Tenejapa

Tenejapa is a largely rural community centered around their municipal seat just northeast of San Cristóbal de las Casas. The town serves as a major meeting point for people of the Tzeltal group, one of the biggest indigenous groups in Chiapas. A majority of Tzeltal people live here and in neighboring communities in Pantelhó, Larráinzar and Chenalhó. All are overwhelmingly rural places with the larger villages being rare exceptions. This is one of them. 

Tzeltal is home to the Tenejapa Community Museum, which houses a collection of historical artifacts and the products of the many area crafts people and artisans. Perhaps the people are best known for the variety of textiles produced. These will be noticed in the attire of the townspeople. In particular, the huipils worn by Tenejapa woman are especially highly prized. The same fabrics will go into sashes and bags. The museum will also highlight the methods for the weaving, dying and design of these fabrics

The area mountains also specialize in the cultivation of coffee as a cash crop. The local cuisine centers around pozol, a corn-based drink, and tamales wrapped in banana leaves. Comit, the local liquor is distilled from sugar cane. 

Tenejapa will go all in for the carnival season. The local name for the festivities is tajimalk'in although the Feast of San Ildefonso, patron saint of the town may rival it for scale.  

Tenejapa is reached by regular combi service from San Cristóbal, and that is likely how most visitors get here if they are not driving. The pity is that the town is actually better approached from the other side, where the eastern mountain passes give way to this extraordinary town in the hollows. In San Cristobal, check the taxi bases on the Calle Bermudas for the most direct trips. Most of them will get you there in just under an hour. They also run from here to Teopisca.