• Regions
• Cities
• Other destina...
• Talk
• Get in
• Get around
• Do
• Volunteering
• Learn
• Eat
• Drink
• Stay safe
• Get out

Chiapas is a state on the Pacific Coast of Mexico.

A typical roadside scene in Chiapas

[edit] Regions

The entrance to Canon del Sumidero

[edit] Cities

• Tuxtla Gutiérrez -- state capital - large, hot, relatively modern (Sam's Club, Office Depot, Wal-Mart), and home to one of the world's great zoos.
• San Cristobal de las Casas -- 7,000 ft., beautiful, Mayan, lots of handicrafts, small ex-pat community.
• Comitan -- surprisingly sophisticated, but this is no place for vegans.
• Tapachula -- the less said, the better.

[edit] Other destinations

• Palenque -- Mayan ruins
• Toniná -- Mayan ruins
• Cascadas de Agua Azul -- Waterfall
• Canon del Sumidero -- Canyon and Reservoir (includes Christmas Tree Falls)
• Laguna Miramar

[edit] Understand

Weekend Market in Oxchuc

[edit] Suggested reading

• The Lawless Roads by Graham Greene. Graham Greene describes his journey to San Cristobal de las Casas through Chiapas and Tabasco in the 1930s. (ISBN 0140185801)
• The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene. A whiskey priest, a corrupt church, and Chiapas all set in one of Greene's most powerful books. (ISBN 0140184996)

[edit] Internet

The recent history of Chiapas is strongly connected with the Zapatista Movement EZLN

[edit] Talk

[edit] Get in

Chiapas is about as far south as you can get in Mexico. It borders Guatemala on the southeast, the Pacific on the southwest, and the states of Oaxaca, Veracruz, Tabasco, and Yucatan from west to northeast. It has a small international airport in the state capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and is also connected by highways (some are toll roads, or cuota) with the surrounding states and Guatemala.

[edit] Get around

The easiest way to get around within cities is probably by private car, taxi, or colectivo. Colectivos are small vans or buses that are very cheap and follow specific routes. The main destinations on the route of each colectivo are listed on the right side of its windshield, though it is sometimes hard to tell if it is really going your way. Asking the driver usually works, but don't expect him or her to speak English.

Outside of cities, the best way to get around is by private car, bus (slow, with frequent stops), colectivo (a little more expensive than in the city), taxis, or pickups (camionetas). Taxis outside of cities charge very high rates if it is not their regular route, so make sure the driver knows you do not want a "viaje especial" (special trip). Sharing taxis is very common, and almost universal outside cities. The pickups that are for public transportation are usually identifiable. Try to get a seat in the cab, unless you enjoy being pressed against a large group of sweaty locals in the hot sun. Pickups are also fairly slow and make frequent stops, but they are faster than the bus.

[edit] See

[edit] Itineraries

Christmas Tree Falls in Canon del Sumidero

[edit] Do

[edit] Volunteering

• Volunteer as a Human Rights Observer in the autonomous Zapatista communities contact Capise (brigadas@capise.org.mx) for short (5 days) activities or for longer volunteership contact Frayba [1].
• Participate as a volunteer or group coordinator on sustainable projects in Maya communities. The NGO NATATE A.C. [2] focuses on the following fields: alternative technologies, waste managment, water(capture and filtering), Education, reforestation, construction. Opportunities are available for short and long term voluntary service.

[edit] Learn

• Immerse yourself in the Maya culture and get to know traditions, languages and communities with La Casa en el Arbol [3]. You may may learn Spanish as well as Maya languages such as Tostsil and Tseltal.

[edit] Eat

[edit] Drink

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Get out

Hop the chicken bus to Central America, baby!!