Na Bolom, House of the Jaguar, was the home of the Danish archaeologist Frans Blom and the Swiss photographer Gertrude Duby Blom, who worked from here for four decades documenting the Lacandon Maya and campaigning against deforestation of the rainforest. The 19th-century house keeps their library of more than 9,000 volumes on Chiapas, Gertrude's photographic archive, a room of Lacandon objects and Frans's study left as it was. A garden, guest rooms and a restaurant continue to fund the association's work with Lacandon communities.
Na Bolom, House of the Jaguar, was the longtime home of Danish archaeologist Frans Blom and Swiss photographer and environmentalist Gertrude Duby Blom, who worked from this 19th-century house for four decades documenting the Lacandon Maya and campaigning against deforestation of the surrounding rainforest. Visitors move through room after room preserved close to how the couple left them: a library of more than 9,000 volumes on Chiapas and Maya studies, a room devoted to Lacandon objects and photographs, and Frans Blom's own study, left with his papers and archaeological finds largely in place. Gertrude's extensive photographic archive, much of it documenting Lacandon communities in the mid-20th century, is displayed in rotating exhibitions. The house is arranged around a courtyard garden, and guided visits in Spanish or English run at set times and give far more context than a self-guided walk through the rooms alone. A full visit, ideally on a guided tour, takes about an hour to ninety minutes. The museum still funds an active association supporting Lacandon communities and reforestation work, so entrance fees go directly toward that continuing mission rather than purely into upkeep of the house as a historical curiosity.
Good to know
- Hours
- Daily 9:00AM-6:00PM
- Best time
- Late morning, when guided visits run and the garden is at its brightest
Location
Vicente Guerrero 33, Barrio El Cerrillo, 29220 San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico
16.7412, -92.6318 View on map
Highlights
- Frans Blom's preserved study with original papers and finds
- Library of more than 9,000 volumes on Chiapas and the Maya
- Gertrude Duby Blom's photographic archive of Lacandon communities
- Room of Lacandon Maya objects and artifacts
- Courtyard garden and on-site restaurant
Tips for visiting
- Book or arrive for the guided visit in Spanish or English rather than walking through unguided, as it adds significant context
- Combine the visit with lunch at the on-site restaurant, which helps fund the association's community work
- Visit in late morning when guided tours run and the garden light is best
- Ask staff about current photographic exhibitions from Gertrude Duby Blom's archive, as displays rotate
- The house is a working association as well as a museum, so some rooms may be closed for research use
When to visit
Late morning, when guided visits run in both Spanish and English and the courtyard garden is at its brightest.
Accessibility
The house retains its original 19th-century layout with some raised thresholds and uneven flooring between rooms, which limits full wheelchair access, though the garden and ground-floor rooms are largely reachable.
Visit, book or contact
Frequently asked questions
How long does a visit to Na Bolom take?
About one to one and a half hours, especially if taking the guided tour of the house.
Is Na Bolom worth it for kids?
It suits older children and adults with interest in Maya culture or history more than young children, given the density of the exhibits and reading material.
Is photography allowed inside Na Bolom?
Personal photography is generally allowed in the public rooms, though visitors should ask staff before photographing archival material closely.
What does the entrance fee support?
Fees help fund the Na Bolom association's continuing work with Lacandon communities and reforestation efforts in the surrounding rainforest.