Travel Guide Reserva De La Biosfera Montes Azules

At the beginning of the 20th century, all of northeastern Chiapas was covered by tropical forests; about one million hectares were occupied by the Lacandon, a tribe of hunter-gatherers who were heirs to the Mayan civilizations. They would leave their name to this immense tropical ecosystem, where 33% of the country's fresh water circulates. Settled by the government in the 1960s, they now number only 1,000; their main community is now located in Lacanjà-Chansayab, 150 km southeast of Palenque. Since the mid-1970s, the entire Selva Lacandona has lost 70% of its area, from 1,800,000 ha to less than 500,000. Among the areas still (relatively) preserved is the Reserva de la Biósfera Montes Azules, created in 1978. It is considered one of the areas of greatest biodiversity in the country, corresponding to 20% of its biodiversity in only 0.16% of the national territory: 40 species of fish in its rivers and lagoons, 109 species of amphibians and reptiles, more than 340 species of birds and 116 species of mammals (29% of all mammal species in the country). There are many endangered species, including the jaguar, the guacamaya roja, the fierce harpy (forest eagle) and the tapir. The Reserve itself and its surroundings are full of wonders to discover: the Lacanjá Lacandon community located in the heart of the forest, the archaeological areas of Bonampak and Yaxchilan; further south, the Las Nubes waterfalls and the Laguna Miramar are the most accessible jewels