Chiapas Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
state of Mexico
About Chiapas
The name "Chiapas" is believed to have come from the ancient city of Chiapan, which in Náhuatl means "the place where the chia sage grows". Hunter gatherers began to occupy the central valley of the state around 7000 BC, but little is known about them. The oldest civilization to appear in what is now Chiapas is that of theMokaya, who were cultivating corn and living in houses as early as 1500 BC, making them one of the oldest in Mesoamerica. There is speculation that these were the forefathers of theOlmec, who are also regarded as one of the oldest in Mesoamerica. One of the Mokaya ancient cities is now the archeological site of Chiapa de Corzo. During the pre-Classic era, most of Chiapas was not Olmec, but had close relations with them, especially the Olmecs of the Isthmus ofTehuantepec.
Chiapas Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 13 sections including: