Ocosingo does not make a winning first impression. It’s dusty and run down and at odds with the Zapatista strongholds in the neighboring areas (some of the worst battles in the 1994 Zapatista uprising took place in Ocosingo). But there is charm in this town including a bustling local market where living Mayan culture is there for all to see and a church where you can feel the faith.
Indigenous women sell anything they can grow in the ground or make with their hands at the colorful Tiangius Campesino in Ocosingo, Mexico.
Finding the charm in Ocosingo, Mexico
The daily Tiangius Campesino (Country Market) is a magnet for Mayan women (and only women) who bring their corn, flowers, chickens, herbs, tamales, and babies from miles around. The women’s hands never seem to stop. If they’re not setting up their displays on the ground or selling or re-arranging their displays or tending to their kids then they’re working on elaborate embroidery.
Indigenous women sell anything they can grow in the ground or make with their hands at the colorful local marekt in Ocosingo, Mexico.
Get a feel for the local market hustle in our video from the market in Ocosingo, Mexico, below.
Then there’s the town’s church which looks pretty ho-hum on the outside but just you wait. The inside is covered in smooth river stones in varying shades to create an enormous portrait of Jesus as well as agricultural scenes and general fabulousness. Not a drop of gold leaf in sight. This was, by far, one of our all-time favorite foo-foo-free churches. It just felt faithful.
The interior walls of the church in Ocosingo are in-laid with stones that make intricate, organic mosaics.
We can also highly recommend the Hotel La Casona in Ocosingo which really could be charging more than 250 pesos (about US$21) for their spotless rooms right on the square with TV, fan, and WiFi. They even had parking big enough (barely) for our truck.
Here’s more about travel in Mexico
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