Just 4.5 kilometers (2.7 miles) from San Cristóbal on the road to San Juan Chamula, the Huitepec Reserve (9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tues.–Sun., US$1.50) is a 135-hectare (334-acre) cloud forest on the slopes of an extinct volcano, where more than 80 species of birds have been identified. Several well-marked trails climb from the main trailhead, and make for a pleasant, if somewhat strenuous, hike.

There are guides on-site who can lead tours of the park (US$6 pp, 1 hr) or, with a day’s notice, an early-morning bird-watching tour (US$12.50 pp, 2.5–3 hrs). For additional information, and to reserve a bird-watching tour, contact Pronatura (Pedro Moreno 1, tel. 967/678-5000, www.pronatura-chiapas.org, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri.).

Getting to Reserva de Huitepec

To get to Reserva de Huitepec, take any combi headed to San Juan Chamula; the stop in San Cristóbal is on Avenida General Utrilla, on the far side of the market. Tell the driver you’d like to be dropped at Huitepec (US$0.70, 20 mins). You can catch the same combis headed back into San Cristóbal.