Travel log

Magic Chiapas

Day 1

CHIAPAS ZOO

MIGUEL ÁLVAREZ DEL TORO

REGIONAL ZOO

Green is a constant in this place, also known as the Night House, for being the only zoo that exhibits animals with a night life.

Walk through this zoo will transport you to a trip into the jungle without leaving the city. You will find countless plants, animals, sounds, smells, shapes and colors belonging to the jungle. Green is the common denominator of ZooMAT, a zoo that has a peculiar history since opened its doors in the small ecological reserve of Zapotal, east of the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez in Chiapas.

One of ZooMAT´s characteristics is that it exhibits exclusively animals from the state of Chiapas. It has more than 800 animals that represent about 250 species in the low forest of the Zapotal, reserve of 100 hectares of extension. Some animals are found in open spaces, taking advantage of the natural condition of the land, which causes them to develop in their natural habitat.

In this zoo you will find animals with an ecological importance, such as the harpy eagle (Harpia arpija), the tapir (Tapirus bairdii), the river otter (Lontra longicaudis), the saraguatos monkeys (Alouatta paliata and A.pigra), three Species of crocodilians from Chiapas, the jaguar (Phantera onca), the quetzal (Pharomacrus moccino), the ocellated turkey (Agriocharis ocellata), and the peacock (Orepahasis derbianus).

In Chiapas, almost 90% are endangered animals, so one of the main tasks of ZooMAT is to contribute to the reproduction of threatened species such as the red macaw (Ara macao), the zenzo (Tayassu pecari), the deer kid (Crocodylus moreletii), the crocodile of the river (Crocodylus acutus), the fish bat (Noctilio leporinus), the tiger (Felis wiedii) and the spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi), among others.

You can also see species such as the rare bare-tailed armadillo (Cabassous centralis), and the cacomixtle (Bassariscus sumichrasti). Do not miss the vivarium, house of spiders and insects.

The route covers 2.5 kilometers, and you can see the “guaqueques” and squirrels running, fly and sing of a variety of birds, and when there is luck you can see the white-tailed deer and listen to the two groups of brown howler monkeys.

CHIAPA DE CORZO

Chiapa de Corzo is the oldest colonial town in the state of Chiapas. Situated on the north bank of the Rio Grijalva, along the route from Tuxtla Gutierrez to San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapa de Corzo serves as the jumping off point for exploring the magnificent Cañon del Sumidero (Sumidero Canyon).

Marvel at the colonial mudejar-style La Pila Fountain in the town’s main plaza. This monumental red-orange brick fountain with its octagonal design, arches, flying buttresses and domed roof dates back to the 16th century and is thought to have been built to resemble the Spanish crown.

One block south of the main plaza is the 16th century Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman (Santo Domingo Church). Inside you’ll find the original bell that dates back to 1576. Cast from copper, silver and bits of gold, the bell weighs more than 10,000 pounds and can be heard for miles. The adjoining former convent building houses a cultural center and museum.

Chiapa de Corzo is famous for its lively Fiesta Grande de Enero (Great January Festival) that takes place each year in early January. Colorful costumed dancers called parachicos take to the streets during the festival, which is one of the most important cultural events in the state of Chiapas and has been declared an intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO.

Chiapa de Corzo cooks up a variety of local cuisine unique to the state of Chiapas including several types of tamales (corn based dough with sweet or savory fillings), pepito con tasajo (thin cut beef with pumpkin seed sauce) and cochinito horneado (roasted suckling pig flavored with adobo sauce).

Don’t leave town without touring the Sumidero Canyon. The canyon can be viewed from several lookout points and is best visited on Chiapas tours. Hire a lancha (motorboat) for close up views of the canyon walls that tower an impressive 800 m (2,625 feet) overhead. You may even spot a crocodile or two.

SUMIDERO CANYON

Located in four municipalities of the state of Chiapas, the Sumidero Canyon will surprise you with its almost vertical walls full of life.

This park is located in the municipalities of Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapa de Corzo, Nuevo Usumacinta and San Fernando in the state of Chiapas. It was declared National Park on December 8, 1980. It has an area of 21,789 hectares. Its canyon with abrupt walls and jungle vegetation reach up to 1,000 meters in height allowing the presence of micro environments with different climates of the region.

The forest of the Sumidero Canyon is medium, low, there are oaks and pastures, here they have their habitat the spider monkey, anteater and other neotropical species.

There are two classic ways to tour Sumidero Canyon. One is on a round trip to the Chicoasén dam, which is 30 kilometers from Chiapa de Corzo. The crossing of the canyon that imprisons the Grijalva River is one of the most spectacular in Mexico.

In its almost vertical walls there are several caves and waterfalls. Birds and monkeys abound in the place, and on the river sides crocodiles can be observed. The length of the canyon, from the bridge to the Chicoasén dam, is 32 km and its width varies from 200 to 2000 m.

In this place you can also enjoy the scenery offered by their viewpoints, which also have facilities for camping or for a beautiful picnic day.