In some parts of Chiapas there are 2 times. Old time and new time. This can get very confusing. You see, when the clocks are changed for daylight-saving-time many people do not change their clocks and simply refer to 2 separate times. The clocks may say one time while it is technically another.

This starts to get tricky when you buy a ticket for something and the person selling you the ticket uses one time, the ticket is another time and the person who may be taking you on a tour or something the next day may use old or new time, you do not know which.

If you are swimming in a river and get sucked out into the fast running current, remain calm and use all your energy to stay afloat.

Do not attempt to swim for shore [unless you are close], as it is better to let the current take you down the river. You wait to grab onto a log or rock or anything. Eventually something will appear for you to grab onto and you may even hit a sandbar.

People generally drown because they panic and run out of energy fighting the water. It is best to simply go with the flow.

It can get cold at night once you get higher up in elevation and it is advisable to have a blanket and jacket.

It can get really cold on a long bus ride and a blanket or sweatshirt is recommended as well as your own food and water. The store at the bus stations is opened 24 hours and serves sandwiches and snacks.

Things get less expensive the more south you go.

Do not go into the jungle without a compass or GPS.

You cannot buy water inside ruin sites so you must take it in with you.

There are Internet Cafes in every major city which are easy to find but most villages do not have them.

Do not take pictures of people unless you ask them first and offer to pay some money. Do not be surprised if they are not at all interested and tell you to get lost.

If you are camping check your body for ticks frequently.

Cigarette rolling papers can be extremely hard to find sometimes and it is advisable to bring lots with you and not to expect to buy them.

If you decide to swim at the falls located at the exit of Palenque ruins make sure you leave no valuables at the side of the waterfalls unwatched. There are kids who hang out here waiting for unsuspecting touristas who leave their valuables on a rock then go for a swim. The kids will grab your stuff then run into the jungle. There is nothing you can do.

If you go into the jungle it is advisable to use lots of mosquito repellent. You should cover all your clothing, inside and out before you put anything on. This is so you do not get Bot Fly which is a fly that lays its eggs on a mosquito which bites you and deposits the fly eggs in the bite wound where they then grow into larva. We can tell you from experience the whole ordeal is gross!

SCAMS

Fake Honey
Some people sell honey, which is not real honey. They take some sugar and put it in a pile. Some kind of insect comes and eats the sugar and produces a secretion that resembles honey.

Fake Amber
If someone offers you a piece of amber with a scorpion in it then it is more than likely a fake, especially when they have more than one. Somebody makes this stuff out of plastic and puts different insects and animals in the fake amber then sells it.

Bad Magic Mushrooms
There are good magic mushrooms and there are bad. There are people who will sell you bad mushrooms, usually around Palenque.

The Favor
Watch what you do if you let somebody do you a favor as it may cost you ten times the amount saved paying off the person who managed the "deal" for you as if you had simply paid the cost and done the whole deal your self. Some "nice" people earn their living as leeches moving around the campsites.

WATCH OUT

Ganja
It is against the law to possess marijuana in Mexico unless you are a marijuana addict. The procedure is, once arrested you serve three days while you give a doctor a blood sample and get declared a marijuana addict. If you do not wish to go this route then it depends on who arrests you as to how the situation is handled.

WARNING!!!

There are police all over the place around Palenque ruins. Especially around ALL waterfalls in the jungle. If you go to a waterfall and decide to smoke a joint you will get busted.

The cops hide in the dense bush for hours waiting for unsuspecting tourists to get caught in their web. They are in the most remote places! When they catch you will have to pay a fine to get your self out of the situation. If you do not have the money you are in trouble!