Chiapas - Heading to San Cristobal de las Casas via Misol-Ha and Cascadas de Aqua Azul - Day 3

 We headed out of Palenque Wednesday morning about 9AM with the admonition it was going to be a LONG day.  No truer words were ever spoken.  It was nightfall when we finally arrived in San Cristobal.

I would not take anything for the trip however, as the way to see Mexico is on the ground.  IF we had flown to Tuxtla Guitterez and then taken an hour bus ride to San Cristobal, we would have missed so much! 

We would have missed Misol-Ha, a waterfall in the middle of nowhere.  We would also have missed Cascadas de Aqua Azul which was about an hour or so from Misol-Ha.  Both spectacular sights.  But, to me, the best is seeing the people on the sides of the road going about their lives.  To see how they live, what they do for a living and to experience it in a flash, is better then not experiencing it at all.

To see the Palm Oil farms that are causing more deforestation is a sad thing to see, but makes one  realize that coconut oil and palm oil are destroying farm lands and forests, not to mention the rain forest as well.

Raising cattle is another addition to the lifestyle of Chiapas that has caused more deforestation.  It is a double edged sword.

The beauty at Misol-Ha did not show any of the deforestation as it is a protected area where helanconias and ginger plants flourish in the warm, humid, rainy area.  So beautiful

 There were little cabins on the property that can be rented.  To me it would be a perfect spot for a writer.  No distractions other then the sound of the howler monkeys, the beauty of the surroundings and the sounds of the birds.  We were told we might see toucans, but alas, not.  Big disappointment for me.

 Bamboo and banana trees were plentiful everywhere.  I was surprised that more things were not built out of bamboo.  Maybe some day.

 There actually was a little restaurant on the grounds as well, but we were on a mission and did not take time to stop as we were on to Cascada Aqua Azul, another exquisitely beautiful place.

 The same hummingbird that I had in my first post is poised on the edge of the branch in the lower left hand
corner of this photo.  Isn't its camouflaging extraordinary?

A breathtakingingly beautiful sight.  The water was pristinely clean and such a unique color.  Surrounded
by forests, the colors were all striking.

This is a view of the area on the edge of the Lancondon jungle.  Ocosingo is near Tonina, another archaeological site that we did not have time to visit, unfortunately.  It also is the area where we
began to climb to San Cristobal which is 7100 ft. above sea level.

San Cristobal is a gem.  Seven times the population of San Miguel, it still has a small town vibe.
No skyscrapers and no rushing.  Lots of walking and beauty everywhere.  Very indigenous in
its people and architecture.  Good food.  Largest number of expats are Italian first and French
second.    Onward.