State of Chiapas

Chiapas, located in the southernmost part of Mexico, offers beautiful geographic landscapes, a diverse mixture of ethnic groups and a rich history, making it one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Mexico. Chiapas is home to renowned archaeological sites, well-preserved colonial cities, folkloric Indian communities and pristine beaches, and is well-suited for culture, adventure and eco-tourism enthusiasts.

Chiapas boasts the most complex biodiversity in the country, making it a true natural paradise. The state houses everything from stunning mountain ranges, crystal clear rivers, volcanoes, lakes and lush forests to breathtaking plains, canyons, waterfalls and savannahs. Two of the country's most spectacular rivers – the Grijalva and the Usumacinta – are located in Chiapas.

Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital, is a modern city with a unique mixture of Mexican and Central American traditions. Founded by the Zoque Indians in a lush valley, the city is formerly known as Coyatoc, meaning land of rabbits. Between 1486 and 1505, the Aztecs invaded the region and called it Tochtlan, a Nahuatl word meaning the same as Coyatoc. The Spaniards later changed the city's name to Tuxtla and in 1848, Gutierrez was added in honor of the military man and politician who supported its independence.

One of the city's most interesting sites in Tuxtla is the Cathedral of San Marcos, built in the mid-16th century. Tuxtla´s museums are also worth visiting. The Regional Museum of Chiapas showcases pre-Hispanic and pre-Classic paintings, as well as steel work and Mayan buildings. The Handicrafts Museum displays craftwork produced by the indigenous groups who inhabit the Chiapas region and stocks a wide range of local articles. Shopping for handicrafts is also available in the downtown area and craft markets. The Miguel Alvarez del Toro Zoo, founded in 1942 by Eliseo Palacios for the study and conservation of regional fauna, is also a must-see and regarded as one of the finest in Latin America.

Just 20 minutes from Tuxtla is the colonial city of Chiapa de Corzo, full of color, history, tradition and culture. The city's main monument is the Mudejar fountain built in the mid 16th century, featuring Moorish architecture, brick arches and a spiral staircase. Santo Domingo ex-convent is a magnificent architectural masterpiece which shows the splendor of the 16th century Gothic renaissance and neoclassic influences.

The forests, animal and plant species, savannas, canyons and magnificent rivers surrounding Tuxtla make the area home to one of the greatest biodiversities in the world. Just eight miles north of the capital is the Sumidero Canyon National Park (www.sumidero.com), ideal for adventure and ecotourism. El Chorreadero Waterfall, with naturally formed pools and dense forests, is another breathtaking natural site to visit, as well as La Venta Canyon, a nearly 50-mile-long geological formation, and Laguna Verde, 40 miles outside Tuxtla, ideal for the eco-tourists and offering horseback riding, swimming, boat rides and sports-fishing. Other popular nature spots include the Montebello Lakes, located in the southern part of the state, ideal for camping, boating and fishing.

The Lacandon Jungle, located in the southeastern portion of the state, is an adventure seekers' paradise, preserved by the Lacandon indigenous group living there. Within the Lancandon Jungle is the Bonampak archaeological site that houses the great Mayan murals, as well as the Yaxchilan archaeological site, accessible only by river.

Archaeological sites abound in Chiapas. Palenque is one of Mexico´s most spectacular ancient Mayan cities and most frequented archaeological zones, covered for many years by dense jungle. The renowned archaeological zone lies within Palenque National Park, 185 miles outside of Tuxtla and 136 miles from San Cristobal de las Casas. Other popular archaeological sites include Tenam Puente, Tonina, Chincultik and Izapa.

Just two hours east of Tuxtla Gutierrez is San Cristobal de las Casas, one of Mexico's colonial jewels is located in the heart of the Chiapas highlands, surrounded by pine trees and nestled in the Valley of Jovel. Amber abounds in this region, and the town boasts a variety of quaint jewelry shops featuring this popular translucent stone. Visitors should begin their tour of the city by strolling through the Plaza 31 de Marzo, where the cathedral, the city hall, the Iglesia de San Nicolas and the Casa de la Sirena are located. Other buildings worth visiting include the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman, Templo de la Caridad, Templo de San Francisco and the Templo de El Carmen. Close to San Cristobal is the traditional Tzotzil village of San Juan Chamula. People come from all over the world to tour the San Juan Bautista church and catch a glimpse of the rituals performed there which represent an unusual blend of Catholicism and paganism.

While Chiapas shares its borders with the famed Pacific coast, its beaches are still quite virgin and little known to international travelers. Puerto Arista, Puerto Madero, Playa San Benito, Barra de San Jose and Barra de San Benito offer tranquil beaches and are favorites among surfers, many of which are located near archeological sites.

Chiapas is also known for its handicrafts. Zoque Indian craftsmen, for example, are famous for their gold and amber earrings, whereas the highlands are renowned for their leatherwork, wrought iron and cotton and woolen textiles. Amatenango del Valle is known for its pottery, Chiapa de Corzo for its wood carvings, lacquer ware and masks, Berriozabal for its marimbas and hammocks and Palenque for its reproductions of prehispanic objects.

Chiapas has the second largest indigenous population in Mexico, next to Oaxaca. The different peoples of Chiapas include the Choles, descendants of the builders of Palenque and Yaxchilan, who live in the northeastern part of the state; the Tzeltales and Tzotziles, also descendants from the Mayans, who have settled in the highlands and the adjacent mountains; the Tojolabales who inhabit the valleys running down into the forests from the Comitecan plains; the Mames who refuse to relinquish the peaks of the Sierra Madre; and the Zoques who have made the northwestern region their home.

Typical dishes of the region combine several distinct flavors. Roast suckling pig is traditionally eaten in the central region, crayfish on the coast and San Cristobal de las Casas is famous for tazajo (dried beef), chimol (a tart salsa made of tomatoes and peppers) and smoked leg of pork.