About 10 miles east of Tuxtla Gutierrez is Chiapa de Corzo and the Embarcadero del Cañon del Sumidero. Here, you can buy passage on a launch to tour the canyon. I was there on a Monday so it was pretty dead in town.

In the main square was a gnarled old tree with a plaque that explained that the indigenous of the area were some of the last of the native people of Mexico to fall to Spanish rule. Legend has it that, when the Spanish arrived in 1528, the local Chiapa hurled themselves by the hundreds from the high canyon walls rather than surrender. Others survived by hiding in caves in the canyon and when the last leader was finally captured, he was tied to this tree and burned to death.

Passage to tour the canyon cost $100 pesos and lasts three hours. There is a hotel, restaurant resort about halfway through that looked quite pleasant. It might be nice to spend a day or two there if you're in the area.

Arbol de Navidad (Click to enlarge)	State of Chiapas logo	Vultures, also waiting for tourists.

The Arbol de Navidad is one of the most curious things I've ever seen. It looks like the waterfall at the apex has been leaving mineral deposits in the form of canopies or half cones. The whole structure must be about 40-50 meters high. There were two or three of these structures in the area.

Next, San Christobal de Las Casas