By Marcia Chaiken and Jan Chaiken

Whether your passion is creepy, crawly critters, larger animals, or Mayan archeological sites, the Lacandona Jungle is a must-see site for the intrepid visitor to Mexico. Partially located in the state of Chiapas, between the state of Oaxaca and Guatemala to the east, this dramatic rainforest jungle covers a vast area that continues into Guatemala and the state of Yucatan (1.9 million hectares in all, or over 7,000 sq. miles). The part in Chiapas is bordered for hundreds of kilometers by the Rio Usumacinta, the river that separates Mexico from Guatemala, and is so dense that indigenous people there were able to stay hidden out of the gun-sights of the Spanish conquerors for centuries after the conquest. Magnificent archeological sites remained unknown to foreigners until about 65 years ago. Continue reading The Lacandon Jungle: The Final Frontier →

By Carole Reedy

Many travelers feel intimidated and confused by the size of the megalopolis known as Mexico City, or D.F. (Distrito Federal), the center both literally and figuratively of the Republic of Mexico. For North Americans the “DF” reference is familiar, the concept similar to that of Washington, DC. Continue reading Mexico City Through A Neighborhood Lens: The Colonias of D.F. →