3 to 5 days tour from San Cristobal to the Lacandon jungle
This trip to the Lacandon villages of Naha and Metzabok is genuinely off the beaten track, where you will discover blue lagoons, Mayan ceremonial sites, and experience community tourism in the heart of the Selva Lacandona.

We are the only operator at the moment offering this tour and exploring the possibility of developing a sustainable form of community tourism for the villages of Naha and Metzabok, in the north-western part of the Lacandon Jungle. The local guide we work with established contacts with some important personalities in the Lacandon community, who agreed to show visitors their beautiful lagoons, and talk to them about their ancient and contemporary traditions and rituals.

You will have the possibility to learn about the ancient Mayan culture, see a temple where traditional rites are still perfomed, and have your breakfast prepared by two of the wives of Chan Kin Viejo from Naha - the last keeper of the Lacandon ancient traditions who died in 1996.

The itinerary will include a walk in the jungle surrounding the village of Naha, an interesting meeting with Don Antonio, who will talk about the ancient Mayan religious beliefs and their intimate relationship with the jungle, a canoe trip on the Naha lagoon with the possibility of a refreshing swim, and a visit to Kayum Maa’x, a Lacandon painter who represents on canvas some interesting jungle landscapes and legends. You will spend the night in a cabana in Naha's ecotourist centre.

The second day will start with a hearty breakfast in a Mayan house and continue with a transfer to the village of Metzabok, where you will canoe in the surrounding blue lagoons and visit some ancient rock paintings near the Cueva Tzibana, a ceremonial cave still used by the Mayan to get in touch with their gods and perform their traditional rites. Only men will be able to enter the cave (women are unfortunately not allowed too close to the gods) where they will see ancient offerings and even human remains.

Another ceremonial site by the lagoon, with several ancient relics and remains, will also be accessible to the ladies. The canoe will then take you to another lagoon for a short climb to a Mirador, where you will have an amazing view over the lagoons, and maybe a pic-nic lunch on the hill top. Once returned to Metzabok you will either spend the night in a bungalow in the local eco-centre, or continue your journey to Lacanja Chansayab or to Palenque.

The trip can either end on Day 3 with a visit to Palenque's archaeological site, and the Misol Ha and Agua Azul waterfalls on the way back to San Cristobal, or continue with a visit to the Lacanja Chansayab community and to the archaeological sites of Yachilan and Bonampak (see days 4 and 5 of the Discover the Lacandon Jungle tour) and then with the return to San Cristobal or with another day in Palenque.

Groups are small in order to minimize the impact on the Lacandon villages' life.

Read about Our Experience in Naha and Metzabok