CHIAPAS MEXICO ANCIENT MYSTICISM & THE MAYA
STARTS: Villahermosa, Tabasco
ENDS: Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas
DATES: March 13-25, 2025
12 Nights / 13 Days
PRICE FOR 12-14: $38,000 MXN EACH
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $10,200 MXN EACH
Please Note: We can offer this same itinerary (or similar) for guests interested in bird watching, but the price will jump considerably due to travel with an experienced ornithologist in a small group. Please contact us for more information.
WHY BOOK THIS TOUR WITH US?
Chiapas is a mystical state bursting with nature, remote archaeology sites, exotic birds and other wildlife, orchids, wildflowers, colonial cities, Maya villages with exquisite textiles, great food and more! Sip on locally made Pox, which is a spirit native to this land, or follow your nose to the aroma-filled coffee shops.
This tour begins in the lush jungles of Selva Lacandona and slowly moves through the cloud forests of UNESCO protected Montebello Lakes National Park towards the majestic highlands of San Cristobal de las Casas. Tourism to the jungle regions of Mexico is an investment for the future of these important lungs, as when locals can earn more money by keeping the jungle standing, as opposed to cutting it down, protecting it will continue to grow as a priority.
KEYWORDS FOR THIS TRIP
* Textiles
* Maya Culture
* Art Workshop
* Amber & Jade
* Canyon del Sumidero
* Bird Watching for Quetzals
* Boat Rides
* Rafting
* Waterfalls
* Jungle Adventures
* Remote Archaeology Sites
* Famous Archaeology Site of Palenque
But the question everyone asks us, is why they should come with us. There are tours on offer for a fraction of the price that cover almost as many places as our tour covers, in only 6 days instead of 13. So I would like to take a few paragraphs to explain why our tour is different, and what kind of guests enjoy our tours. (Cont'd below)
TIME IS LUXURY
Plenty of companies offer long day trips down to Montebello Lakes National Park to raft at Lake Pojoj and visit the stunning Cascades of El Chiflon from San Cristobal for a day trip. It takes 3 hours to reach El Chiflon and another hour to reach the lake, with an approximate 4.5 hour return commute to the city. This means 8.5 hours is spent driving, leaving very little time to enjoy the places you've journeyed so far to visit. Our visit to these places takes place over different days and includes 2 nights spent in Montebello Lakes National Park. This is only one example of why our schedule requires more time than the rushed tours that race guests back and forth between major destinations. It just isn't the way we want to travel - and we know there are a lot of you who prefer a slower pace too.
REMOTE ARCHAEOLOGY SITES ARE EPIC
Most tours to Chiapas will take you to the famous ancient city of Palenque, but few of them include the remote sites of Bonampak, Yaxchilan, or one site we visit that shall remain a secret for now! Bonampak is famous for the fantastic, well-preserved murals that cover 3 rooms of El Temple de las Pinturas. Yaxchilan is an adventure to reach due to a fun 45 mins boat ride along the mighty Usumacinta River that will make you feel like quite the explorer. We are also taking you to a site that, on our last visit, still had no ticket stand or guards. We were there on our own, exploring a site that has been slightly cleared but remains un-excavated since it was discovered about 6 years ago. We used to think Yaxchilan was an Indiana Jones adventure, until we came here with our guests last year! Our last site on our itinerary is Chinkultic, which is in the cloud forest in Montebello Lakes National Park. This stunning site is vast, and we will spend some time bird watching while we are there.
OUR LODGINGS ARE UNIQUE AND VARIED
As we are colourful characters, we like to find lodgings that are full of character, or are at least rave-worthy. We will stay in the Centro of San Cristobal de las Casas to be close to the night-life, night-markets and cosmopolitan vibe that reverberates through the downtown at night, with live music in every second restaurant and boutique galleries selling everything from handicrafts to designer cloths, organic consumables and local specialties. In the jungle, we will stay in rustic cabins that are screened for bugs and come with fans, but lack air conditioning or internet due to their remote location. The bonus to staying is for bragging rights and the nature that is right outside your doorstep. We do not book budget accommodations with low-thread-count sheets, uncomfortable beds, or inadequate comfort. We hope that your living space is as wonderful as the adventures we embark on, so you can get a good sleep and wake up rested.
WE TRAVEL IN A SMALL GROUP FOR AMAZING EATING EXPERIENCES!
Imagine a bus with 40 people descends on your small restaurant? How could you possibly feed them all at the same time, especially if they order very different meals? Most big chartered buses aim for buffet restaurants for ease of getting a large group fed quickly.
Our group will only have a maximum of 14 guests, which means we can enjoy a variety of eating experiences. This includes breakfast with a Maya family in Amatenango del Valle, where we will also enjoy a fun pottery workshop (also impossible for a huge group due to space limitations). We will then have lunch with another indigenous family in Zinacantan, where the women run a textile collective. With a small kitchen and eating space, it would be impossible for them to feed a large group of guests.
Small group travel is beneficial for a variety of other reasons, including our visits to remote archaeology sites and the fact that the big chartered buses cannot manage some of the roads that we will have access to. Visiting Bonampak would be a huge challenge with a big group because we are not permitted to enter indigenous territory there unsupervised. The Lacandona Maya will be meeting us with their own transport, being a small bus or individual vehicles. Sounds like a lot of logistics? It is - and every part of it is worth piecing together for an epic adventure that you will never forget.
COST SHARING DETERMINES OUR PRICE
The cost of renting a larger chartered bus vs a small van are almost the same. Obviously the gas costs more for a large bus, but the benefit of dividing that between 40 guests makes a huge difference. We hope we have outlined why travelling with a smaller group is costlier, including individual eating experiences in boutique restaurants and special places that are pre-arranged for you, boat rides to remote archaeology sites and adventuring along a road less-travelled.
PHOTO GALLERIES FOR SOME PLACES WE WILL VISIT.
WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE
Board 2 boats for unique experiences, one through Canyon del Sumidero to observe wildlife and birds, and the other to reach the banks of the famous but remote ancient city of Yaxchilan, which is only accessible by boat along the Usumacinta River. We will view the famous Maya murals of Bonampak, explore a wild and un-excavated archaeological site that was only found a few years ago, wander around the famous ancient city of Palenque and visit Parque la Venta to see the massive stone Olmec heads that were found there, among other Maya stelaes and altars.
We will explore two traditional Maya towns where local artisans weave beautiful textiles and 1 artisan whose embroidery stitching is museum quality. Get creative with a whimsical pottery workshop in another Maya village, surrounded by the pro's who will be working on large scale pieces beside us, while we play with the clay. We will enjoy meals with two of the local families during our travels through these indigenous villages.
We will visit Cascadas El Chiflon for an enchanting hike to the top waterfall. The hike ascends slowly for about 1.5 km, with many places to stop and rest along the way. Zipline back to the parking lot (optional cost), or hike back This is also a pristine place to swim, though the water is spring fed and cold!
Our adventure into Selva Lacandona starts with some bird watching in the Cloud Forest before we drive deeper into Montes Azules, for a stay at a rustic eco-lodge and Macaw Sanctuary beside the River Lacantun. Though the Macaws are not here at this time of year, we will learn about the sanctuary, their programs, do some light hiking and observe a lot of wildlife.
In the city of San Cristobal de las Casas, we will visit the Jade, Cacao, Amber and Textile museums, as well as the home of local legend Sergio Castro, to see his extensive textile collection and to learn about the incredible work he has dedicated his life to, assisting local people who cannot afford medical treatments. Though Sergio does not charge a fee to visit his home to see his curio collection, we encourage guests to leave him a donation for his cause.
This tour explores multiple facets of Maya culture, from their ancient roots to their mesmerizing textiles, cuisine, handicrafts and more. Despite owning cars and living in modern construction, the Maya remain proud guardians of their traditions and worldview, with what sometimes seems like walking between two worlds - one that is ancient, the other that is constantly evolving due to connection with city-life and our modern world.
We hope you will join us for this adventure of a lifetime!
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT LOCALS?
This tour is designed to bring guests to Chiapas for a nature experience, with culture and archaeology included. We will enjoy two meals with local indigenous families, along with a weaving demonstration and a fun pottery workshop. The weaving demonstration takes place at a collective, where guests can purchase pieces directly from the family, with assurance that everything was made in Chiapas by hand and that all money goes directly to the families there. Sometimes guests feel guilty if they do not purchase handicrafts from the artists when we visit their studios, but our pottery workshop is a way around this. Very few guests have ever had their pieces shipped to them, (which is required if you would like to keep your piece), but the workshop itself brings some income to the family, as does the breakfast they make for us. Most guests also purchase handicrafts from them, and once again - these purchases are direct. We will also visit an embroidery artist in her village, so you can purchase directly.
We will go birding for one morning with a local photographer and passionate birder, and will stay at the Macaw Sanctuary in Montes Azules region of Selva Lacandona. Eco-tourism is one way to encourage the protection of the jungle, which are important lungs of Central America. Selva Lacandona is connected to the El Peten jungle of Guatemala, and has been endangered due to over-logging and urbanization. Our hope is to contribute to activities that encourage sustainability for the locals and wildlife there.
The Macaw Sanctuary has need for charitable donations for their mission, which we will learn about while there. Guests may choose to make a contribution based on your experience.
WHAT HAVE OUR GUESTS SAID?
None of these tours follow the same itinerary as this trip, but were in the same region with many shared sites and experiences. Our tours are all a little different...
From Susan March 2024 (Tuxtla to Bacalar Tour)
Jen arranged the most awesome tour. It was filled with history, culture, archaeology, and nature. It went from a city, through the jungle ruins of the Maya and ended up on the Mexican Caribbean. There were lots of incredible and unique shopping opportunities and everyday had activities that kept everyone engaged. Jen does wonderful job of managing all the details.
From Taylor February 2024 (Tuxtla to Villahermosa Birding Tour)
he Birds of the Mayan Empire was a fabulous trip! Adrian, a top-notch ornithologist, provided us with sitings I would have certainly missed. He has a quick, keen eye and was very knowledgeable about the 100+ different birds we saw!
Jaime, who had brought his font of knowledge about Mexican history on a previous trip I was on with Copper Moon Travels, did not disappoint. I left with a solid foundation about Mayan history and an interest to build on it. He also introduced us to various ways to get vitamin T...very important when traveling in Mexico.
Jennifer did a great job with meals, accommodations, museums and inserting other points of interest.(artisan visits and beautiful swimming opportunities in azure rivers) My second trip with Copper Moon Travels has me looking ahead for more trips with them.
From Karin Feburary 2024 (Tuxtla to Villahermosa Birding Tour)
Copper Moon Travels offers a personal whirlwind tour of Chiapas. Jaime, our guide, was always willing to answer any question where on liberation theology, Zapatistas, Mayan culture to the contemporary use of soap operas by Mexican politicians. Adrian, our ornithologist, was able to spot a bird in a crack, over 115 species on our trip. Tony was an excellent cheerful driver throughout the trip. And lastly Jen, generous and a master curator of experiences: from lakes and waterfalls that seemed like hallucinations; to Sergio’s eccentric museum with his collection of indigenous clothing in San Cristobal; to an undeveloped Mayan city with trees sprouting from its temples. Jen infused the tour throughout with her enthusiasm and local knowledge
From Robbin December 2023 (Tuxtla to Villahermosa Women's Tour)
This was a great introduction to this unique region of Mexico. Jennifer is knowledgeable and passionate and ensured we had comfortable landings after each full day of adventure. I will happily repeat this tour as well as engage Jennifer snd Copper Moon Travels in other Mexico Tours.
From Diana December 2023 (Tuxtla to Villahermosa Women's Tour)
This was a great trip! The B&B and ranch hotel were beyond great, many home cooked meals provided on our time schedule. As a novice on Mayan culture, archeology and history, our guide was extremely knowledgeable. We even visited a hidden gem archeological site, by boat. I highly recommend this trip!
To read more reviews, please click here. We also have some reviews on Trip Advisor, which we are trying to grow. If you come on tour with us, please consider leaving us a review, as they are so crucial for small businesses like ours!
PRICE INCLUSIONS & RESERVATIONS
The tour price of $38, 000 MXN is based on double occupancy. If you are travelling solo, the single supplement is $10,200 MXN for a private room.
All breakfasts include regular coffee and tea. Specialized coffees and other drinks are separate. All other meals are separate, as this gives guests control over your food budget.
All activities, boat rides and entrance fees are included.
All ground transportation is included. Flights are separate.
Guided services with bilingual National Licensed Guide included
Tips for your team leaders are discretionary and appreciated.
SUGGESTED READING
CONTACT US
Contact: Jennifer Bjarnason
Email: coppermoontravels@protonmail.com
WhatsApp / Text: +52 443 639 2782
