La Mancolona
A fantastic mix of color, language, and food while camping beneath the jungle canopy just north of Xpujil in some of Campeche's most friendly and creative country.
La Mancolona is a little town with a center for visitors just north of Xpujil and the Tren Maya station there. The community is officially known as Unión 20 de junio but people here are more likely to call it La Mancolona, that is, The Roots of the Future. The town population was relocated here after the creation of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in 1989. Nearly the entire population are of the Tzeltal, Ch'ol, and Tzotzil ethnic groups originally from the state of Chiapas. Today they proudly preserve and share their traditions and way of life.
Residents of the town welcome visitors to the La Raíz del Futuro, an ecotourism center intended to present the area's culture, natural environment, and food in a context that makes sense, and where it doesn't, with the full cultural context to make everything clear.
Tours of the center usually begin with traditional marimba music. This is accompanied by a sampling of regional dishes, many of them originally from Chiapas. Adepted to the new environment, they can include a traditional mole sauce and the famous pepper leaf tea. The use of allspice in the cooking and the history of the community is everywhere apparent.
Visitors are guided onto the interpretive jungle trails to learn about the regional trees and plant life as well as the local biodiversity. Later, visitors can participate in workshops to strengthen the connection with the area's cultural roots. Scented candles with beeswax and orange peels, traditional piñatas, vine baskets, and weaving are among the most low-key activities. The center has an extensive camping area beneath a majestic ceiba tree. At nightfall, there are stories of local legend and a campfire.
The main La Mancolona camping area and visitor center is about 40 minutes to the north of the Xpujil Tren Maya station, and just east of the little town of Nueva Vida, still on the highway. Most guests arrive on the Tren Maya from Chetumal which is just about two hours (on the train) to the east. From Escárcega and points to the west in Campeche the trip is about 2.5 hours, as the little town of 20 de junio really is quite far east in southern Campeche.
Contact:
Anabel / CampecheTravel
Tel/Whats: 981 171 7783
https://campeche.travel/
