Chiapas, Mexco – Journey from Palenque, Ocosingo, to San Cristobal
I returned yesterday from the Chiapas region of Mexico. We went on a one week (by car) adventure from Villahermosa, to Palenque, Ocosingo, San Cristobal, and back to Villahermosa. The area was beautiful traversing through the rain forest, highlands, cloud forests, and back down to the valleys. The area is known for the ancient Mayan Cities of Palenque, Tonina, Yaxchtitlan, and Bonampak. They are easy to get to and fascinating to explore. The local towns in between are rustic, fascinating, a bit off the beaten path, and beautiful.
Where to Go (where I went):
(1)Mayan City of Palenque (6 km from Palenque town)
(2)Misol Ha-Beutiful Waterfall and Cave (20 km from Palenque town)
(3) Aqua Azul-Remarkably blue river and park for swimming, rafting, and picknicking (50 km from Palenque town)
(4) Aqua Clara- Spectaculr Waterfalls and pools for swimming, hiking, sampling local food, (60 km from Palenque town)
(5) Mayan City of Tonina (10km from Ocosingo town)
(6) San Cristobal Town
(7) Grutas de San Cristobal-Massive ~2km long cave with beautiful rock formations (9 km from San Cristobal)
(8) Huitepec Ecological Reserve-Chiapas forest reserve with local animals and vegetation (3 km from San Cristobal)
What to Eat:
Finding vegetarian food was rather difficult in the small towns and road side cafes in Chiapas. The local food is primarily meat based. In resaturants menus are divided into antojitos (small plates), eggs, meat, fish, and bird dishes. If you are an ovo-lacto vegetarian you can get Huevos Rancheros (eggs with red sauce, cheese, and corn tortillas) and Chilaquiles con Huevos (tortilla chips topped with eggs, cheese, red sauce, and piquante). Other items to order are plantanos con crema y queso (fried plantains with cream and cheese), plantanos rellenos (dough stuffed with plantains), aquacate con totopos (guacamole with torilla chips), frijoles (beans), quesadilla con queso/papas/champinones, (with cheese, potatoes, mushrooms), ensalada verde (green salad). There are also some street food options, corn of the cobb, roasted corn in the cup (where they add butter, lime, chile, and cheese. If you want traditional salsa ask for “picquante” or they won’t know what it is you want as salsa means sauce in spanish.
The panaderia’s also serve delicous sweet breads that are coated/filled with , chocolate, vanilla, or pineapple. They make for a very inexpensive breakfast or snack and you can get about 5 or breads for 15 pesos. The dulceria’s have delicous candies/desserts that are made with suger, coconut, nuts, queso, and chocolate.
What to Drink:
There are several delicous and unique drinks in Chiapas. I highly reccomend trying them as many you won’t find anywhere else in the world! (1)Pozole con Cacao-semi-sweet corn/chocolate drink, (2)Tazcalate con leche- sweet corn/chocolate drink with spices. (3) Guanabana- sweet fruit juice. (4) Chiapas “organically” grown coffee. (5) Tamarindo – tamarind juice. (6)Chocolate Caliente- mexican hot chocolate with milk and spices, infinitely better than any hot chocolate you have ever had.
Restaurants w/ vegetarian options:
Palenque: Cafe de Yara, Restaurante Maya Canada
Ocosingo: Pizza El Desvan, Hotel Central Restaurant
San Cristobol: Madre Tierra, Maya Palenque Restaurant
Where to stay:
San Cristobol: Casa Fellipe Flores-Absolutely beautiful place w/ breakfast
Shopping:
Most of the local crafts in the area are textiles, wood, amber, or stone based. You might want to avoid the small paintings of Mayan scenes as they are often drawn on leather.
Tags: Mexico
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