Journey into the heart of rural Chiapas for a deeper understanding of the local people and landscapes. Discover the culture that blends ancient traditions with modern conveniences. Visit a cooperative banana plantation and the rural community that works together for the betterment of all its members. Board an air-conditioned van and travel through the Chiapas countryside to the green fields of the Ejido Miguel Alemán banana farm. Your guide will give insight into the history of the region, its people and its traditions, along with the banana growing and harvesting process. Then travel to the town that collectively owns and runs the banana co-op. Visit the local community center or school, where you can meet and mingle with the dedicated teachers and social workers. The community center has also implemented a program to teach the adult population how to read and write. They are the only community in the area to have purchased computers to teach local kids and adults to use the internet and computers. Part of the proceeds of this tour will go to this community center learning program. You will be given a kit to deliver to the school, containing items that cover the children’s basic daily needs. You can donate the kit to one of the kids at the community center or local school. Your tour of the town will continue at the local church, where the priest (who plays an essential role in the community) will share information with you about the local customs and way of life. After your visit, head out of town to the banana packing plant. Here, you will discover how the community works together to pack the bananas they produce. All the proceeds from the sales of the bananas are distributed among the community members. On the way back, get a last glimpse of life in rural Chiapas before returning to the pier.