Maps

Most local tourist offices distribute maps to tourists free of charge, though quality varies considerably. Car rental agencies often have maps and some hotels create maps of nearby restaurants and sights for their guests.

Tourist Offices

Most cities in Chiapas have a tourist office. Some tourist offices are staffed with friendly and knowledgeable people and have a good sense of what tourists are looking for. At others, you’ll seriously wonder how the people there were hired. It is certainly worth stopping in if you have a question—you may well get it answered, but don’t be surprised if you don’t.

Film, Photography, and Video

Digital cameras are as ubiquitous in Mexico as they are everywhere else, but memory sticks and other paraphernalia can be prohibitively expensive; bring a spare chip in case your primary one gets lost or damaged. If your chip’s capacity is relatively small, and you’re not bringing your laptop along, pack a couple blank DVDs and a USB cable to download and burn photos, which you can do at most Internet cafés.

Video is another great way to capture the color and movement of Chiapas. Be aware that all archaeological sites charge an additional US$3 to bring in a video camera; tripods are often prohibited.

© Liza Prado and Gary Chandler from Moon Chiapas, 1st Edition