Aventura Ch'ulam ja
Boating and clam digging in one of the world's most fantastic wetlands, and all followed up by a magic feast on the side of the swiftly flowing and mighty river.
The Ch'ulam ja Adventure begins just outside of the Frontera is one of the quickest, easiest ways to start to explore the fantastic and world famous Centla Marshes. Tours start at the beloved dockside restaurant El Negro Chon, practically within the first entrance to the Pantanos (entrada uno).
Tours start with a bit about safety on the lanchas, the flat bottomed river boats. This is important. But boats soon take off for the Laguna San Pedrito just up the meandering Usumacinta River. Surrounding canals are leaned in upon from all sides by incredible greenery, but even on overcast days, the setting is lush and exotic and visitors get the idea that this is truly gifted territory. Guide specialize in sharing secrets of the fantastic ecosystem, the area's biodiversity, and the confluence of three powerful rivers here. It's like stepping back into some kind of primordial time.
When passengers get to the lagoon, with clear water to waist height, you can collect up to five clams using traditional clam-fishing techniques. "Ch'ulam ja" is the Chantol Maya name for these freshwater clams.
Back on dry land, the clams will be grilled, but you can also enjoy minilla empanadas and seasonal fruit juice. Tours can last for several hours, and tour operators will frequently customize trips so that you get just what your after. If clam fishing is not your thing, tours will also include bird watching, and tours of the surrounding lakes, rivers, and wetlands.
Nearly all visitors to the area will arrive from Frontera. It's just about 20 minutes to the north of the Entrada Uno of the Pantanos. If you've really into roughing it, Jonuta is another two hours in the opposite direction, but the ride is made softer with the knowledge that gentle manatees inhabit the river all the way to Jonuta, and then some.
Contact:
Asunción Hernández
Restaurante El Negro Chon
Carretera Frontera-Jonuta km 12.5
Tel. 913 102 4945
negrochon@hotmail.com
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