CIELO Y TIERRA TOURS
Maya Culture in Highland Chiapas
Cielo y Tierra Tours S.A de C.V.
San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico
Email: info@cieloytierratours.com
Content and Images © Copyright Cielo y Tierra Tours 2009
Our Tours: Ancient Maya Ruins
CHINKULTIK & TENAM PUENTE
Less than two hours south-east from San Cristóbal are two little-known but impressive Maya archeological sites, Chinkultik and Tenam Puente. Both sites have magnificent settings, with stunning views from the tops of the pyramids over the surrounding countryside.
We begin our tour in the ancient city of Chinkultik. It is believed that Chinkultik was a Maya power during the
Late Classic period, after AD 700, and may have survived into Post-classic times, possibly as long as AD 1200.
Our trip around the ruins takes us through beautiful meadows and across a stream, until we see the pyramids known as
El Mirador, appearing through the trees high up on a steep hill.
Chinkultik also has a large ballcourt decorated with stelae (sculptures) depicting the ballgame.
On our return to San Cristobal de Las Casas, we stop for lunch in the attractive colonial town of Comitán (10 km from Tenam Puente), with its pretty plaza and lively street life. We will go to a great café in the corner of the plaza that showcases local organic coffee, and visit the Museo de Arqueología (Tues-Sun), a really interesting small museum with displays of jewellery and pottery, amongst other things, from Tenam Puente and Chinkultik.
Sixty kilometres from Chinkultik is Tenam Puente, another site with a spectacular hilltop location; a truly magical place that receives very little tourism. Like Chinkultik, it is a Classic Maya settlement that seems to have survived into Post-classic times.
The most important group of ruins, the Acropolis, has three ball-courts and a 20-metre-high pyramid rising from a terraced wooded hillside. Climbing to the top of the pyramid gives us lovely views of the Comitán valley.
The view from the tallest structure over the surrounding lakes and forests and down into a cenote 50m below (into which Maya used to cast offerings) is breathtaking.
Day of Excursion: Any day of the week
Duration: Approx 9 hours
SUGGESTION: We can also offer Chinkultik or Tenam Puente in a tour with the beautiful Lagos de Montebello, a national park in which there are more than fifty stunning lakes. Please contact us for further information.
Note: Chinkultik is temporarily closed. Please contact us for an update.
