Southern Mexico – Chiapas Culture and Ruins

This is one of a selection of tours that are designed for small groups of people interested in experiencing Mexican culture. They are designed to introduce you to the "real Mexico", take you to out of the way locales, and to give you a genuine cultural experience. We offer several tours in the San Cristobal area and other parts of Chiapas.

If you are interested in: The incomparable Highland Mayan weavings; 16th century Spanish colonial architecture (and ruins); Prehispanic ruins like Palenque, Bonampak, Yaxchilan, Chinkultic, and many more; Spectacular waterfalls; Beautiful mountains; Jungle tours or Pacific beaches. Then Chiapas has much to offer you.

We will tailor the tour to suit your needs, this is the budget option, so if you want better quality hotels or more time in a certain location it can be arranged.

Sample Itinerary (Budget Version)

A 12 day tour including 10 nights in San Cristobal and one in Palenque.

Day 1: Pick up at Tuxtla airport. If it is an early flight we can stop at the Canyon del Sumideros on the way up to San Cristobal

Day 2: Walking tour of San Cristobal including the market, and several of its outstanding colonial buildings: the Cathedral, Santo Domingo, Arc de Carmen. Visit the Santo Domingo craft market and Sna Jolobil weaving cooperative.

Day 3: Visit to the villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, just outside of San Cristobal. Chamula is famous for its Christian/Mayan church. There is also a small local museum. Zinacantan is a flower growing and weaving village. We'll visit a weaving family there. Although the highland Indians are sensiotive about picture taking, all of the families we visit allow pictures in their homes.

Day 4: Visit to Tenejapa, Carmen Aserredero and Arcotete. Tenejapa is a well known weaving village and we'll visit a cooperative there as well as the home of one of the top weavers in Chiapas. Carmen Aserredero is a small village with the ruined summer home of past bishops of Chiapas. The bishop's chapel is still in use by the local Indians. Arcotete is a natural arch with a stream running through it.

Day 5: Amantenango and Aguacatenango. Amantenango is a pottery village and we'll visit several families there. All of the women in the village are potters and use ancient field firing methods. In Aguacatenango we'll visit a weaver who makes rugs. Unlike the women weavers who use a backstrap loom, he uses a European style treadle loom. Both villages have great 16th century churches, as does Teopisca, which we'll vivit on the way back to San Cristobal.

Day 6: Travel to Palenque. We'll stop in Husitan and Oxchuc to see their 16th century churches. We'll also visit the ruins of Tonina, and the waterfalls at Agua Azul. We'll stay in Palenque village.

Day 7: We'll get an early start and visit the Palenque ruins and the site museum. After lunch we'll return to San Cristobal.

Day 8: Another day in San Cristobal. We'll visit Na Balom and several cooperatives.

Day 9: Trip to Comitan and the ruins of Chinkultik. We'll stay overnight in Comitan.

Day 10: We'll visit the Tenam Puente ruins and ruins of some of the 16th century Dominican churches before returning to San Cristobal.

Day 11: Visit to Chiapa de Corzo, and Suchiapa. Chiapa de Corzo is well known for it's lacquerware and an incredible fountain built in the 1500s. Suchiapa is home to one of Mexico's top mask makers and some very unique traditions. We'll local families that run the fiestas and see their costumes and masks.

Day 12: Return to Tuxtla for flight home.

Activities in other areas of Mexico:  Sea Kayking off Baja California or trekking the Copper Canyon

Dates 2006: No fixed dates, we set this up as a personalised trip.

Price Indication Per Person - GBP / USD:  GB£700 - GB£850 / US$1450 - based on two people sharing.  

                                                                        Email for current price (tell us about your wishes)
 

The base currency is the US Dollar and payments in any other currency may involve an adjustment for exchange rates. The first 2% is absorbed by Muir's Tours.  Please request an updated quotation before you book this trip, if you intend to make payments in an alternative to the base currency.
 

Deposit: GB£200 / US$400 on booking.

Balance Due Date: 60 days prior to departure.
 

What is Included

The cost includes all ground transportation, budget hotels, guide all the time (unless you want some free time) and entrance fees. Meals are not included.
 

What is Excluded

The price allows for joining in Tuxtla and does not include international airfare and departure taxes, any meals, personal insurance, visa fees, vaccination costs, personal clothing and equipment, all items of a personal nature and all drinks.

Airfare (from the UK only)
As a guide, the international airfare should be in the range GB£580 - GB£690 for economy class.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive personal insurance, including search and rescue is required on this trip. For UK clients we recommend the policies of the British Mountaineering Council, for their expertise in evacuation from remote areas worldwide. Details at www.thebmc.co.uk  As Insurance is always provided by a company based in your home country, we are unable to suggest suitable insurance companies unless you reside in the UK.