Join us in the mushroom-filled Mayan Highlands of Chiapas...
The images of revolution--the black clad men & women carrying babies, wearing red and white bandanas, celebrated freedom fighters, the red star, the raised fist–-are resplendent throughout San Cristobal. Beautiful murals depicting the importance of women in leading any revolution stand in stark contrast to the Spanish colonial buildings still present from over 400 years ago, which themselves can feel new compared to the vast Mayan ruins and ancient languages still heard in the markets and broadcast over the radio.
And beyond the people themselves, there is an astounding abundance and richness of the land itself in Chiapas, seemingly with more water than anywhere else in Mexico, stunning cliffs of limestone with stalactite caves jutting out of deep valleys, filled with farms and woolly black sheep; waterfalls and crystal blue mountain cenotes. The pine forests and grassy parks feel like Oregon, while the karst landscape shares the geology of Southern Thailand. The mushroom abundance and accessibility to nature just blew us away on our first visit there in October of 2022 for the National Conference of Mexican Mycologists.
And beyond the people themselves, there is an astounding abundance and richness of the land itself in Chiapas, seemingly with more water than anywhere else in Mexico, stunning cliffs of limestone with stalactite caves jutting out of deep valleys, filled with farms and woolly black sheep; waterfalls and crystal blue mountain cenotes. The pine forests and grassy parks feel like Oregon, while the karst landscape shares the geology of Southern Thailand. The mushroom abundance and accessibility to nature just blew us away on our first visit there in October of 2022 for the National Conference of Mexican Mycologists.
A selection of the incredible fungi we found during October 2022 in the forests of San Cristobal.
What is happening in Mexican mycology right now is nothing short of a revolution. We are happy to partner with one of the upcoming luminaries of Mexican Mycology, Ezeqiel Cruz of Fungaria for a first hand experience at the center of the action. With Ezequiel, we will explore the tropical fungi of crocodile infested waters of the Suadero Canyon, and then rise to 9000ft to explore the mushrooms found with the highland pines and wild banana trees. We will collect and study the variety of edible, dyer, medicinal and even the unknown mushrooms of this relatively unexplored area. Joined by Mycologist Christian Schwarz, this adventure will wrap up our adventure season with a bang!
Within this incomparable setting, we will learn to make chocolate using medicinal mushrooms, visit the Mayan Medicine Museum and Amber Museum, eat in one of the most fabulous restaurant in North America (in Chef Zachary’s opinion), visit the expansive textile museum, the local artisan markets, have a guided tour of this ancient city, see caves, forage with the communities, and take a cooking class from Mushroom Chef Karla Jiménez Patishtán. Basically, we are designing this first-of-its-kind trip in the manner that WE want to experience it... and you can come, too!
See our brief day-by-day itinerary below, under the Key Trip Details section.
Within this incomparable setting, we will learn to make chocolate using medicinal mushrooms, visit the Mayan Medicine Museum and Amber Museum, eat in one of the most fabulous restaurant in North America (in Chef Zachary’s opinion), visit the expansive textile museum, the local artisan markets, have a guided tour of this ancient city, see caves, forage with the communities, and take a cooking class from Mushroom Chef Karla Jiménez Patishtán. Basically, we are designing this first-of-its-kind trip in the manner that WE want to experience it... and you can come, too!
See our brief day-by-day itinerary below, under the Key Trip Details section.
Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán and Mayan Artisan Market in San Cristobal.
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Key Trip DetailsLength: 7 days / 7 nights
Average Foray Distance: 3-4 miles / day Altitude: 7,500-9,000 feet Exertion Level: Easy to Moderate Accommodations: - 1 night in Tuxtla Gutierrez hotel - 6 nights in San Cristobal Hotel Most meals included (6 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 5 Dinners) |
Gorgeous diversity of mushrooms including prized dyers like Cortinarius sanguineus.
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Day-to-Day Itinerary Overview
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September 30th- Day 1: Opening Dinner in Tuxtla Guiterrez. Intro to our week.
Day 2: Foray and exploration of Suadero Canyon; meet Mycologist Ezequiel Cruz; Afternoon travel to San Cristobal de las Casa; settle into hotel; Dinner in town at a very special location! Day 3: Breakfast; walking tour of San Cristobal; Functional [medicinal] mushroom chocolate class; Free night for self-guided dinner. Day 4: Full foray day with communities in Huitepec; lunch in the field; Talk about our finds; Dinner at Naufraggio Brewery. |
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Day 5: Breakfast; Cooking Class with Karla until Evening; Dinner in town;
Day 6: 2nd full-day foray to Parque Encuentro in San Cris with community members; table talk and examination of interesting finds; Dinner together in San Cristobal. Day 7: Breakfast and ID Table Talk, set out for a picnic day in Parque Arcotete - explore caves and hiking; Final Dinner at Tierra y Cielo; last night in hotel October 7th - Day 8: Check out of hotel. Adventure officially ends.* |
Sunset behind Huitepec over San Cristobal de las casas.
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Chiapas is a huge state with incredible lush greenery, (so much water!)ancient history of the Mayans and a landscape that goes from high mountains to lush jungles. The town is designed for tourists to take day trips from the city to countless ruins, waterfalls, natural areas, and more, and we highly recommend staying a couple days after our adventure to explore this epic little city and amazing state!
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Chiffon Falls, about 1.5 hours from San Cris, has the most incredible blue swimmable water!
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Our Team
Zachary & Kim Hunter
Your Tour Leaders
Zachary and Kimberly shared their first hosted Mexico tour together less than two months after meeting. That love-(and-tourism)-at-first-sight in Fall of 2018 has blossomed into a project far beyond their original dreams.
In 2023, they celebrated their 5th year of hosting mushroom adventures in Mexico, a journey that saw them move to Oaxaca in early 2022, and to dedicate their attention to the cradle of civilization hiding in plain sight; to tap into the both ancient and future wisdom of the people of the clouds. Zachary and Kim will be your hosts for each and every tour in 2024! |
Ezequiel Cruz
Lead MycologistEzequiel Cruz Campuzano is the director and co-founder of Fungaria, a project in partnership with four other friends, chefs, digital wizards and mycophiles committed to re-acquainting the Chiapanecan people to their fungal heritage.
Ezequiel is a licensed biologist from UNICACH, and is passionate about the diversity and distribution of macro-basidia from Chiapas. He is on his last year of his Masters Degree at Universidad Naciónal Autonomía (UNA) researching the ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with Gymnopodium floribundum in tropical Tuxtla Gutierrez and its surrounds wild areas. In 2023 he was named by the Chiapas Municipal Youth Awards for his selfless work in mycology and received an award for his work in Environmental Protection. |
Christian Schwarz
Mycologist and Author
Christian Schwarz studied Ecology and Evolution at UC Santa Cruz, where his interest in the world of fungi became irrevocable – their seemingly endless forms (from the grotesque to the bizarre to the sublime) fed his curiosity.
He is co-author of Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast, and is Collections Lead for the California Fungal Diversity Survey, and is a research associate of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and served on the IUCN Red List Working Group for North American Fungi, advocating for habitat conservation focused on fungi. He is passionate about biodiversity in general, and especially in the philosophy and practice of community science (especially through the use of iNaturalist). |
Some photos from past Chiapas adventures:
How to join, the cost and what's covered:
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Payment Policy, Non-Refundable Deposit and Refund Schedule
Payments for the trip shall be made in full, and includes the NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT of $500 which helps us secure accommodations, reserve transportation, book restaurants, and secure the tour. With this payment commitment, your deposit will be returned to you only on one of two conditions: the trip is completely canceled (all monies will be returned), or you help arrange for someone else to take your place. Refunds for cancellations will be returned on the following schedule:
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How to Join & Discounts
We review each application to make sure our mycoadventure is a good fit for all participants and give us insight to create the best experience for each group. Upon review, we're reach out ASAP to offer an info call, deposit information and next steps. We will fill the trip in the order of applications received and deposits secured. Our group size is capped at 12 participants and we have very high interest this year. If you are interested, get your spot on the list for 2024!. Payment plans are available on a case-by-case basis. Please send info@thefungivore.com an email to explore this option. |
What is Covered on Trip
*Double occupancy is assumed for our available accommodations. If you are traveling with someone, be sure to let us know if you need 1 bed or two. **Most meals, lodging, tours, activities, and workshops are included. Alcohol during meals, souvenirs, and some optional activities are not included. Ground transportation to & from Tuxtla Airport is not included. Budget $10 to Tuxtla hotel; $40 or less return from San Cris. The deposit is non-refundable IN MOST CASES. We use it immediately to secure transportation, lodging and reservations. However in 2020, the full cost of the trip, deposits included, was fully refunded due to the pandemic. If the trip is canceled for any reason, you will get ALL of your money back, guaranteed.) THE FLIGHT TO TUXTLA GUTIERREZ AIRPORT (TGZ) is not included. Please make travel arrangements to be able to meet at our hotel and join us for dinner in Tuxtla the evening of Sept 30th. |
