5 days tour through the Montes Azules biosphere reserve
Activities include visit to archaeological sites, hiking, boat trips, and flora and fauna observation. You will stay in camps and ecolodges managed by the indigenous communities, thus supporting a sustainable development of tourism in Chiapas and local community projects.

The following tour can start from Villahermosa, Tuxtla Gutierrez, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Palenque, according to group requests or pre-set departures.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Meeting with the guides and transfer from one of the above destinations to the Golondrinas Waterfalls, in the indigenous community of Nueva Palestina
Transfer times: 4 hours from Villahermosa, 8 hours from Tuxtla, 7 hours from San Cristobal, 2 hours from Palenque.
Lunch at the waterfalls, where you will meet the local Tzeltal Mayan Community. Visit of the waterfalls, where you have time for a swim. Walk for about an hour in the jungle to reach the Poza Poop Chan. Before dinner you might have some extra time for another swim in the river. Dinner and overnight accommodation at the ecolodge of Nueva Palestina, either in tents or in rustic bungalows.

Day 2: Breakfast at the camp. Transfer by van (just a few km) to the hidden Mayan city of Sak Tzii, important administrative and ceremonial centre during the classic period (300 - 900 AD). The ruins are still half covered by the jungle, which gives them a mystical atmosphere. You will have lunch in the jungle, prepared by the Tzeltales. After a 40 minutes van journey deeper into the jungle, get ready for an exciting 1.5 hour hike through the luxuriant vegetation into the heart of the Montes Azules biosphere reserve. You will get to the Rio Cedro Camp, where you will meet the indigenous community of the Lacandones. They will welcome you together with the Tzeltales for an evening by the fire, where you can listen to their fascinating stories. Dinner and accommodation in tents at the camp.

Day 3: The Lacandon guides will take you to a nearby lagoon early in the morning, taking advantage of the early hours to listen to the jungle sounds and hopefully see some animals. You will discover many medicinal plantes and maybe even spot the footprints of the jaguar on your path. Return to the camp for breakfast. It is now time for some more serious hiking (4-5 hours) to reach another Lacandon community: the village of Lacanja Chansayab. You will enjoy your walk in the jungle through the huge trees and thick vegetation, brooks, and waterfalls until you will cross the Rio Cedro. Once arrived at the Rio Lacanja ecolodge you will have some time to rest or swim in the river before dinner is served in the lodge restaurant. Overnight accommodation in rustic bungalows on the river banks.

Day 4: Breakfast at Rio Lacanja. Van transfer (1 hour) to the Chol indigenous community of Frontera Corozal, located on the Usumacinta River, the natural border between Chiapas and Guatemala. You will board a motor boat for the 1 hour trip to the archaeological site of Yaxchilan, which was one of the most important Mayan cities in the classic period. These ruins are unique for their peculiar architecture and the surrounding natural environment. On the way back to Frontera Corozal you will stop for a meal and for saying goodbye to the Chol community. Transfer to Lacanja Chansayab for your evening in the Rio Lacanja ecolodge. Dinner and overnight accommodation in bungalows.

Day 5: Another walk through the jungle along the Sac Noc path guided by the Lacandones will take you to the Moctuni-ha waterfalls (3 hours) Return to Lacanja for lunch and transfer to the archaeological site of Bonampak. You can not leave the jungle without visiting this amazing complex, the only one amongst the Mayan sites maintaining colour paintings within the temples' walls. These paintings tell us stories of the life in the cities of Bonampak and Yaxchilan, about their festivities, wars and their bloody sacrifices to the gods.
Return van transfer to your final destination (same as departure).

What to bring:
Clothes for tropical climate, sweater, bathing suit, rain-coat, trekking shoes or trainers, insect repellent, torch with batteries, sun-block cream, hat.

Number of participants: minimum 4, maximum 12 people