See the City of Comitan, Chiapas, Mexico

Comitan and neighbouring San Cristobal de las Casas and Tuxtla Gutierrez are in the State of Chiapas, a region east of Oaxaca and south of Villahermosa and which is, without question, Mexico’s most stunning scenic area; mostly wild and rugged, it is rich in indigenous life and culture.

Chiapas' thickly wooded jungles, mountains and valleys together with its traditional cultures and indigenous roots have kept its look, feel and style very distinct from the rest of Mexico. Although there are some cities, symbols and events here which reveal the area’s colonial heritage, the population is still well installed within its indigenous roots; life is still lived according to custom and ritual.

Many argue that the natural beauty of this area has no parallel in Mexico; deep green forested alleys, awesome waterfalls and high mountains with deep canyons & gorges, a colossal wealth of flora, fauna and wildlife and glorious lakes certainly make this area one of Mexico’s most unspoilt natural paradises.

Away from the larger towns, Spanish is a second language; people here have stayed true to their indigenous cultures and tongue.You’ll see a lot of indigenous people going about their everyday life, often wearing their traditional dress. It’s important to remember that the people who live here are extremely sensitive to having their photograph taken, so exercise caution in this respect when you visit. See: Practical Information Comitan de Dominguez (its full name, although most often referred to as just Comitan; "Koh-me-tan"), was first settled around 1527 by the Spanish, and is still largely undiscovered by most foreign visitors to Mexico's Chiapas region, who traditionally arrive and explore the region from San Cristobal de las Casas,
88km (55 miles) north of here.

This has been partly due to the lack of road & tourism infrastructures: although in the last few years, progress has been made in both areas and today Comitan is a good base to explore some of Chiapas' most breathtaking natural attractions.

The colonial city is made up of 9 neighborhoods; an important reference to the city's ancient name: Balun Canun, which means place of the 9 stars. The houses are simple but picturesque, with their painted wood doors, interior courtyard gardens and colonial balconies. The streets themselves are well kept kept too, and immaculately clean.

Comitan is the last significant place before Mexico's southern border gives way to River Usumacinta and Guatemala just beyond. Comitan offers its visitors a number of attractive sights inside the city itself, including the beautifully picturesque neighborhood of San Caralampio (see details in Key Attractions).

Although San Cristobal de las Casas is still the epicenter of tourist activity in Chiapas, Comitan has evolved and improved its tourism services, now making it an ideal place to spend a couple of days exploring the southern edge of Chiapas as well as the attractions along Mexico's southern border with Guatemala, most within an hour's drive from here.