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 500 years ago, which themselves can feel new compared to the vast Mayan ruins still being discovered in the surrounding jungles, 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 lakes resembling cenotes. The pine forests and grassy parks feel like Oregon, while the karst landscape shares the geology of Southern Thailand. It is the northernmost point of the Central and South American biodiversity, yet shares some fo the southernmost point of the North American biodiversity at the same time. The funga, flora and fauna abundance and accessibility to nature just blew us away from our first visit there in October of 2022 for the National Conference of Mexican Mycologists, and every visit after!
In 2024, we organized our first such foray in Chiapas, and it was, for lack of a better word, a boutique mushroom foray. We stay in the same wonderful hotel right in the middle of the action; even our forays are a relatively short time away driving. This is truly a foray in luxury and comfort, for exploring the future of fungi and their applications in everyday life.
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 lakes resembling cenotes. The pine forests and grassy parks feel like Oregon, while the karst landscape shares the geology of Southern Thailand. It is the northernmost point of the Central and South American biodiversity, yet shares some fo the southernmost point of the North American biodiversity at the same time. The funga, flora and fauna abundance and accessibility to nature just blew us away from our first visit there in October of 2022 for the National Conference of Mexican Mycologists, and every visit after!
In 2024, we organized our first such foray in Chiapas, and it was, for lack of a better word, a boutique mushroom foray. We stay in the same wonderful hotel right in the middle of the action; even our forays are a relatively short time away driving. This is truly a foray in luxury and comfort, for exploring the future of fungi and their applications in everyday life.
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. As the globe wakes up to the power of fungi, Mexico has thousands of years of indigenous memory and knowledge to add to that conversation. We are happy to partner with one of the upcoming luminaries of Mexican Mycology, Ezequiel Cruz of Fungaria for a first hand experience at the center of the action. With Ezequiel, we will explore the astounding crocodile-infested waters of the Sumidero Canyon, and then rise to 7500ft to explore both the city and history fo San Cristobal de las Casas, but also the mushrooms found growing alongside the highland pines, oaks 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. Tasting the edible ones, exploring the dye potential of others and identifying and naming each and everything we find!
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 in the local parks, and have a cooking demo and lunch Mushroom Chef Karla Jiménez Patishtán. Basically, we created this first-of-its-kind trip to experience the mushrooms of Mexico with new eyes and applications!
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 in the local parks, and have a cooking demo and lunch Mushroom Chef Karla Jiménez Patishtán. Basically, we created this first-of-its-kind trip to experience the mushrooms of Mexico with new eyes and applications!
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 / 8 nights
Average Foray Distance: 3 miles / day Altitude: 7,500 feet Exertion Level: Easy to Moderate Accommodations: - 1 night in Chiapa del Corzo Hotel - 7 nights in San Cristobal Hotel Most meals included (7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 6 Dinners)* Cost: USD $3400.00 |
Gorgeous diversity of mushrooms including prized dyers like Cortinarius sanguineus.
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Day-to-Day Itinerary Overview
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Wed. September 24 - Day 1: Opening Dinner in Chiapa del Corzo. Intro to our week.
Thur. September 25 - Day 2: After breakfast, a boat tour of breathtaking Sumidero Canyon; meet Mycologist Ezequiel Cruz; lunch and visit the Zoque ruins of Chiapa del Corzo, After, we travel to San Cristobal de las Casas; settle into our hotel; Dinner in town at a very special location! Fri. September 26 - Day 3: Breakfast; walking history tour of San Cristobal; Functional mushroom chocolate bar class; Free night for self-guided dinner in town. Sat. September 27 - Day 4: Morning foray day in Huitepec; we will eat lunch in the field and talk about our finds; Dinner at Naufraggio Brewery. Sun. September 28 - Day 5: Second foray day in San Luis; lunch in the field; After we Talk about our finds; Dinner at Naufraggio Brewery and Pizzeria with some surprises! |
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Mon. September 29 - Day 6: Breakfast; Visit the mushroom growing laboratory of Mama Funga; A special outing to nature and exploration! Followed by a surprise dinner in undisclosed location!
Tues. September 30 - Day 7: 3rd full-day foray to Parque Encuentro in San Cris with community members; Cooking demo with Karla; Dinner together in town; table talk and examination of interesting finds! Wed. October 1 - Day 8: 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; Thu. October 2: Day 9: 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 of San Cris is used to tourists taking 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 2025! |
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. |
Karla Jimenez
Mushroom Chef and Honguera
Karla studied culinary arts at UNICACH and is applying her knowledge by sharing my about cooking, using wild edible mushrooms throughout mycogastronomic innovation, focusing primarily on pastries and desserts with mushrooms, unconventional pairings and creativity,
By pushing through the boundaries imposed by traditional mushroom cookery--both modern and ancient--Karla is taking mushroom cookery into the 21st century. We will forage and have Karla with us for several meals, including a cooking demonstration for Mexican cuisine with mushrooms at the Fungaria learning Kitchen. |
Some photos from past Chiapas adventures:
How to join, the cost and what's covered:
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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 one bed or two. If you wish to travel solo, please indicate on your application. INCLUDED: Most meals, lodging, tours, activities, and workshops are included. NOT INCLUDED: Alcohol or fancy drinks (at meals or otherwise), souvenirs, and some optional activities. NOT INCLUDED: Ground transportation to & from Tuxtla Airport. Budget $10 to Chiapa del Corzo hotel; $40 or less return from San Cris. ********************* Payment plans are available on a case-by-case basis. Please send info@thefungivore.com an email to explore this option. |
Payment Policy, Non-Refundable Deposit and Refund Schedule
This 8 night / 7-full day boutique adventure is $3400 per person. 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. Refunds for cancellations will be returned on the following schedule:
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How to Join
We review each application to make sure our myco-adventure 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 application filled out for 2025! The deposit is non-refundable IN MOST CASES. We use it immediately to secure transportation, lodging and reservations. However, the full cost of the trip, deposits included, will be fully refunded if the trip is canceled for any reason on our side. |
THE FLIGHT TO TUXTLA GUTIERREZ AIRPORT (TGZ) and travel to Chiapa del Corzo are not included. Please make travel arrangements to meet the group at our hotel and join us for opening dinner in Chiapa del Corzo the evening of Sept 24th.
