Chiapas – Mexico’s last exotic frontier
Austin-Lehman Adventures, the experts in multi-sport vacations throughout the Americas, are offering a rare opportunity to accompany National Geographic Adventure magazine Contributing Editor, Bob Howells, on its inaugural trip in Chiapas, rightfully dubbed Mexico’s last exotic frontier. This 8 day / 7 night program for up to 12 guests runs from September 23 to September 30, 2007. Participants boat, bike and hike through alpine forest and steamy lowland jungle rife with diverse, colorful birds and frolicking monkeys. They wander into tiny cobblestone villages and dramatic archaeological ruins. By boat they traverse the Lacandon Rainforest to the remote Bonampak site, climb over the ruins of the ancient Mayan power center of Palenque, mountain bike through local villages, and meet the living highland Maya in their still mystical, ancestral homeland.
Accommodations reflect the authenticity of the experience. They include a modern 5-star hotel, a cozy jungle eco-resort and a carefully restored 17th-century hacienda.
Overall the region explored is approximately the size of West Virginia, and includes Chiapas and parts of Tabasco. Chiapas is bordered on the west by the Pacific and on the south by Guatemala. Guests access the itinerary by flights into Villahermosa, departing 8 days later from Tuxtla Gutierrez.
The per person rate based on double occupancy is $2,998, exclusive of air to and from Mexico. The price includes all meals (but 1 dinner), accommodations, ground transportation, all sporting equipment, park entrance fees, expert guides and the services of local historians and archeologists.
A single supplement is $765. Single guests can avoid paying the customary lodging surcharge if they let ALA know at the time of booking that they want a roommate. If the company can’t find one, the client still gets a private room but enjoys a 50% reduction off the usual single supplement price. The trip is also available October 28 to November 4 (Day of the Dead Festival trip) and December 23 to December 30.
“As far as we know, we’re the only outfitters doing such in depth cultural journeys into Chiapas, “says Dan Austin, co-founder and director of operations of Austin-Lehman Adventures. He says this area is one of the least-visited regions in Mexico but among its richest in terms of culture, history and indigenous people.
Austin notes that the trip will interface with secluded villagers who can, in some instances, claim that they are 100 percent Mayan. This culture’s small rural communities and historic ruins, plus what he calls one of the most geographically stunning travel experiences to be found the Americas, add up to a world-class adventure travel experience.
For a copy of the 2007 catalog as well as information on ALA’s 32 unique luxury, multisport, adult and family active adventure travel itineraries log onto Austinlehman.com.
Austin-Lehman Adventures specializes in upscale multi-sport adventures to iconic destinations throughout the Americas. Most of their small group vacations are six days and five nights in duration, and combine such guided outdoor activities as hiking, biking, rafting, canoeing and horseback riding with nights spent at a series of distinctive inns and lodges.
Lunch is usually served gourmet picnic-style along the trail, and breakfast and dinner take place in a given region’s finest cafés and restaurants. Prior experience is not a prerequisite and adventures cater to a wide range of ages and abilities.
Austin and ALA partner Paul Lehman are both recent additions to Forbes Traveler’s panel of Mexico Experts.
ALA is also a founding member of the travel consortium, Trusted Adventures (Trustedadventures.com), which mixes and matches its clients to adventures in the Americas as well as in Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. The alliance offers 300 unique trips to over 80 destinations worldwide.
