Native Trails MyTrails 2025 63 Chiapas 4 Hike through the jungle of Palenque to the Templo Olvidado Duration: 03:00 h · Level: Medium The Templo Olvidado was built by the Mayan king K'inich Janaab'Pakal in 647 AD; its name “lost temple” results from its hidden situation in the subtropical jungle. Your guide leads you over narrow paths through the rain forest and explains the mystic flora of the Maya: the Christmas candle or devil’s backbone is poisonous, but also has medical uses. Or the rind and fruits of the nance tree (Byrsonima crassifolia), whose flowers are even shown on King Pakal’s sarcophagus. 5 Short walk to the Misol-Ha waterfall Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy Visit the waterfall of Misol-Ha, about 50 km (30 mi.) southwest of Palenque. Over a steep rock face, the water falls about 30 m (c. 100 ft.) into a pool surrounded by dense jungle, where you can swim at your own risk. The vegetation, the play of shadows created by the high treetops, and the many unfamiliar sounds of the jungle are a mystic experience. 6 Visit the waterfalls of Roberto Barrios Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Easy About 40 km (c. 25 mi.) south of Palenque are the sweeping waterfalls of Roberto Barrios. Hidden in the subtropical jungle of Chiapas you find various terraces of charming water cascades along several hundred metres of beautiful flora. The turquoise-blue water and the untouched nature invite to take a bath in the small rock basins. A mysterious, green oasis which unites adventure and relaxation. 7 Excursion to the amber mines Duration: 03:00 h · Level: Easy Hike through the green hilly landscape to the amber mines in the municipality of Simojovel; you follow the miners’ paths and see how the transparent yellow to dark-red pieces of Chiapan amber are laboriously broken by hand from the porous limestone sediments in the hill folds. The dark-colored gangue hills form an intense contrast with the flora so lush everywhere else. During your hike, you will also come across the guapinol tree, which is related to the extinct Hymenaea mexicana whose resin gave rise to the formation of Mexican amber. After the hike, your tour ends with the visit of an amber grinder. 8 Visit of the amber museum in Simojovel Duration: 01:00 h · Level: Easy Amber, which, due to geological processes, is also found in mountainous regions in Mexico, was already used by the indigenous population in pre-Hispanic times. One of the most important sources is Simojovel where it is extracted in simple mines. Important facts about amber and the local conditions of production are presented in the Museo Comunitario del Ámbar, which was inaugurated in 2007. Apart from tools and raw amber, it displays jewels as well as sculptures carved from particularly big pieces. 9 Visit of the archaeological site Toniná Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Medium On the road between San Cristóbal de las Casas and Palenque, 15 km (9 mi.) east of Ocosingo, lie the ruins of Toniná. The site is divided into several terraces, giving the impression of a step pyramid rising from the jungle. A labyrinth of temples and palaces, some of which rise as high as 70 m (230 ft.), covers the platforms in the “sacred area.”
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