First, a word about geography… Chiapas is a region in southern Mexico.
It’s renowned for its cultural richness, its gastronomy, its mountains, but above all for its varied fauna. In fact, how can we describe Chiapas without mentioning its animal diversity?
From San Cristobal de las Casas, the historic capital of Chiapas, to the archaeological site of Palenque, via the Montes Azules nature reserve, come and discover Chiapas with me!
San Cristobal de las casas, THE colonial city of Chiapas
After flying to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, I head for San Cristobal de las Casas. I was immediately seduced by the beauty of this colorful city, nestled in the middle of the mountains. I take advantage of the opportunity to spend a day meeting the indigenous population in the villages of San Juan de Chamula and Zinacantan. I visit the church of San Juan, where the atmosphere and energy are very strong. It was here that I had my first opportunity to see a chicken sacrificed!
The beauty of Montebello's lagoons
Then back on the road with Marcello, my Chiapaneco driver-guide.
Together, we head for the Montebello lagoons. On the way, we stop off at a distillery producing posh, a local drink made from corn, wheat bran and panela. Here we meet José, who explains the sugarcane-based production process.
Las Nubes waterfalls
After spending the night in a lagoon-side hut, Marcello and I set off again for Las Nubes. This region is best known for its waterfalls, each more impressive than the last. When we arrive, equipped with our headlamps and mosquito repellent, we’re off in search of bats and tarantulas!
Montes Azules: crocodile reserve
It’s time for us to continue our adventure to the Montes Azules reserve at the Las Guacamayas ecolodge. After an evening of howler monkey songs, I set off in a pirogue, equipped with my binoculars, to discover the crocodiles and guacamayas along the rio! Swimming is not recommended here, but you can enjoy the freshness and tranquility of the morning.
Discovering the Yaxchilan archaeological site
The next day, like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, I set off to conquer the archaeological site of Yaxchilan! This site is only accessible by boat, and lies on the border between Mexico and Guatemala, in the heart of a lush wilderness. Here, I find myself alone (except for the multitude of monkeys around me) and explore the site as if it had never been visited before!
Lacanja reserve and Roberto Barrios waterfalls
We end our journey on the banks of the Rio Lacanja, before heading for Palenque, where I fell in love with the intimacy and crystalline color of the Roberto Barrios waterfalls, as well as visiting the archaeological site with Cathy!
I hope that this review of my trip in Chiapas has also inspired you to explore this region, which is undoubtedly one of my favorites in Mexico!
