Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Travel/Walking

Arrive at Villahermosa airport which is reached by a short connecting flight from Mexico City. Your guide will meet you at the airport and from there transfer to the town of Palenque. Here there is a full briefing on the upcoming trip and after a welcome dinner take a walk through this bustling town.

Day 2: Rafting/Walking/Travel

After an early morning transfer into the jungle, visit Bonampak, a 700AD Mayan ruin renowned for its still visible paintings. After lunch, continue to Benemerito de las Americas where the river adventure launches. See a huge limestone glyph named Planchon de las Figuras and then sail on to the confluence the Usumacinta and La Pasion Rivers. Camp for the night.

Day 3: Rafting

Into the jungle you paddle downstream, accompanied by toucans, red macaws and the ever present howler monkeys. Towering palms and ceibas are just a part of the full jungle eco-system visible from the boats as you make your way to the next campsite deep in the Montes Azules Biosphere.

Day 4: Rafting/Walking

Far from the clutter and noise of modern life, run the river through the pools at Los Chorros and the deep canyon, El Encajonado. Midway, stop at Mariano’s place for a visit to a typical forest farm. Here, walk a little way into the jungle to look at some of the flora and fauna away from the river. Another night is spent under the stars along the river bank.

Day 5: Rafting/Walking/Travel

Slipping through wonderful river landscapes, descend the Usumacinta to Yaxchilan. Yaxchilan, which reached its zenith in the Mayan Classic Period, is a large partially restored site set amongst lush jungle vegetation. From here, bid goodbye to the river life and travel back to Palenque and the hotel for a good hot shower and a night out on the town.

Day 6: Sightseeing/Travel/Walking

After an early morning visit to the ruins at Palenque, drive the Ocosingo highway and stop for lunch and a swim at Agua Azul. Cascading turquoise water pours from the jingle and splits into numerous waterfalls. On up into the sierra, arrive in the old colonial city of San Cristobal de las Casas. Although this city possess all the modern conveniences, at its heart it is the home of the Tzotzil and Tzetzal peoples, heirs to the Mayan tradition. The cobbled streets abound with good eateries and wonderful shopping for handicrafts.

Day 7: Sightseeing/Walking

Today, visit the incredible mountain villages of San Juan Chamula and Zincantan. The color, tradition and ambience of the streets and markets are out of the civilized world. Here most inhabitants still wear “traje”, the traditional dress of hand woven huipilies and white cotton. This is a chance to see first hand a fast disappearing culture whose roots in the millennia-old Mayan culture are under crushing pressure from all aspects of modern life. Farewell dinner at a fine San Cristobal restaurant.

Day 8: Travel

Goodbye to the mountains of Chiapas as you shuttle to the airport at Tuxtla Gutierrez. From here flights connect to Mexico City and home.