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Laguna de Miramar
Country: Mexico.

The lacandona jungle is located in the east portion of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. This jungle covered in the past a surface of more than a million hectares being the sustenance of the Maya and maintaining an enormous flora and fauna diversity. In the Lacandona jungle 15 lakes exist, of those the Miramar Lagoon is the biggest (16 square km) and it is surrounded by mountains, humid tropical forest, a valley (San Quintín) and the rivers Jataté, Perlas and Río Azul.

The original name of the lagoon was Lake Lacam-tún that means Big Stone or Great Crag Surrounded by Water. It was called this way by the island of the same name founded by the Lacandon Chol ethnic group in the XVI century and inhabited it until the XVII century. The island has an approximate extension of 6,000 square meters. In it there are archaeological structures.

The name of Miramar was given by the Spaniards at the end of last century.

This ecotourism project is managed by the indigenous inhabitants of the Ejido Emiliano Zapata. This ejido has its origin in the establishment of two indigenous groups in the area in 1968: one of Choles of Sabanilla and another Tzotzil of Huitiupán.

The activities that one can carry out are: visits to caves, canoeing in cayuco (canoe) in the lake, flora and fauna observation and fauna (birds, crocodiles, monkey saraguato, spider monkey, jaguar, etc.)

Getting there?

By land: Leave from Ocosingo to San Quintín (135 km on road) traveling in vans of 3 tons that leave the Tianguis Campesino at 7:00 o'clock, 8:00 or 9:00 (the schedule varies). Another route can be from Comitán to San Quintín with departures at 9:00 hours if you arrive late go to Las Margaritas and you will probably catch up with the van in front of Abarrotes Lupita (a small shop).

By air: By Ocosingo or Comitán travel on a plane $1,900 pesos to get to San Quintín for this contact Fernando Ochoa (member of DANA A.C and NGO who supports the project of the Ejido, if you are in San Cristóbal contact him.)

When arriving to San Quintín walk to the end of the airfield in front of the army barracks and take the deviation on your right passing the nursery of trees for reforestation. When you get to the Ejido Zapata ask for the "Presidente Municipal" (Romeo López López) or for the person in charge of ecotourism in the Ejido.

Prices

Transport to the Ejido Emiliano Zapata: $60 pesos approximately. Guides for the lagoon $100 pesos daily. Cayuco rent (canoe) $100 pesos. Cost to visit the Lagoon $30 pesos (daily). Rent of horses to get to the lagoon $100 pesos. If you want help to carry baggage $50 pesos. Hammock $20 pesos per night. This prices might have changed as time passes.

Ecoturismolatino's Opinion

A visit to Miramar is compulsory for all honourable EcoTraveller, that want to be embraced by the beauty of this place. At the same time supporting a conservation effort of an indigenous community.

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Mexico: Community Projects
	Laguna de Miramar Country: Mexico. The lacandona jungle is located in the east portion of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. This jungle covered in the past a surface of more than a million hectares being the sustenance of the Maya and maintaining an enormous flora and fauna diversity. In the Lacandona jungle 15 lakes exist, of those the Miramar Lagoon is the biggest (16 square km) and it is surrounded by mountains, humid tropical forest, a valley (San Quintín) and the rivers Jataté, Perlas and Río Azul. The original name of the lagoon was Lake Lacam-tún that means Big Stone or Great Crag Surrounded by Water. It was called this way by the island of the same name founded by the Lacandon Chol ethnic group in the XVI century and inhabited it until the XVII century. The island has an approximate extension of 6,000 square meters. In it there are archaeological structures. The name of Miramar was given by the Spaniards at the end of last century. This ecotourism project is managed by the indigenous inhabitants of the Ejido Emiliano Zapata. This ejido has its origin in the establishment of two indigenous groups in the area in 1968: one of Choles of Sabanilla and another Tzotzil of Huitiupán. The activities that one can carry out are: visits to caves, canoeing in cayuco (canoe) in the lake, flora and fauna observation and fauna (birds, crocodiles, monkey saraguato, spider monkey, jaguar, etc.) Getting there? By land: Leave from Ocosingo to San Quintín (135 km on road) traveling in vans of 3 tons that leave the Tianguis Campesino at 7:00 o'clock, 8:00 or 9:00 (the schedule varies). Another route can be from Comitán to San Quintín with departures at 9:00 hours if you arrive late go to Las Margaritas and you will probably catch up with the van in front of Abarrotes Lupita (a small shop). By air: By Ocosingo or Comitán travel on a plane $1,900 pesos to get to San Quintín for this contact Fernando Ochoa (member of DANA A.C and NGO who supports the project of the Ejido, if you are in San Cristóbal contact him.) When arriving to San Quintín walk to the end of the airfield in front of the army barracks and take the deviation on your right passing the nursery of trees for reforestation. When you get to the Ejido Zapata ask for the "Presidente Municipal" (Romeo López López) or for the person in charge of ecotourism in the Ejido. Prices Transport to the Ejido Emiliano Zapata: $60 pesos approximately. Guides for the lagoon $100 pesos daily. Cayuco rent (canoe) $100 pesos. Cost to visit the Lagoon $30 pesos (daily). Rent of horses to get to the lagoon $100 pesos. If you want help to carry baggage $50 pesos. Hammock $20 pesos per night. This prices might have changed as time passes. Ecoturismolatino's Opinion A visit to Miramar is compulsory for all honourable EcoTraveller, that want to be embraced by the beauty of this place. At the same time supporting a conservation effort of an indigenous community.