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Museum · San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas
Casa Na Bolom
House-museum of archaeologist Frans Blom and photographer Gertrude Blom, dedicated to the Lacandones and the Chiapas jungle, with collections, a library and a garden.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Casa Na Bolom
Na Bolom, the 'house of the jaguar' in Maya, is about 1 km east of San Cristóbal's center, in an old colonial house with courtyards and gardens. It was the home of Danish archaeologist Frans Blom and Swiss photographer Gertrude Duby Blom, who from the 1950s dedicated themselves to studying and protecting the Lacandones, a Maya people of the Chiapas jungle, and the Lacandon forest itself.
The house preserves the rooms, a library of books about the region, a chapel with religious art pieces and the couple's collection of archaeological and ethnographic objects. Gertrude Blom's photographs show the life of the Lacandones and the destruction of the forest over the 20th century.
In the garden regional plants are cultivated, and the institution runs reforestation projects and supports indigenous communities.
Visits are usually guided at fixed times, and the house also functions as lodging, with some rooms available.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 1 to 1½ hours.
Best time
During the guided visit times; check ahead before going.
How to get there
It is on Avenida Vicente Guerrero, about 1 km east of San Cristóbal's main square. You can walk or take a taxi.
Tip
Set aside time for Gertrude Blom’s photographs, the highlight of the house.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Casa Na Bolom
Who were Frans and Gertrude Blom?
A Danish archaeologist and a Swiss photographer who studied and protected the Lacandones and the Chiapas jungle.
What does Na Bolom mean?
House of the jaguar, in Maya.
Is the visit to Na Bolom guided?
It usually is, at fixed times; confirm before going.