COMITAN DE DOMINGUEZ :
DIRECTIONS TO COMITAN :
From the Airport at Tuxtla Guttierez : A coach service from the airport to San Cristobal - 1 hours. Take second coach from Cristobal Colon coach station to Comitan de Dominguez - 2 hours.
From San Cristobal de las Casas : For safety and comfort - travel by coach from the Cristobal de Colon coach station - approx 1hr 45mins.
From Oaxaca : Coach journey to San Cristobal lasting approx. 12 hours. Stop off and enjoy a few days in the tranquil surroundings of the colonial town of San Cristobal, exploring the indigenous markets and villages of Zinacantan and Chamula nearby - before taking the coach to Comitan - 2 hours.
From Huatulco & the Pacific Coast :
From Guatemala :
HEALTH ADVICE :
You should consult with your doctor concerning the need for malaria tablets for this holiday and follow the professional advice given. You will certainly need some form of mosquito protection. This might include a mosquito net (which can be bought at the start of the tour if so desired) and roll-on and/or spray mosquito repellent.
You will need to ensure that you have checked with your doctor that any potential jabs necessary for a trip to Mexico are taken prior to your journey, and that any expired jabs are updated.
It is essential that you have individual travel insurance prior to your journey. This should cover health and accident cover and your insurance details will need to be checked prior to any bookings with Mangomextours.
You will need to be reasonably physically fit for this tour as some of the terrain is reasonably demanding - and as you are going to be in close proximity to water on many occasions an ability to swim is also strongly advisable.
Log onto the UK Foreign Office up-to-date advice below on travelling to Mexico prior to any visit :
CLOTHING / TRAVEL KIT RECOMMENDED :
Tours in the summer months coincide with the rainy season in Chiapas. This often means brief but very strong storms followed by clear blue skies, and very often days with no rain at all. So waterproofs and sufficient change of clothing is needed. It can be cool in the more temperate regions in los lagos de Montebello, where some form of warm clothing might be needed, and of course should you wish to swim in the lakes and rivers then a swimsuit will be needed. It is essential to have a high factor suncream of course and headware to protect yourself from the sun's rays and sunstroke.
Log onto the CNN 5-day forecast to see the weather in Comitan - but remember that other areas of the tour will be at a lower elevation than this colonial town, and therefore likely to be hotter and more humid :
CNN WEATHER FORECAST - COMITAN
You may wish to purchase a beautiful hand-woven hammock from the highlands of Chiapas (Los Altos de Chiapas), produced by the indigineous Mayan communities of the region. So when the day is hot, you can find some shade, hang out your hammock, refreshing mango juice or river-cool bottle of corona in hand, watching the butterflies drift by and listen to the waterfalls cascading down the rocks.......
READING SUGGESTIONS :
Lonely Planet Mexico
Field Guide to Mexican Birds, Roger Tory Peterson & Edward Chalif
A Swift Guide to the Butterflies of Mexico and Central America, Jeffrey Glassberg
'Maya : Divine Kings of the Rain Forest', Nikolae Grube (Editor) - published by Konemann
'The Uncomfortable Dead', Subcomandante Marcos & Paco Taibo II
'The Crystal Frontier', Carlos Fuentes
'The Labyrinth of Solitude', Octavio Paz
'Montezuma, Cortes and the Fall of Old Mexico', Hugh Thomas
'Vernon God Little', DBC Pierre