Lagunas de Montebello

"It is unknown exactly how many lakes are in the region but they occupy 18% of the area and 52 have been counted so far. These lakes have been forme throughout the years by old underground lakes that started merging with the erosion and slow collapse of the limestone rocks. They owe their awe-inspiring reputation to the extraordinary beauty of the surrounding forests and the tonality of their waters. Their color variations are due to different factors such as the type of lake floor, the vegetation and light refraction, going from violet to emerald and turquoise. The lakes are surrounded by amazing pine, liquidambar and oak forests and it is home to a wide array of flora and fauna typical of the mesophile neotropical forests of the Chiapas highlands, like the quetzal, the tayras, the tiger ocelot, the central american red brocket and other migratory birds. They also share their habitat with a variety or orchids and ferns, creating an amazing eco-system that was declared national park (the first in the state of Chiapas), to protect one of the greatest natural treasures of the country. The extraordinary beauty of the place has been a source of inspiration for artists, like the mexican poet Jaime Sabines, who had his ranch next to the park; or Dr. Atl, who proposed the construction of Olinca, the city of arts, here. For visiting Montebello two paths can be taken. The first leads to the lakes of Esmeralda, La Encantada, Bosque Azul, Ensueño and Agua Tinta. The second leads to Mpntebello, Cañada, Pojoj, Dos Lagunas and Tzicao. The latter is the deepest lake of all (45mt) and it is located at the border with Guatemala. Other attractions to visit in the park are: the mayan archeological ruins of Chinkultik, the Puente de Dios caverns and the San Rafael del Arco grotto. Activities The national park is one of the best places t practice photography, hiking, camping and other open air activities. With caution, swimming is possible in some of the lakes, excluding the rainy season from May to October. Activities in Montebello Lakes Aquatic Sports Sports fishing Horseback riding Experience the local gastronomy How to get there From Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital, take the highway leading to Comitán de Dominguez; 12 km ahead, towards Cuauhtémoc city, you’ll find the highway that takes you directly to the Montebello lakes. From San Cristóbal de las Casas take the Federal highway 190 in the San Cristobal de las Casas-Comitán direction, after 15 km you’ll find the road that takes you to Bosque Azul near Trinitaria. At the 36.6 km mark you can take the road to Tzizcao and from there to other lakes."