Ocosingo
The magnificent capital of the Lacandon Jungle, it's a wonderful town of colorful streets, excellent food, and people happy to help you on your way to the mountains, the surrounding jungle, and the crystal clear waters of Chiapas.
Ocosingo is an ancient town of some 50,000 people including a significant population of Tseltal-Maya speakers. The city is the seat of the municipality of the same name, and this is easily the biggest municipality in Chiapas. Much of it is covered by the famous devoted to Lacandon Jungle and protected within the Lacan-Tun Biosphere Reserve, but the municipality is also home to the giant Chan-Kin Flora and Fauna Protection Area, and the Bonampak and Yaxchilán national monuments. These are also protected.
The town itself is frequently stopped in by visitors to the many natural and historic attractions in the surrounding country, some near and some far. (Toniná is a mere half hour from the east side of town.) But the Andador Guadalupano, a street within the capital city, is recognized as one of Mexico's Barrios Magicos, that is, as one of the most enchanting and inviting of urban environments in the country. Lined with arched trellises, it's a street of small restaurants and shops. At night, it is exquisitely illuminated and by day it's a charming place for a stroll.
The town is also the site of the giant Mercado Publico Tradicional Belisario Dominguez. It's a giant multi-block city market with anything and everything on sale. Long the main central market, today it sees some competition from the nearly equally giant Mercado Nuevo de La Selva on the southern outskirts of town. It's really only about a seven-minute drive between the two markets, but for enthusiasts, either is a magnificent place for lunch.
While there are a few small museums on the near north side of the town square (Parque Central de Ocosingo), lots of visitors will take to the historic Church of San Jacinto de Polonia like ducks to water. The mosaic stone work around the central altar is especially comforting for travelers seeking a cool and shaded refuge.
Most guests will arrive to Ocosingo from Tuxtla, the state capital, or from San Cristóbal de las Casas which is a little bit closer. You can drive from San Cristobal in about 90 minutes, but most bus or colectivo services between these two points will take about one hour more (2.5 hours in total).
