ANCESTRAL CHIAPAS: Between Languages, Jungles, and Living Roots
ADVENTURE
NATURE
ARCHAEOLOGY
AUTHENTICITY
MAYA WORLD
To explore Chiapas is to listen to the echo of ancient Mayan languages, to be embraced by the dense jungle, and to sit at the table with women who shape the earth and embroider memory.
This route is not just a geographical journey—it is a passage into the living roots of Mexico, where language is learned in the heart of communities and history is told with bare feet touching the ground.
We will share daily life with local families, discover the ancestral arts of ceramics and textiles, walk hidden paths, and allow ourselves to be touched by an Indigenous spirituality that still pulses through everyday life.
An experience for those who wish to learn Spanish not in a classroom, but through the soul of a land that still sings in ancient tongues.
ITINERARY & PROGRAM
Day 1 – Arrival in Chiapas
Note: Direct flights from Mexico City to Palenque operate on Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.
Arrival at Villahermosa or Palenque airport and transfer to our hotel in Palenque. Upon arrival, the afternoon is free to unwind—perhaps a swim in the hotel pool, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Later, we enjoy a lively and contextual introduction to the history of the Maya civilization, from its Preclassic origins to its present-day presence in the Indigenous communities of Chiapas, where identity and tradition continue to thrive.
Day 2 – The Splendor of Palenque
We immerse ourselves in the grandeur of one of the most impressive Maya cities: Palenque. Its temples, inscriptions, and architecture reveal the mysteries of a civilization that flourished deep within the jungle. In the afternoon, you may choose between two cultural experiences: a traditional embroidery workshop or a temazcal ritual—an ancestral steam bath designed to purify body and spirit.
Day 3 – Into the Jungle: Lacandon Community
We head toward the heart of the tropical rainforest. Along the way, we cool off at the Roberto Barrios waterfalls and share lunch with a local family. Our destination is the Lacandon Indigenous community of Lacanjá, within the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. Here we meet our host family and spend the night in simple cabins, surrounded by the sounds of the jungle.
Day 4 – Bonampak and Jungle Expedition
After breakfast, we visit the archaeological site of Bonampak, famous for its murals depicting Maya rituals with striking realism. Back in Lacanjá, we set out on a jungle walk to a waterfall, where we can swim in the river. In the evening, we share dinner and listen to stories and legends that live within the forest.
Day 5 – The Hidden City of Yaxchilán
A boat journey along the majestic Usumacinta River takes us to Yaxchilán, an archaeological jewel shrouded in mist and the calls of howler monkeys. This ancient Maya city, embraced by the jungle, transports us into a mythical world. Afterwards, we continue to the Las Guacamayas ecotourism center, where we spend the night in wooden cabins amid tropical biodiversity.
Day 6 – Daily Life in the Community
At dawn, we navigate through the jungle and swim in the waters of the Lacantún River. Later, we split into small groups to spend time with different local families—cooking together, sharing stories, and gaining insight into daily life. The afternoon is free to rest in a hammock or explore nearby trails.
Day 7 – Coffee Roads and Lakes
We bid farewell to the jungle and travel toward Comitán, passing through the Montebello Lakes. Along the way, we visit a family of organic coffee producers, explore their plantation, and learn about the production process. In Comitán, we take part in an urban “treasure hunt” to discover the town’s history and notable figures.
Day 8 – Earth, Flowers, and Women’s Hands
We visit Amatenango del Valle, home to Tseltal women potters. Here we participate in a workshop, shaping clay with our own hands. Lunch is shared with a local family. In the afternoon, in Aguacatenango, we are introduced to the art of floral embroidery—an expression of time, color, and tradition. Arrival in San Cristóbal de Las Casas in the late afternoon.
Day 9 – San Cristóbal de Las Casas
We explore the soul of this colonial city, woven together by Indigenous cultures, bohemians, travelers, and artists. We walk through the historic center, visit Santo Domingo Church and the artisan market, and explore cultural projects such as Leñateros, where handmade paper is produced, as well as a gallery of contemporary Indigenous art. Knowledge is shared around the fire.
In the afternoon, we return to the hotel with minds and hearts full of new words and experiences.
Por la tarde, regresamos al hotel, con la mente y el corazón llenos de nuevas palabras y experiencias.
Day 10 – Living Rituals in Chamula and Zinacantán
In San Juan Chamula, we witness rituals inside a unique church where syncretism unfolds through prayers, soft drinks, candles, and the voices of healers. Later, in Zinacantán, we share a meal with women weavers who open the doors of their homes and stories to us. We return to San Cristóbal for a free afternoon among cafés and artisan shops.
Day 11 – Sumidero Canyon
After breakfast, we descend from the highlands and take a boat ride through the Sumidero Canyon, one of Chiapas’ great natural wonders. In the afternoon, we catch a flight from Tuxtla Gutiérrez to our next destination—closing this chapter with hearts full of stories, aromas, and newly learned words.