Native Trails MyTrails 2025 71 Chiapas 53 Visit of the archaeological zone of Chinkultic Duration: 03:00 h · Level: Medium The ruins of Chinkultic are located 48 km (30 mi.) east of Comitán in the Lake District of the Lagos de Montebello. The largest and highest pyramid, the Acropolis, is the result of heavy earthwork made in the limestone soil. The view from the top of the pyramid is simply overwhelming. On one side lies Cenote Azul, on the other side you enjoy the views towards the colored Lakes of Montebello. 54 Visit of the Lagos de Montebello Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Medium In a hilly forest area on the border of Chiapas and Guatemala, you come across the lakes of Montebello – collapsed Cretaceous caves. In the park there are about 70 large and small lakes, which are partly connected by surface or underground channels. You visit the most interesting lakes and nearby viewpoints and enjoy the unique colors of the Lagos de Montebello. 55 Walk along the Lagos de Montebello Duration: 06:00 h · Level: Difficult In a hilly forest area on the border of Chiapas and Guatemala are the Lakes of Montebello. Small trails will take you to the most beautiful lakes and to the flora and fauna of this wonderful park. Enjoy the wildlife with your local guide, who is trained and certified by the park management. Your trip ends with a short tour on a raft that takes you across the fascinating blue of the lakes. 56 Visit the Chajul Research Center Duration: 04:00 h · Level: Easy Only aboard of lanchas can you reach the Chajul research center belonging to Mexico’s national university, UNAM, on the mighty Río Lacantún, often accompanied by the river’s crocodiles, airborne toucans and macaws. Founded in 1978, Biósfera Montes Azules with an area of 331,200 hectares, houses the largest biodiversity in Mexico, more than 54 reptile species, 135 butterflies, 23 amphibians, 112 mammals and 110 insect species have their home here along with 3,400 plant species from the impenetrable Lacandon jungle. Learn how scientists from around the world explore this unique jewel of nature and contribute to the preservation of the biosphere. 57 Canopy walk in El Pirú Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Difficult Well secured and in good hands, you start for your hike through the treetops in El Pirú. Collaborating with the supplier of the “Cirque du Soleil Mexico”, the cooperative of the small community connected several giant tropical trees – including mahogany, Spanish cedar and ceiba – by suspension bridges and enormous constructions of wire ropes. You climb up to a height of 40 m (130 ft.) into the treetops from where you get a fascinating perspective onto the Lacandon Jungle below you. At the end of your tour, you have the chance to take a zip line to glide to the hot springs at the edge of the tropical forest. 58 Visit of the turtle breeding station of Puerto Arista Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy Sea turtles are found in all tropical and subtropical seas of the world and are living in the water except for laying their eggs. They migrate thousands of kilometers, using the ocean currents, the geomagnetic field and the angles of light for orientation. Crawfish, jellyfish, and cephalopods are their main food. During your visit of the protection and breeding program in Puerto Arista, you learn remarkable facts about the threatened animals – particularly about the hawksbill sea turtle and the leatherback sea turtle. Afterwards you visit the small, but interesting UMA El Caimán breeding station, where you can marvel at caimans, crocodiles and iguanas from the federal state of Chiapas. 59 Visit of the archaeological zone El Lagartero Duration: 03:00 h · Level: Medium Discover the archaeological zone of El Lagartero, which is situated in the upper basin of the Grijalva River near the border with Guatemala; crystal-clear lakes, tropic vegetation and majestic mountains are the panorama of the ruined site, which dates back to the Classic Period of Mayan culture. Its discoverer, John Stephens, already described it as a “scene of wild and surpassing beauty,” since dozens of small brooks, rivers and waterfalls constitute a subtropical
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