Chiapas is the Southern Mexican Sate bordering Guatemala. Mountains, Rainforests, Mayan Archeological sites, Indigenous Culture, Waterfalls, Rivers with clear blue water, Lakes, Canyons, colonial towns…
Chiapas has it all if you appreciate nature and culture!
El Aguacero (downpour)
Our first stop in Chiapas was the Centro Ecoturistico Cascada El Aguacero.
Once again, we arrived at the end of the day when the visitors were leaving and we camped in the parking lot, and had the place almost to ourselves the next day.
This waterfall is one of our favorite site we visited in all of Mexico. Well worth the 724 steps you have to climb down into the canyon.
Sumidero Canyon – National Park
The guide books recommended this attraction on the way to San Cristobal de Las Casas, so we left the waterfalls early in the morning to get a 2 hour boat ride on the Grijalva River. It was a hot and hazy day and we were not to impressed by the site but it was still something interesting to see.
San Cristobal de Las Casas
“Set in a gorgeous highland valley surrounded by pine forest, the colonial city of San Cristóbal has been a popular travelers’ destination for decades. It’s a pleasure to explore San Cristóbal’s cobbled streets and markets, soaking up the unique ambience and the wonderfully clear highland light. This medium-sized city also boasts a comfortable blend of city and countryside, with restored century-old houses giving way to grazing animals and fields of corn. Surrounded by dozens of traditional Tzotzil and Tzeltal villages, San Cristóbal is at the heart of one of the most deeply rooted indigenous areas in Mexico. A great base for local and regional exploration, it’s a place where ancient customs coexist with modern luxuries. The city is a hot spot for sympathizers (and some opponents) of the Zapatista rebels, and a central location for organizations working with Chiapas’ indigenous people . In addition to a solid tourist infrastructure and a dynamic population of artsy and politically progressive foreigners and Mexicans, San Cristóbal also has a great selection of accommodations and a cosmopolitan array of cafes, bars and restaurants.
After a very stressful drive we were happy to arrive at this incredibly beautiful cascading river with turquoise water!
The natural beauty of this site is just unbelievable but the surroundings was a bit overwhelming with all the vendors constantly hassling you and the questionable security.
We swam for a while, walked around and found a place in the parking lot to spend the night.
We were happy to meet another couple of Overlanders from France who also camped there.
Misol-Ha
From Agua Azul we drove to another Natural site called Misol-Ha. It was less spectacular then Agua Azul but so much more peaceful.
Palenque
The Archaeological Site of Palenque is one of the most outstanding Classic site of the Maya area, known for its exceptional and well conserved architectural and cultural remains.
It was at its height between AD 500 and 700. We perticularly liked it because of the setting, you can walk on a nice path through a lush Jungle.
Hi, I am looking into booking flights to see these exact places. Can you let me know what area you suggest staying in if I wont have a camper and will need to take cabs different places?
Hi Rebecca, our favorite place in Chiapas is the small colonial town of San Cristobal de las Casas and it would be a great place to base yourself. From there you can arrange tours to see the attractions. The town has a lot of different lodging options and great restaurants.
Have fun, Mexico is awsome and Chiapas won’t disappoint!
Cheers
Josée
Hi, I am looking into booking flights to see these exact places. Can you let me know what area you suggest staying in if I wont have a camper and will need to take cabs different places?
Hi Rebecca, our favorite place in Chiapas is the small colonial town of San Cristobal de las Casas and it would be a great place to base yourself. From there you can arrange tours to see the attractions. The town has a lot of different lodging options and great restaurants.
Have fun, Mexico is awsome and Chiapas won’t disappoint!
Cheers
Josée
thank you so much!
Fantastic! Thank you so much for taking the time to share. Rozanne
Glad you enjoy it! Cheers! J&J
Wow ! Il a raison ton ami tu écris tellement bien en Anglais ,une vrai écrivaine! Continue de nous faire voyager ….
a bientôt xx
Merci matante!❤️
Josee: Your posts are spectacular. Fun to read and great photos. Perhaps you should consider writing a book.
OMG Greg you’re to kind! English being my second language, I find it a struggle to write, but thanks! But I do enjoy photography!
Cheers!
Josee