Hi kayakers, Windows opened in space, time and climate for the realization of a fantastic dream in Southeast Mexico. I just imagine being one of Ricardo Montalban and Tatoos customers in Fantasy Island, with similar conditions on a non luxurious or expensive place but maybe as fancy. It started on Saturday 14, under sunshine and the right temperature with no clouds and just the right amount of wind to keep you fresh. Curiously the days before there were the worst rains and serious floods in the area. Also, as we were ending our trip a new cold front was showing in. Very conscious of travelers comfort cautiously waited until we were through. The time was good since we had a long weekend due to the Revolution Celebration Day on Monday (now we have something to be thankful of the Revolution). I had just arrived from my trip to Corpus Christy Paddlefest and felt kind of guilty, with two days to say hello and change clothes, and wished I had not committed myself, but the feeling didnt last long. As soon as I stepped in Chiapa de Corso, the launching town, all remorse seemed ridiculous. If you want to skip the whole story, you can see a video and pictures at the next link. http://community.webshots.com/user/cayucochief The last window was the Mountain itself. If you figure yourself in a flat plateau all around and only a regular mountain up north, you can seldom imagine that it is split in two by a canyon 1,000 mts (3,000 feet) deep, 25 miles long, where lots of history has been written. First we start with the Spaniards trying unsuccessfully to conquer the Chiapa Indians in 1520, and when almost got them, they decided to jump, all of them, with wives and children from the highest point to the canyon, before having to surrender, so the legend says. Then, the town is famous for building the best marimbas in the World and his Master musician and constructor Seferino Nandayapa happily lives there. Finally, the Canyon was never conquered by humans, in spite of many well equipped international expeditions, and only one group did it. They were called Los Paquelos Rojos, from the close by town, and after their achievement, the Dam was built and the water level rose to reach flat waters, to leave them as the only successful expeditionary in the history of the Canyon. Now a days 10,000 tourists wearing PFD travel every weekend packed in 30 passenger fast boats, looking astonished. (I dont know if by the view or by the speed). On Saturday morning 13 kayakers in 12 singles and one double, one kayak converted into canoe paddled on the knees and three on an inflatable motor boat started from the Caguare Pier down river, watching the canyon walls grow and grow, with all kinds of tropical trees, and birds like eagles, egrets, parrots, tucan, guacamayas, some alligators resting on the sand and one or two monkeys. The trip lasted 5 hours of peaceful paddling, picture taking, adventures telling, wake riding (not to good since boats speed was so large that waves were mostly crossed to the path), some swimming and some rafting to eat. No beaches after the first mile, only vertical rock walls with trees growing on them. We paddled and drifted and time passed so quickly in such a breath taking place. When walls started to fall, the river opened on both sides, with thick forest; a clear water stream on the left end and a palapa and some kind of buildings to the right. That was our destination. On the pier we were expected, and our fully loaded kayaks were taken up to the near palapa where we unloaded and prepared to enter into the second dream. The cement walkway immersed in the tropical jungle, took us to a hanging bridge, a one story building that was a small museum with local costumes, videos, explanations of the geological formation fo the canyon, tribal traditions, and all related to those etnias, and then a hanging strings door to a patio with guacamayas and tucans with all colored feathers, and then another patio with a bar, a swimming pool and some flat areas for camping. Going on other walkways one could reach the leopard, panther, monkey, alligator and snake cages, and further up the climbimg and rappel wall and finally the wire sliding tower (we call tirolesa). Going down on two stages of the sliding wire, one could go back to the pool, bar and camp. Close by there was a restaurant with sufficient and variable food, with a good size amphitheater below ready for good theater and folkloric dance presentations, being the backstage the river and canyon walls. Servants, guests, sliding cable guides, zoo maintenance crews, all were very kind, serviceable and efficient, making life very easy for us in that little paradise. They all live in the town of Tuxtla Gutierrez and are taken to the place by boat since there is no road to that Shangri-La camp called AMIKZU. Needless to say we spent a full day sliding down the cable, climbing, paddling to the other side of the channel to go up the water stream, enjoying the river water and the swimming pool and bar, with very friendly and happy company. We wondered watching the zoo, the birds, the museum, always ready for the next feeding session, since food was so good. Nothing lasts for ever, and Monday morning we had to say goodbye and paddle along the opening caynon to the dam wall and the side pier and restaurant where the cars were waiting for us. Climate started to deteriorate as we were approaching the end. We said goodbye with some kayak and canoe rolls, and eating some fresh garlic fried Tilapias with cold and refreshing beer. Thanks to the organizers and to the excellent companions we had a dream trip. If anybody is interested here there are some links to the place. http://twitter.com/amikuu http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archivo:Canon_el_Sumidero.jpg Best Regards, Rafael Mier www.mayanseas.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. 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