Accommodations and Food

Campamento Río Lacanjá (San Cristóbal [1] tel. 967/674-6660, www.ecochiapas.com/lacanja [2], US$10–12 pp shared bathroom, US$45–65 private bathroom 1–4 people) is the most atmospheric of the campamentos in Lacanjá Chansayab [3]. The complex includes eight simple wood cabins with mosquito nets over the beds and small porches with hammocks, built in a shady grove alongside a small river. There are no locks—nor doors for that matter, just a bolt of fabric hanging in the doorway—but the staff insists there’s never been any theft. Clean shared bathrooms and showers are in a central building.

For a bit more comfort, there are also three large, albeit sterile, units with private bathrooms, tile floors, and ceiling fans. Campamento Río Lacanjá is associated with Explora Ecoturismo (www.explorachiapas.com [4]), a San Cristóbal [1]-based tour operator that specializes in rafting trips and uses this campamento for its groups. To get here, turn left at the village center and continue to the end of the road.

Campamento Topche (campamento-topche [at] hotmail [dot] com, US$8 pp shared bathroom, US$30 s, US$40 d/t) is run by the amiable Don Enrique Chankin Paniagua and family, and is sometimes referred to as Campamento Enrique. The shared-bath units are cheap but pretty grim, with plywood walls and grubby cement floors. The private units are more appealing, with tile floors and high sloped ceilings. The family operates a pleasant restaurant adjacent to the cabins, and has the only Internet access in town (US$1.50/hr).

Campamento Ya’aj Che (martin [at] sendasur [dot] com, US$8 pp shared bathroom, US$30 s, US$40 d/t) has simple wood cabins with shared bathrooms and is located within earshot of a gurgling stream. Boxy private units are more comfortable, with private bathrooms and tile floors, but lack the outdoorsy ambience.

Nearby, Campamento Ecológico Tucán Verde (tel. 961/102-7863, www.tucanverde.com [5], US$2.50 pp camping, US$6 pp dorm, US$7 pp private cabaña, some with en suite bathroom) has a promising website, but the cabañas leave a lot to be desired. Still, the host family is friendly and the large grassy area is suitable for camping.

All of the campamentos have small restaurants, most of which are open to guests and non-guests alike and serve standard Mexican meals at moderate prices.

Parador Sak Nok’p (8 a.m.–6 p.m. daily, US$4–12) has simple wood tables set in a leafy open-air dining area. Look for the sign on your left, about halfway between the village center and Campamento Topche (aka Campamento Enrique).