Native Trails MyTrails 2026 78 Chiapas black mangroves line the shores, and the biosphere presents an infinite diversity of fauna and flora. More than 100 species of migrating birds stop by in the fertile coastal area each year, and several hundred species are sedentary: Depending on the season, you can watch snail kites, black-necked stilts, snowy egrets, great blue herons, tricolored herons, mangrove black hawks, ospreys, etc.; apart from birds, the place is also home to lizards, crocodiles, and sea turtles. 63 Visit of the San Francisco Cheese Dairy Duration: 01:00 h · Level: Easy The cheese factory San Francisco on the Pacific Highway near Pijijiapan is definitely worth a stop. It produces several hundred kilograms of fresh cheese from local cows´ milk a day and sells it throughout Mexico under the brand “Quesafran.” During your visit of the cheese dairy, you learn interesting details about the Mexican preferences in respect of cheese and can also buy provisions from the factory shop before you continue your trip. You can, of course, also get a sample of quesillo – a kind of mozzarella with chili and lime. 64 Boat tour Grupo Ecoturistico Costa Verde Duration: 02:30 h · Level: Medium On a boat tour with the local cooperative Grupo Ecoturístico Costa Verde, you explore near El Castaño on the Pacific coast of Chiapas the mangrove landscapes of the La Encrucijada Biosphere Reserve. In narrow motorized boats, you navigate channels lined with red, white, and black mangroves whose roots provide habitat for numerous waterbirds. The soft engine sounds, bird calls, and reflective water surfaces create an almost magical atmosphere. With some luck, you may observe pelicans, cormorants, and the rare garza agami (Agamia agami) with its long delicate ornamental feathers and metallic blue-green shimmering plumage; Morelet’s crocodiles (Crocodylus moreletii) also inhabit this ecosystem. The route repeatedly opens into wide lagoons near Barra Zacapulco, where freshwater meets the sea. 65 Visit to Finca San Francisco Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Easy During a varied visit, you explore Finca San Francisco, located at about 1,300 meters above sea level in the Soconusco, one of Mexico’s most traditional coffee-growing regions on the slopes of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas. Frequent mist, short tropical storms, and calm nighttime rainfall create a mysterious atmosphere while providing ideal conditions for high-quality Arabica coffee grown on mineral-rich volcanic soils. Walking through the extensive plantations, you learn about harvesting and processing the beans, while modern greenhouses filled with colorful anthuriums offer a striking contrast; on clear days, the view stretches all the way to the vast Pacific Ocean. 66 Visit of the Coffee Museum of the Finca Hamburgo Duration: 01:00 h · Level: Easy An interesting guided tour awaits you in the small Museo del Café on the estate of the Finca Hamburgo. In the large warehouse, pictures, family photos, agricultural machinery, and other old items tell about the foundation of the finca in 1888 by German immigrant Arthur Erich Edelmann, its more than 100-year history, and about the cultivation and processing of coffee beans. 67 Walk through the coffee fields of the Finca Hamburgo Duration: 04:00 h · Level: Medium On your hike through the mountains and coffee fields of Soconusco, you learn all about growing, harvesting, processing and preparing coffee – from the plant to the brewed drink. The finca was founded in 1888 by German immigrant Arthur Erich Edelmann. On the estate there is a small museum with photos and objects related to the fascinating history of the finca. 68 Walk to the viewpoint of the Finca Argovia Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy Accompany us on a hike through the coffee fields and different vegetation zones of the Soconusco region – from the cloud forest to the altitudes of the surrounding mountains. Our goal is El Mirador, the viewpoint of the Finca Argovia. On your way, you will constantly come across tropic birds, gigantic trees, and countless heliconia and anthuria species.
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