Zinacantan, Mexico

¡Viva Chiapas!

CHIAPAS TRAVEL GUIDE

 

 

Chiapas is the southern most state of Mexico and borders Guatemala. It is a paradise for nature lovers and adventurous spirits. It's well-preserved ruins, natural beauty, traditions, and history make this state worth visiting.

We recommend staying at least 5 days to discover this amazing state. Here are a few places we think you'll love:

TUXTLA * SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS * PALENQUE

1. Getting There

Recommendation: Fly into Angel Albino Corzo International Airport (TGZ) in Tuxtla, Chiapas, Mexico.

  • TRANSPORTATION
    • Taxi
      • Price from TGZ to Tuxtla downtown area - approximately $300 pesos
      • Price from TGZ to San Cristobal de las Casas - approximately $800-$900 pesos
      • You do not have to pre-book a taxi. Once you arrive, you can go to the kiosk at the airport and book a taxi to your accommodation
    • Private Transportation
      • Can book private transportation by contacting your hotel/accommodation, tour company, or using a third-party website (Viator, Expedia, etc.)
      • Price from TGZ to San Cristobal de las Casas starts at approximately $1500 pesos
    • Colectivo (public bus)
      • Approximately $25 pesos to Tuxtla downtown area
    • Private Bus
    • Rental Car
      • Rental cars can be pre-booked or booked at the TGZ airport; while we always felt safe in Chiapas, we understand that there are times when roads - especially roads heading towards Palenque - can be blocked due to protests or you may be diverted to a town where you may have to pay a fee to drive through the town. Renting a vehicle may not be for everyone.

Note: Depending on where you are flying from, you may have to connect in Mexico City. Check the layover time. A one hour layover most likely is not enough time to make it onto the connecting flight.

We found booking two separate flights worked best for us due to the connecting times. If you need assistance or recommendations on the connecting time, let us know. We'd love to help!

 

2. Where to Stay

TUXTLA

Why stay in Tuxtla? Perfect base for day trips and plenty of resort-style hotels where you can relax and unwind after a long day on the road.

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS

Why San Cris? A charming town with a great artisanal market and delicious food. It has a small town feel, but there are plenty of tourists.

  • Hotels
    • Casa Lum
      • Best for those looking to splurge a little
        • http://casalum.com
    • Sombra del Agua
    • Hostal El Rincon de los Camellos
      • Best for those looking to make new friends
        • http://loscamellos-hostel.negocio.site

PALENQUE

Why Palenque? The gateway to the infamous Mayan ruins.

  • Hotels
    • Casa 5 B&B
    • Cabañas Kim Balam Palenque
      • For those wanting a tranquil stay in the middle of the jungle; this place has a mix of shared rooms and private rooms
        • http://kin-balam.com

3. What to Do

TUXTLA

    • Parque de La Marimba (plaza with music, street vendors, and restaurants nearby)
    • Museo de La Marimba
    • Museo del Cafe de Chiapas
    • Museo Regional de Chiapas
    • Zoomat (this zoo only has animals native to the area and is located in a jungle area)
SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS
    • Catedral de San Cristobal de las Casas (church)
    • Andador Real the Guadalupe (pedestrian walking area)
    • Iglesia de Santo Domingo (artisanal stalls surround the church)
    • Iglesia de San Cristobalita (church with amazing views of the town)
    • Museo del Ambar
    • Casa Na Bolom (museum that preserves the history, heritage, and culture of the Lacandon Maya)
    • El Arcotete (ecopark about 15 minutes away; great for hiking)
  • DAY TRIPS
    • Zinacantan and San Juan Chamula Indigenous Villages
      • San Juan Chamula
        • It is a town that governs itself and locals practice a mix of Tzotzil Mayan religious beliefs and Catholicism; the church is the most popular attraction where tourists can witness local ceremonial practices (including the sacrificing of a chicken). The act itself is not bloody or gory.
        • You cannot take photos inside the church. You will be fined and very likely kicked out of the church/town.
        • Do not take photos of the locals, unless permission is granted. You will see women wearing traditional black skirts made out of sheep with colorful blouses and men wearing a white poncho made out of sheep.
        • Healers can be found inside and outside the church; if interested, you can get a cleansing. It should cost approximately $120-$150 pesos.
        • We highly recommend going with a tour company or hire a tour guide or read about the town and its people before visiting.
      • Zinacantan
        • It is known for its flowers and textiles. The most popular things to do are to visit the local church and visit a traditional home.
        • During the traditional home visit they will show you their traditional weaving techniques, offer you Pox (a traditional, alcoholic beverage made out of corn, sugar, and wheat), and make handmade tortillas for you to try.
        • They will also show you various garments and items that you may purchase. Some of the items are locally made, but other items come from Guatemala and nearby areas.

Note: We found better handmade garments and items at the artisan market in San Cris.
    • Palenque
      • This is a very long all day trip. We recommend traveling to Palenque and staying the night there.
      • Roadblocks can occur so we recommend going with an organized tour or taking the ADO bus to get there.
    • El Chiflon Waterfalls
    • El Aguacero Waterfall
    • Cañon El Sumidero and Chiapa de Corzo
    • Montebello Lakes
    • Agua Azul and Roberto Berrios Falls

Note: Day trips from Tuxtla or San Cristobal can be pre-booked before your arrival or you can wait until you arrive to book your tours. There are many tour companies in both towns. You can also ask your hotel for assistance; however, make sure to ask locals for prices as some hotels may quote a higher fee for the same service as a regular taxi or tour company.




4. Where to Eat

TUXTLA
    • El Restaurante Las Pichanchas
    • La Mansion
    • Aroma Espresso
    • Chiquitita
    • Taquitos Casa Blanca
    • El Rincon de Josefina
    • Otilia
SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS
    • Xut
    • Casa Lum Restaurant
    • La Lupe Cocina de Maiz y de Agave
    • Picanta Sazon Mexicano
    • Restaurante Casa Utrilla
    • Doña Isabel Gourmet (bakery)
    • Cafelogia (coffee)
    • La Viña de Bacco (tapas bar)
    • La Mezcaleria La Surreal
    • La Vaca Cervecería

Note: You will see some popular U.S. food chains in Tuxtla and San Cris. We were surprised to see Starbucks, Burger King, and Subway in San Cris. You will also see other food including Italian and Korean. We preferred to sample Mexican food.

 

5. Other Things to Know

  • We recommend taking some pesos with you to pay for your taxi from the airport.
  • There are several banks in Tuxtla and San Cris (BBVA, ScotiaBank, HSBC, etc.) so you can withdraw money from the ATM. We withdrew money and had no issues.
  • Some places only accept cash or may have issues with their credit card machine so always have some cash on hand.
  • If you are at a market, you can bargain with the vendor. Feel free to ask them about the items they are selling and where they come from. Do not expect items to be given to you for pennies. A lot of these items are handmade and take days or months to make. Respect their craftsmanship.
  • They know you are a tourist even if you speak Spanish. Expect to be quoted a higher fee than the locals. However, always talk to the locals as they can tell you how much taxis, tours, items, etc. cost. It's one thing to pay a few pesos more, but it's another to be charged double or triple the amount simply for being a tourist.
  • Pack a water bottle/container and take it with you. It can get very hot, especially in Tuxtla. It's safe to buy bottled water in Mexico. Do not drink the tap water.
  • Carry Pepto or Tums with you. No matter how much you think your stomach can handle the food/drinks, it cannot.
  • Carry hand wipes and baby wipes. It's common to have to pay to use a public bathroom.
  • If you go on a trip, remember to tell someone where you are going.
  • Respect the locals. They are some of the friendliest people you will meet. They want you to have a great time in their town/state.
  • Have fun and try something new!
  • We hope you found our guide helpful! If you have any other questions, let us know.


The Viva Esperanza Team 💜

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