Day trip from:

Zinacantán

Tzotzil Maya flower village with textile demonstrations and tortilla-making

1-2 hours (often combined with San Juan Chamula for half-day)

25 MXN(Church entry; home visits include refreshments)

Overview

Zinacantán is a Tzotzil Maya village famous for its **flower cultivation** (the name means "place of bats" but flowers dominate the economy today) and **traditional textile weaving**. Located just 10km from San Cristóbal, it's typically combined with San Juan Chamula for a half-day tour. Visitors are welcomed into local homes for **textile demonstrations** where women showcase backstrap loom weaving techniques passed down through generations, and you'll be served fresh **handmade tortillas with local cheese and pox** (ceremonial corn liquor). The village church features a distinctive green-themed interior with saints dressed in locally-made textiles. Unlike the more intense experience at Chamula, Zinacantán offers a gentler introduction to Tzotzil culture with an emphasis on artisan crafts. **Photography is permitted** in designated areas (unlike Chamula's strict prohibition). The flower greenhouses that supply much of Mexico's cut flower industry are visible throughout the valley. Colectivos run frequently from San Cristóbal (18 MXN, 20 minutes), or combine with Chamula on a $22-32 USD tour.