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Route I. Chiapas, Mexico.

The long journey starting from Cancun to reach Palenque (Chiapas) in the first day's journey has its reward when the road reaches the sign that signals the entrance to the State of Chiapas. Once transferred the invisible border, everything changes, landscape, color, even the smells and colors. We left the Yucatan peninsula to enter into a magical state, where the night temperature gives us a wonderful and treetops intertwine forming a tunnel greenish-yellow to step from our car, a light fog seems to cover everything ( does not know if it's because the effect of fatigue of carrying more than eight hours behind the wheel) invading the whole of a scent to "realism magic "that it predisposes you very positively to the discovery of Chiapas.

Palenque is a small town that is a few kilometers from the famous ruins to which it gives name, small hotel zone is like an oasis in the usual appearance of towns and nearby towns in the area, no trace of the pre-Hispanic or colonial, but with a modern, cosmopolitan city with something very elegant decorations and cozy spaces. In one of those restaurants we hit a spectacular breakfast chilaquiles base with chicken and egg, so good that we had to repeat the visit on the return trip.

Ruins of El Palenque.


Aguazul Falls.

From there to the ruins of Palenque and Agua Azul waterfalls on a fabulous journey through the highlands of Chiapas, enjoying the transition from the Yucatan jungle half the mountain range and pine conifers. Obligatory stop in the town of Ocosingo, gateway to the Lacandon jungle and origin of the riots that took place in 1994 in the state of Chiapas due to inhumane living conditions of indigenous people of this area.

In "The Gates" could enjoy a really delicious mole. Ocosingo is halfway between Palenque and San Cristobal de Las Casas, our next destination.

Cathedral at night.


Bar "Zapata lives."


Cathedral.

San Cristobal de Las Casas or the strange case of "revolutionary tourism", at least that was the impression I took my visit to the most famous city in Chiapas state. The omnipresent figure of Che Guevara in the city at times makes you think you are on the Caribbean island instead of Mexico, restaurants and bars with names such as "Zapata lives" or "Revolution" live with the most churches per meter square I've seen in my life, comparable only to those who may be in another Mexican city, San Miguel de Allende (Guanajuato).

San Cristobal is one of those cities with a special charm, the old town is perfectly delineated a succession of colonial-style homes, patios and portals now converted into bars, restaurants and hotel service for tourists invade the streets looking for a "souvenir" of the riot caused by Subcomandante Marcos and the EZLN (Zapatista Army of National Liberation), a different tourists, young and mostly left. The ideal place to take a vacation after you have tried to boycott the G-20 summit in Seattle. An Indian city where you see the eyes open, his head high and not hiding his eyes bent as in the rest of the country, which says a lot about what got the EZLN, that alone was worth it.

Calle de San Cristobal.



Tianguis next to the Church of Sto. Domingo.


Walk through San Cristobal de las Casas.

the way to Oaxaca, a stop at the Canyon Sink. The entire route is worth it for this place and time. Mexico has an architecture is invaluable in the work done by man, but the most impressive natural treasures of the country is undoubtedly the Canyon Sink. It is seven in the evening and watching the impressive nature of this place from the viewpoint of Tuxtla Gutierrez, the silence disturbed only by birds of prey that fly over the mountains, you realize that if God exists, this course is one of those places on earth where you come looking.

Chiapa de Corzo.


Gully Canyon.


here the route follows Oaxaca.