into the wild rural area of lower Chiapas. Reach the ecotourism areas of Sima de las Cotorras and Aguacero. In the first site, see the giant sinkhole of several hundred meters depth and great diameter, which is home of flocks of tropical parrots, which with dawn come out of their profound home flying up into the sky in search for food during the daylight and to return, after your visit here, with sunset to be protected from predators. In El Aguacero you will enter a river gorge, getting down by steps in the jungle to the flow, reach wonderful caves, underground parts and waterfalls of La Venta River. Afternoon drive up to reach your hotel in charming San Cristóbal de las Casas Maya highland economic and cultural center. Evening at leisure.
Overnight in San Cristóbal de las Casas.
DAY 3: SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS & TZOTZIL MAYA COMMUNITIES
Enjoy today the morning visit walk in San Cristóbal de las Casas to discover street and market scenes, the picturesque and colorful houses and churches. Drive also out to the Tzotzil Maya communities in San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán, where people keep religious rites which can appear bizarre to the eyes of a foreign visitor – the all-day dresses of the Maya people in rural areas of Chiapas change from town to town, vary in patterns, parts and colors. Back in San Cristóbal de las Casas around noon, enjoy a cycling activity into the rural surroundings of town, see landscape, highland vegetation, and animals until getting to a remote ancient mill as point of return, to be back in San Cristóbal and your hotel in later afternoon. Evening at leisure.
Overnight in San Cristóbal de las Casas.
DAY 4: SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS – MONTEBELLO LAKES – LAS NUBES – LAS GUACAMAYAS
Soon departure in the morning, to get via Comitán into the region next to border with Guatemala, where the amazing Lakes of Montebello are located. the influence of minerals in the crystal-clear water give a high visual quality in endless shades of blue to these jewels like water surfaces among the pine forest hills of the highlands. Afterwards, drive down into the lower regions and get to Las Nubes place, where the Lacandon people will lead you by a short walk into the tropical jungle area to discover flora and fauna of great biodiversity and let you learn about the ecosystem. Late afternoon arrival in Las Guacamayas ecotourist center on the shore of a tropical jungle. Enjoy the evening at leisure in this paradise like remote place.
Overnight in Ecotouristic Center.
DAY 5: LAS GUACAMAYAS – COROZAL
Morning activity in Las Guacamayas by boat on the river to observe local flora and fauna in the unique landscape environment. During this approx. 3h activity, cross the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve on Lacantún and Tsendales rivers, see all kinds of different fauna, learn about their sounds and colors. Enjoy lunch right in the jungle and have some free time to relax, before in the afternoon to proceed to reach your next overnight place in Corozal town on the banks of river Usumacinta natural border with neighboring country of Guatemala.
Overnight in Corozal.
DAY 6: COROZAL – YAXCHILÁN – BONAMPAK – VALLE ESCONDIDO
Morning start for today’s excursion to discover some of the most exciting arch. site in Mexico’s Lacandon region. First, take a boat ride on river Usumacinta over some 45minutes, to reach Yaxchilán remotely positioned arch. site of a former Mayan ceremonial center on a land point in a bend of Usumacinta. Not only the temples and ornamented stelae covered by dense jungle are beautiful, but so is the flora and fauna, too. It should not be surprising here to observe monkeys watching your steps from high above in the trees! Afterwards, return by boat to Corozal and drive over to Bonampak arch. site, where the ancient temples keep some amazingly preserved and restored interior paintings of bright colors showing prehispanic scenes of the theocratic life in the Maya world. Late afternoon continuing to reach your overnight place in Valle Escondido.
Overnight in Valle Escondido.
DAY 7: VALLE ESCONDIDO – ROBERTO BARRIOS – PALENQUE
Morning departure drive from Tres Lagunas towards Palenque. In route, have detours to reach the beautiful waterfalls of Welib Já and Roberto Barrios. The water of the rivers which forms these falls have a fascinating blue shimmering quality in winter times. The mineral content of water let the falls form amazing calciferous stones along the steps. Afternoon arrival in Palenque and tropical garden hotel to relax for the resting daytime.
Overnight in Palenque
DAY 8: PALENQUE – AIRPORT VILLAHERMOSA
In the morning, cover the short drive to nearby arch. site of Palenque (UWH) which counts among the most beautiful remains of former Mayan kingdom cities in Mexico. Located in naturally elevated terrace position, embraced by tropical jungle mountains from behind and with a great view over the plains of neighbor state of Tabasco, the site gains a very special atmosphere. See here the important Temple of Inscriptions, Governor’s Palace and Observatory and the Temple Group of the Cross, among others. Late morning departure drive from Palenque to airport Villahermosa-VSA, which is located at distance of approx. 2h drive. Delivery in terminal building.
Operated by: Mexcellence Travel
