THE ANCIENT ROYAL ROAD

"All territory is wonderful in everything, first it is neither cold nor too hot. There is abundance of all food Indians eat, like corn, aji, as well as everything else. It is cotton's mother because all province dress from it. This is a flat land with great pastures for the cattle, and at the back there are Sierras that generate gold, it looks like Jericho."

Fray Tomas de la Torre, XVI century.
The plain region in east Chiapas saturated poetic nature and scenic graphic resources subdued the first Spanish conquerors of XVI century, who arrived at the place and observed every incredible picture, with owe and surprise.

Now as before, the travelers arriving at this part of Chiapas territory, taking the old Camino Real, experiment, no doubt, the enchantment that captivated the ancient colonialists. This natural scenario is witness of political and social facts about Spanish domination and cultural mix that affected Chiapas history.

In this region, natural beauty, archeological zones, colonial art, traditions and a splendid gastronomy harmoniously coexist. Old Camino Real road starts in Comitan de Dominguez, located in east Chiapas, 163km from the capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez, 84km from San Cristobal de las Casas, and 90km from Guatemala border.

Panamericana 190 Highway crosses the region, this is the beginning of south border Highway that enters the Lacandona Jungle. The airport, 17 Km to the city of Comitan, means a better access.

This route has multiple historical and cultural elements, making this an interesting destination to the contemporary traveler, avid of understanding and recognizing present and past.

HISTORY, POETRY AND
NATURE SQUANDERING

Traces left by gatherers and Hunters indicate the oldest human presence in Chiapas, 10,000 years ago; these were found in Aguacatenango valley, near Comitan region. According to some archeologists, high lands of Chiapas were inhabited by Mixe—Zoque people, during part of preclassic period (2000 b. C. - 200 a. C.).

They were relegated by Maya population coming from Usumacinta basin. People from the plain region kept their culture during the post classic period (900-1200 a. C.).

This zone was linguistic meeting place where tzeltal, coxoh people, with tojolabales or chañabales, and possibly chujes were met. In early 1528, a group of Spaniards, from Guatemala, headed by Pedro Portocarrero founded a town near to Balun Canan, Comitan Maya's name, translated as nine stars, named San Cristobal de los Llanos, as an advance for Pedro de Alvarado. Diego de Mazariegos established a Royal City, today San Cristobal de las Casas, as the only Spanish village and province capital. San Cristobal de los Llanos was dismantled.

The dominicos presence, that arrived half XVI century, was very important. They established one of their main convents in Comitan. They also established the first Haciendas in los Llanos, known as La Frailesca de Comitan, this city was very important on Camino Real to get Guatemala; Chiapas depended on Guatemala. Spaniards were established in Haciendas because of their production, and Comitan was known as pueblo de indios, Indian Village.

The Camino Real followed the old pre-Columbian roads design and it communicated the Chiapa province with Guatemala, merchandise, men, official documents and all kinds of novelties passed through this hot and low lands of right side Grijalva river. Although the exact design of this road is unknown, there are some elements to recreate Camino Real.

· Map ·

· Destinations ·