Rancho del Lago By Rotamundos

Birds and other animals had us waking up in what felt like a jungle, surrounded by lush forest. We’d expected a tent with two single beds, but, probably because it was low season, we got a little cabin instead. It was cute, with a nice view from the window. The pool could’ve been cleaner, but I swam in it anyway. I couldn’t work out how to reach the lake, and maybe it was farther away than I thought. The highway is fairly close, though.

The place is close to the main highway, and the trucks and cars can be noisy at night. That does cut into the lovely natural setting a bit. Still, I’d absolutely come back. The lake is lovely for sitting by, and there are small pools next to each cabin. Around the ranch, the turkeys, chickens, cats, and dogs all wander freely, and they’re friendly. Dinner was fantastic. The chicken came from their farm, the fish from their lake, and everything tasted great. The owner was very friendly and shared what he knows about cocoa over dinner. The staff were welcoming too. They let us cook chicken on their grill, brought us wood, and even sharpened my machete, which I really appreciated. We also got a tour of the cocoa plantation. The blind worker and his son or nephew generously shared their time, knowledge, and love of the local plants and wildlife. It was a privilege to spend time with them and learn about the natural environment. Our stucco cabin was clean, free of mosquitoes, and everything worked. It’s basic, and made from natural materials, so it doesn’t feel like a city building. I loved that. Just know this isn’t a five-star boutique hotel. If you want an authentic, rustic stay, though, this place is wonderful. Malpasito is about a 20-minute drive away, and the town is great, with lots of friendly, helpful people. Thank you so much!!! :))) ❤️

On our small group tour from San Cristobel to Palanque, we stopped at this peaceful rural cocoa farm, which used to be a cattle farm. It sits down a narrow lane overlooking the lake. We walked through the plantation with the manager, roasted some beans, then ground them with help from employees’ children. We ate what we’d made after lunch! Local ladies cooked fresh fish with fresh vegetables. It was a nice way to support the local economy.

The ranch feels like a peaceful rainforest escape, off grid and simple. In the morning you hear toucans, and maybe the rain too. It’s a lovely spot to unplug and reconnect with yourself, and perhaps with cacao. The people there were so kind and accommodating. They even made special vegan meals for my partner and me during the few days we stayed. Cacao trees are everywhere around the ranch, and you can visit the plantation whenever you like. There’s also a beautiful lake, with a dock you can walk down to for a closer look. If you love cacao like I do, this is the place to visit in Chiapas. The owner is an archeologist with years of experience and knowledge of cacao and ancient Olmec and Mayan culture. I found it fascinating to hear him talk about cacao’s TRUE origins. The chocolate-making workshop was amazing too, and he had so much to share about that. I already can’t wait to return 😊