Estado de Chiapas March 5-13, 2018

Posted by Pete April 05, 2018

Estado de Chiapas March 5-13, 2018

On this Los Vagabundos tour, led by David Rico, we were joined by our buddies, Wendy and Richard Huntington. Departing SMA early afternoon by bus to the Mexico City airport, we arrived in Villahermosa, Tabasco (by air) late in the evening. Early the next morning, we had a 2-hour bus drive, mostly east and slightly south, to the archeological site of the Mayan City of Palenque, which flourished, as far as is presently known, from 200 BC to 800 AD. As of our visit, 1 square mile of a total of 10 square miles has been recovered from the jungle that overgrew the City after it was abandoned by the Mayans. The temperatures were in the high 90's.

Detailof Chiapas

Showing location of Chiapas

Temple at Palenque, infrared image by Ben Simbole

Leaving Palenque the following day, we head south and a little west on a day-long drive up a steep, narrow and twisty--very scenic--drive to San Cristobal, Chiapas' capital city, stopping at 10:00 am to visit Misol-Ha waterfall,

and, later in the day for lunch, at Cascadas Agua Azul.

San Cristobal, at 6800 feet, offered much welcomed cooler weather and we spent the next four days there. With the exception of a one-day visit to two essentially Mayan communities, San Juan Chamula and San Lorenzo Zinacantan, we were on our own. Some good restaurants, but nothing exceptional. Three days would be more than enough to explore the city. Our local guide, Patricio Murphy, was very knowledgeable and personally committed to the well-being of the Mayans and their efforts to preserve their culture. As is the case with many other indigenous groups, the Mayans of Chiapas have had a difficult history.

Back in San Cristobal , a fun evening was spent at the Be-bop Jazz and Blues Club, where one of the "Vagabundos" entertained with a terrific set of blues guitar and vocals.