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 San Cristobal de las Casas
is a Colonial City and was the capital of the
State of Chiapas, Mexico; is characterized because of its
dry and cold climate.
Among its main attractions are:
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The
Cathedral, the Santo Domingo Temple an Ex-Convent,
where embroideries and beautiful handicrafts are made
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The La Caridad and San
Nicolas Temples
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The Del Carmen Church
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 The Municipal
Palace
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The Na-Bolom Center
created for attracting scientific and students from all over the world, interested in
learning about the Mayan culture
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The San Cristobal Market
In San Cristobal de las
Casas you can purchase a great variety of
handicrafts such as:
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costume dresses
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tinwares
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pottery
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wickerwork among others
 Regarding its
gastronomy, liquors and drinks made from cornflour are outstanding as well as delicious
bread.
Ten kilometers from San
Cristobal de las Casas you find the San Cristobal Recreational Park famous for its
interesting caverns.
From San Cristobal de las Casas to Palenque
[Map]
San Cristobal de las
Casas, lovely Colonial town situated in the highlands of the state of
Chiapas, is the ideal place
to remain two or here days visiting its main interesting sites such as
the San Cristobal Martyr Cathedral
or the Na-Bolom Museum, cultural center of the region, and later on
depart towards one of the most interesting archaeological zones,
Palenque, cradle
of the mythical and ancestral Pakal King.
Leaving by road at an early hour you pass by the Tenejapa and San Juan
Cancuc towns. To the south of these settlements you will find the
Cillon, Bachajon and Temo villages until you get to Ocosingo, where we
recommend visiting the cathedral and taste the cheese that the
natives manufacture.
In Ocosingo there is a detour to visit the archaeological zone of
Tonina, one of the
largest Mayan settlements in the area. Visit, it will be a good
experience.
Continue by road 199 towards the north, pass again by Temo and arrive
to the famous Agua
Azul Waterfall, where you can have lunch and refresh yourself in
their blue waters. Further on, approximately 45 minutes later, you
will find the
Misol-Ha Waterfall,
a beautiful recreation place where you can spend the night in
comfortable cabins to depart the next day towards
Palenque.
The town of Palenque
is found at only 15 minutes away from the archaeological site. It has
an airport and its hotel offer is very wide. The five star Mision
Hotel is located one side of the downtown area, and in La Cañada,
which is beautiful, we find the Chablis, Maya
Palenque and
Tulija Hotels. This last one is located on the highway towards the
airport. It is a four star hotel, clean and comfortable.
The ancient city of Palenque is a very interesting place. It cannot be seen in one
day. We recommend that you spend three days visiting the site's
museum, where among many treasures, you will be able to admire the
"Red Queen" Pectoral, carved in stone.
Entering by the exuberant path that is located almost in front of the
museum, you can begin your visit until you cross a hanging bridge in
the middle of the jungle and arrive at a sweet water creek, which is
known as "The Queen's Bath". Being in this Pre Hispanic place, you can
visit The Great Plaza, The Bats, and very specially, the most
important and imposing construction that dominates the plaza, known as
the Temple of the
Inscriptions, where
Pakal's Grave is located. |
San Cristobal de las Casas to Lagunas de Montebello
[Map]
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This is one of the most
interesting circuits in the state of Chiapas, since it stats in the
town founded by Diego de Mazariegos in "The Year of the Lord 1528". It
is a Colonial City that jealously keeps its traditions and costumes.
We recommend to start off
early, since highway 190 in some laps is very dangerous. The first
town that is touched is Amatenango del Valle, where you can buy
excellent arts and crafts pieces.
Continuing towards
Comitan de Dominguez,
formerly known as Comitan de las Flores. You arrive to a most charming
town. Its main plaza or "zocalo" is beautified by precious wood trees.
It is the birthplace of Rosario Castellanos, notable writer. You can
visit her family home that is a museum today. Another famous person
from Comitan is Dr. Belizario Do-minguez. Known as the “martyr of the
free word”, a title that was credited to him due to his opposition
against Victoriano Huerta, betrayer of the Country, who had Dr.
Dominguez's tongue cut off.
Traveling the short
distance of 56 kilometers you arrive at a superb green area that is
found no where else in the world. Here you can admire a series of
lagoons whose main characteristic is their beautiful colors, the most
outstanding being the Esmeralda Lagoon. At the same time, the place is
prodigious in fauna and flora, specially birds, and a great number of
gladiolas that grow wild by the tree trunks. |
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Chiapas State •
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Bonampak Archaeological zone
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Cañon del Sumidero
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Cascada de Agua Azul
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Comitan
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Chiapa de Corzo
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Chincultik Archaeological zone
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El Aguacero
| El Triunfo
Biosphere Reserve
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Izapa Archaeological zone
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La Encrucijada |
Montebello Lagoons
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Palenque Archaeological zone
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Paredon
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San Cristobal de las Casas
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| San Juan Chamula
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Tapachula
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Tonina Archaeological zone
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Tuxtla Gutierrez ۞
Capital City |
The Chamula Towns
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Back to Chiapas
State in Tour By Mexico ®
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