Zinacantán

Most visitors combine a trip to Zinacantán with a stop at San Juan Chamula, exploring two of Chiapas’ better-known Tzotzil Maya destinations in just one day from either nearby San Cristóbal de las Casas or Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Almost all such excursions include guided tours of the villages and their churches, as well as time to either dine alongside a local family, learn to make tortillas the traditional way, or even weave using a backstrap loom.

Many multi-day Mexico and Chiapas tours also include stops at Zinacantán and Chamula, and some biking tours pass through Zinacantán too.

• Zinacantán is one of Chiapas’ most lively and bustling indigenous villages.

• Do not take photos of the people in Zinacantán without their express consent and respect their decision if they refuse you.

• Combine a trip to Zinacantán with a visit to San Juan Chamula to maximize your time in the region

• Carry loose change and small bills in Zinacantán; cards and large bills will not be accepted.

• Most people in Zinacantán speak Tzotzil as their first language; Spanish is not widely spoken and English less so.

• Zinacantán may not be easily accessible for wheelchair users, due to narrow streets and uneven ground.

Zinacantán is situated 9 miles (15 kilometers) northwest of San Cristóbal de las Casas and can be reached by taxi from the nearby city, although public transport options are tough to find. However, as the vast majority of Zinacantán residents likely speak little Spanish and no English, visiting on a guided tour with round-trip transportation is the most convenient way to arrive.

Zinacantán village is accessible year-round, although it’s typically best to visit during festive periods if traveling independently, when more outsiders are present in the village. One such festive period takes place in mid-August, when Zinacantán celebrates the Feast of San Lorenzo. Otherwise, arriving with a guide as part of an organized excursion is the best way to visit.

Alongside Zinacantán, San Juan Chamula is one of Chiapas’ most densely populated indigenous villages, where almost the entire population of Chamula speaks Tzotzil, a Mayan language. Best known for the central Church of San Juan, where colonial Catholic beliefs mingle with Maya tradition and photography is strictly prohibited, Chamula is often visited with Zinacantán from San Cristóbal or Tuxtla.