Banana Plantation & Rural Community
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Port
Puerto Chiapas, Mexico
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$89.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 4½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Board an air-conditioned van and journey into the heart of rural Chiapas for a deeper understanding of the local people and landscapes. Discover the culture that blends ancient traditions with modern necessity.
Visit a cooperative banana plantation -- a rural community that works together for the betterment of all its members -- in the Chiapas countryside. Among the wide, green fields of the Ejido Miguel Aleman banana farm, your guide will acquaint you with the history of the region, its people and traditions, as well as the banana growing and harvest process. Then, travel into the town that owns and runs the banana co-op and visit the local community center or school, where you will have the chance to meet and mingle with the local children and the dedicated teachers and social workers. The community center has also implemented a program to teach the adult population how to read and write and is the only community in the area that has purchased computers so that local kids and adults can learn to use the internet.
Part of the proceeds of this tour will go to this community center learning program and you will be given a school kit pack explaining some of the basic day to day needs of the community children. You will be able to donate the kit to one of the kids at the community center or local school.
Continue your tour of the town at the local church where the priest, who is an essential part of the community, will share information with you about the local customs and way of life. After your visit, you will head out of town to the banana packing plant. Discover how the whole community works together to pack the bananas they all produce. All the profits from the sales of the bananas are distributed among the community members.
On the way back you’ll have a last glimpse of life in rural Chiapas before returning to the pier.
Notes:
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes; bring sunscreen, a hat and insect repellent. The school may be closed for holidays during some visits; you will stop at the community center instead. Workers are not present at banana packing plant during Sunday visits.