Llano Grande: Water and Wildlife in the Protected Area

The Ejido of Llano Grande lies within the Zona Sujeta a Conservación Ecológica Cordón Pico El Loro-Paxtal. The protected area covers 61,268.34 hectares; the decree establishing it was issued on November 22, 2000. This makes Llano Grande part of a large-scale conservation landscape. For travellers choosing a destination for its nature and scenery, this designation provides a clear thematic framework: the protected area, its waterways, and its wildlife are all part of what defines the destination.

Waterways and Cascada Maíz Blanco

The complex water network includes numerous rivers that flow year-round and streams that flow seasonally. When planning a trip together with children, this is an illustrative distinction: water shapes the landscape differently in different waterways. The Ejido of Llano Grande is also home to Cascada Maíz Blanco, with a drop of approximately 300 metres. As a distinctive landmark, it stands alongside the protected area’s broader water network. The waterfall, rivers, and streams thus describe different aspects of the landscape.

Biodiversity and conservation

The protected area’s wildlife includes the Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno). The endemic fish Chiapaheros grammodes has also been recorded in the area’s tributaries. These species are associated with different habitats: the quetzal belongs to the protected area’s wildlife, while the fish is associated with its tributaries. For nature enthusiasts, this offers a perspective ranging from the protected zone as a whole to its waterways.

Specific conservation work also adds a practical dimension to the landscape. In the Ejido of Llano Grande in the Municipality of Motozintla de Mendoza, soil conservation work using brushwood barriers was carried out across ten hectares. At the level of the wider travel area, 20 hectares of degraded land in need of restoration were also reforested as part of a conservation project. The work thus takes place at different levels: soil conservation in the ejido and reforestation across the wider travel area.

In 2021, an environmental education activity was held in the Ejido of Llano Grande to identify the animals living in the protected zone. It complements the themes of landscape and conservation work with an insight into the study of local wildlife. When planning a trip with children, the specific species names and the different waterways also offer starting points for learning more about the natural environment together.

Guidance for choosing your destination

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can assess Llano Grande based on whether its large-scale conservation landscape suits your travel interests. It is worth distinguishing between the protected area as a landscape and individual natural landmarks such as Cascada Maíz Blanco.

An official programme in 2016 provided for the rehabilitation of a four-kilometre section of the country road between Maíz Blanco and Llano Grande. If this route is important for your journey, check current road conditions before you travel.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bachajón, Puerto Arista, Comitán De Domínguez, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Las Rosas, Jiquipilas, Puerto Madero, Chiapa De Corzo.

For the overview of the wider travel area: Chiapas.