Chiapas in

Hello, I am glad to greet you, I am Yael Yancelson and it will be a pleasure to do this tour with you, today we are going to Chiapas, which is located in the southwestern region of Mexico and borders the states of Tabasco, Oaxaca and Veracruz.

Its capital is Tuxtla Gutiérrez, which offers a perfect combination of modernity and natural landscapes.

 —-So breathe, close your eyes, give me your hand and let yourself be guided, let’s begin.

Did you know that San Cristóbal was a city founded in 1528 and was named after its first bishop, Bartolomé de las Casas, who was a fervent defender of the rights of the indigenous people of the area. This town is home to the Temple of Santo Domingo, a detailed baroque structure that is now an excellent museum of Mayan culture, without a doubt it is a place full of colonial wealth when walking through its beautiful streets, the atmosphere is so special that it is considered as one of the most romantic cities in the world, so what do you think if we go through it before taking the road and making our first stop is the famous sinkhole canyon? declared a National Park in 1982, if you realize and can perceive it, it is a place that is full of mysticism and has an imposing natural beauty. If that’s okay with you, we’re going to travel the 22-kilometer-long Grijalva River, which flows between rocky walls that rise more than 1,000 meters above the water level. I find it very interesting to see the curious forms that give life to the place – can you appreciate it? The Sumidero Canyon is considered one of the new “7 Wonders of the World” thanks to its beauty. And what do you think of its magnificence?

Look, we will find several attractions such as the Christmas Tree waterfall, the Cueva del Silencio and Cueva de Colores, thus reaching the Chicoasén dam, one of the largest in the world. Afterwards, let’s gather strength as we will go up to the 5 viewpoints of the canyon to appreciate the different landscapes and learn about some legends of the natives. Stop, breathe… and let nature literally fill your lungs and more than anything your soul!

Located 64 km south of Palenque, we see an impressive natural setting-these waterfalls are formed by the Agua Azul River, which joins at its end with the Shumulha River. Its waters create an indigo blue hue that, when mixed with the green vegetation, the constant breeze and the sound of the water, make this site one of the most spectacular and unforgettable in Mexico. The Agua Azul river descends its limestone bed in steps forming a a series of impressive waterfalls that create natural pools contained by calcareous dikes, the so-called “gours” Here adventurers can not only swim in its crystal clear blue waters, they can also go on adrenaline-inducing river descents, practice rafting or even scuba diving. Also, if you are an animal lover, we can find species such as: Jungle Turipache, Coral Snake, Toucan, Royal Flycatcher, Mantled Saraguato, Anteater, Royal Nauyaca and Jaguarundi lion.

The great metropolises of the Mayan culture were built in the jungle region of Chiapas. The approach that this people sought with their deities, their taste for architecture and sculptural perfection, are magnificently reflected in the archaeological zone of Palenque, a place where there are perfectly preserved buildings, a city of the Mayan classic period. And you will see how the soul will enjoy and we will delight our emotions as we delve into the worldview of the Mayan culture. Palenque is located in the high jungle of Chiapas, where growls of howler monkeys, jaguars and the song of exotic birds are constantly heard, let’s see let’s make a silence to listen to those animal songs… This archaeological zone is extraordinary, don’t you think? ? and is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Let’s walk to see some notable buildings such as: The Great Plaza in the central esplanade, the Palace to the east, the Temple of the Inscriptions to the south, the Temple of the Sun, of the Cross, among other interesting sites, such as the ball game.

Did you know that Palenque means “place surrounded by a wooden fence or stakes”. The pre-Hispanic city dates back to the 3rd century and the guide told us that it was one of the most remarkable cities in the Mayan world as it acted as a ceremonial center, thanks to the Mayan patrons interested in demonstrating their power.

We leave Palenque and after a delicious breakfast we go to the highlands of Chiapas to visit the indigenous community of San Juan Chamula. This community has deep-rooted Mayan customs and traditions transmitted from generation to generation by its inhabitants, in addition this place is the most visited Tozotzil site since it has drawn attention for its peculiar religiosity. One of the representative places here is the Church of the People, which has very peculiar characteristics that decorate it, since its construction dates back to colonial times. If you notice, there are no benches here because the inhabitants pray on their knees creating a mystical atmosphere. After this interesting visit we quickly arrive at the magical town of Zinacantán (the land of bats), a community of great secrets, history and tradition. This city has been an important center of exchange and commerce since pre-colonial times and, like its neighboring town San Juan Chamula, Zinacantán has deep-rooted customs inherited from its ancestors, they still also preserve the religiosity and pre-Hispanic beliefs that they profess in some sacred spaces of colonial origin such as the Church of San Lorenzo, the chapels of San Sebastián and Estípulas. We have been cordially invited to the house of a family cooperative, who very kindly welcome us with a regional liquor called Pox (cane distillate). Here we can see how women work the backstrap loom from pre-Columbian times, they tell us that a large part of the textiles that are made are household items, as well as blouses, bags, typical costumes, bracelets, etc… I am going to make some shop for handicrafts, will you come with me? And then we have to enjoy a delicious typical local food.

If you like to cook, I think it’s time to prepare our ingredients to go to the kitchen and make some typical ball tamales, click on the button or if you prefer, keep traveling.