Lagunas de Montebello

Lagunas de Montebello National Park is one of the most famous national parks in Mexico. Nearly 60 lakes are said to all vary in color from waters of rich turquoise, to every shade of green and blue and even violet. The area is home to dozens of protected species and is a major favorite for bird watchers from everywhere. The land is punctuated by rolling hills and peaks, and hikers take to the back woods, and even the easy trails are spectacular. 

 also surrounded by environmental and eco-tourism center, some of which do education and many of which just roll out the chaise lounges. The area has every kind of lodging, from lodges, to cabins and full scale hotels, if not exactly resorts. A few will almost fit the bill. As the area is protected, and even fiercely defended, development is strictly controlled, and no one expects it to grow too much. The area is simply to pristine. 

People come for the kayaking, boat tours and rafting, and for the horseback riding.  A lot of visitors will go in for camping, although campfires are strictly monitored. There is a small Tziscao cultural museum on the shores of that particular lake (the biggest). There is a restaurant and orchid farm there too. But such services are limited in the area. The Tziscao Ecotirístico Park is one of several that have sprung up to not just meet the demands of visitors, but also to protect and preserve the environment by welcoming visitors in a more controlled way.  

The Chinkultic archaeological zone is directly west of the lakes district and boasts some impressive pyramids for a site this small. The true roadsters though may want to continue to the sites at Maravilla Tenejapa. The first sites at the bottom of the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve are about two hours further down Highway 307.

Lagunas de Montebello is about 56 kilometers east from Comitán. You can drive that in about an hour. Some true adventurers are coming south from Palenque and the Tren Maya/Interoceanico. That trip will take about 6.5 hours and it covers a good 273 kms.