To get straight to the point, Chiapas is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful states in Mexico. With its imposing waterfalls that glow a vibrant turquoise in the sun, the colorful city of San Cristóbal de las Casas, the Mayan ruins of Palenque, impressive canyons like the Sumidero Canyon and Arco del Tiempo, and even beaches, Chiapas is a magical travel destination in Mexico that you won’t soon forget.
While many travelers do not venture much further than Palenque, there is much more to see in Chiapas beyond the stunning Mayan ruins and Agua Azul waterfalls. Those who want to experience the real Mexico and its natural beauty can start exploring from San Cristóbal de las Casas. This atmospheric city in the mountains is the perfect base to discover the spectacular nature and magical culture of the Mexican state of Chiapas, such as the magnificent Cascadas de El Chiflón and the caves of Arcotete. Are you looking for a special destination for your tour in Mexico? Then add Chiapas to your travel itinerary! These beautiful places, highlights, and attractions should not be missed during your vacation in Chiapas, Mexico.
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Although Tuxtla is the capital of Chiapas, San Cristóbal de las Casas forms the (touristic) heart of Chiapas. Those who have visited Antigua in Guatemala will recognize many similarities in San Cristóbal. Not surprising, as until 1842 Chiapas was part of Guatemala. Like Guatemala, Chiapas was also part of the Mayan civilization until the Spaniards invaded the land. Today, in San Cristóbal de las Casas, you’ll find charming streets with colorful houses, large squares, and churches, similar to many colonial cities in Latin America. However, the Mayan culture is still very much present here, visible on the lively markets and in the people, who often still dress in traditional clothing. What makes San Cristóbal special is its location in the mountains, offering stunning views of the city from various neighborhoods.
Attractions in San Cristóbal de las Casas
The center of San Cristóbal, with its lively, colorful streets, is an attraction in itself. Climb the steps of the Guadalupe Church for a beautiful view over the city (also very lovely at sunset). From here, walk through the busy and lively shopping street Av. de 20 Noviembre, which leads to the Cathedral of San Cristóbal. Here you’ll find two bustling squares where a Maya market is held every evening. At this market, Maya women sell products made of woven textiles that are so characteristic of Maya culture. This is also the perfect place to buy souvenirs! Another very enjoyable Maya market is the one at the Santa Domingo church. This market is only open during the day and, in addition to textile products, you’ll find many amber jewelry items. Near this market is also the large, local food and goods market, Mercada Viejo, which is definitely worth a visit. Additionally, you can search for the best street art with a free walking tour and enjoy the local cuisine in one of the many cozy restaurants. Be sure to wake up early at least once to enjoy the beautiful sunrise hikes in the area, such as at Mount Don Lauro and Parque Montetik. About a 20-minute taxi ride (or 30 minutes by collectivo) from the city, you’ll find the beautiful El Arcotete, an eco-park with an impressive cave. It’s an absolute must-visit when you are in San Cristóbal de las Casas.
El Chiflón Waterfalls
From San Cristóbal de las Casas, you can take a day trip to Cascadas de El Chiflón. These turquoise waterfalls are one of the highlights of Chiapas. You can visit the waterfalls with a tour from San Cristóbal, but if you want to have them to yourself, set off early with a rental car or a collectivo. The journey takes about 2 to 3 hours, but it is well worth the drive! Cascadas de El Chiflón is a series of waterfalls that, on a sunny day, light up bright turquoise. A walking path runs alongside the waterfalls all the way up, and you can take a refreshing dip in the clear water at many spots. So, be sure to bring swimwear! There is a restaurant and changing rooms at the park entrance. When you walk all the way up on the left side of the waterfalls, there comes a point where it seems you can’t go any further. However, for a fee of 25 pesos (1 euro), you can continue further up. This path is steep and more difficult to navigate, but anyone with a reasonable level of fitness should definitely take on this climb! You will end up at the top of the highest waterfall. Here, there is another waterfall. During my visit, we had this waterfall all to ourselves. Taking a dip in the water here is at your own risk, but wading is certainly possible (though be careful!).
If you have enough time, you can travel further from Cascadas de El Chiflón to Lagunas de Montebello, near the border with Guatemala. This lake is also considered one of the stunning sights in Chiapas. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to visit it during my trip.
El Arcotete Ecopark
Ecopark El Arcotete in San Cristóbal de las Casas is another beautiful sight in Chiapas that you shouldn’t miss. From San Cristóbal, you can easily get here by collectivo (30 minutes from the central market) or by taxi (20 minutes), so there’s no reason to skip this highlight. El Arcotete is an ecopark where you can visit a beautiful cave and take lovely walks. The entrance fee for the park and the caves is about one euro in total, so cost is not an issue. The highlight of the ecopark is the high limestone cave through which a small river flows. When you enter the cave, a labyrinth of narrow passages unfolds before you. The tall stalagmites and stalactites create a mysterious setting for you to explore. At various points, you have views of the river and the surrounding area, definitely worth a visit!
Sumidero Canyon
Another highlight in Chiapas is the Sumidero Canyon located near the village of Chiapa de Corzo. This beautiful, green canyon is easy to visit from San Cristóbal. A fun activity here is the boat trip through the canyon. This trip lasts 2 hours, during which you sail between the impressive rock walls. The Sumidero Canyon has walls up to 1,000 meters high, making you feel very small at times during the boat trip! The river that flows through the canyon is as much as 120 meters deep. The rock walls are mostly covered with vegetation, and you can hear and see birds everywhere. You can also spot monkeys and crocodiles! If you visit Chiapas during or after the rainy season, beautiful waterfalls flow down the rock walls. I visited the canyon in May, at the end of the dry season, so the waterfalls were dried up. But this did not make a day trip to Sumidero Canyon any less spectacular. If you visit Sumidero Canyon in the morning, you can have lunch afterward in the village of Chiapa de Corzo. Although the village is very touristy, it is fun to walk around and explore. You’ll find plenty of souvenir shops.
How to Get from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Sumidero Canyon
If you want to travel independently to Sumidero Canyon, you can take a collectivo from San Cristóbal to Chiapa de Corzo. To do this, take the collectivo to Tuxtla (these depart next to the ADO bus station). Ask the driver to drop you off at Chiapa de Corzo. From here, you can take a taxi to the village center or directly to the boat departure point. There, you can buy a ticket for the next available boat (note that these boat tours are only in Spanish). These depart very regularly. It is advisable to arrive before 10:00 AM, as it can get very hot in the canyon in the middle of the day. So, make sure to bring enough sunscreen, and perhaps a hat or cap and protective clothing. The boats are not covered.
Visiting Sumidero Canyon with a Tour
I visited Sumidero Canyon on my own, as described above. However, if you add up all the costs, a tour from San Cristóbal is often not much more expensive. Additionally, it is possible to book a tour with an English-speaking guide, and you don’t have to worry about transportation. You can book the tour on the spot in San Cristóbal de las Casas, but it is also possible to do this online. You will pay a bit more, but you can compare reviews and providers well.
Arco del Tiempo, the Hidden Treasure of Chiapas
One of the lesser-known attractions in Chiapas is Arco del Tiempo. Its location in a gorge, deep in the jungle, makes this place less frequently visited. But that is also what makes it such a special place! Arco del Tiempo is one of the highest natural arches of its kind in the world. The 180-meter-high arch forms the entrance to a cave in the middle of an 80 km long gorge. The gorge is completely enclosed by dense jungle and is only accessible by a multi-day boat trip or on foot. A tour to Arco del Tiempo lasts 2 days, during which you camp in the gorge!
Camping and Abseiling at Arco del Tiempo
What is special about Arco del Tiempo is that you can camp in the gorge (and even in the cave). To get there, you have to abseil down a high wall and climb back up the next day. Therefore, you can only visit Arco del Tiempo with a guide. The descent and ascent are organized by locals who create a schedule for who can start the descent when. They also guide the descent/climb and provide the equipment. Therefore, it is not possible to do the trip in one day. You could make the hike to the arch, but from the end of the hike, you don’t get a good view of the arch. For that, you really have to go into the gorge! The trip can only be made in the dry season from mid-February to mid-May. After that, the path becomes impassable, and you can’t camp in the gorge either because there is too much water. Between February and May, the water is so low that beaches form in the gorge, and that’s where you camp!
Practical Information for the Arco del Tiempo Camping Trip
From the nearest village, there is a path through the dense jungle. The hike takes about 3 to 4 hours, depending on the pace of your group. You are in this area at an altitude of about 1500 meters, but the temperature can still rise to about 35 degrees Celsius. Combined with the humid climate, this makes it a challenging hike. After the trek through the jungle and the descent into the gorge, you set up your tent, which you share with a group member, on one of the beaches in and around the cave. The organization provides the tents and possibly sleeping bags, but you need to carry them yourself. Food and drink are also divided among the group, and you must carry your share. If you want some comfort, a sleeping mat is handy, as this is not provided. Since the ground is coarse sand, you can also choose to sleep without a mat, as I did. It’s not very comfortable, but doable for one night.
Once the camp is set up, you can swim in the river and explore the cave. Follow the instructions of your guide, as there are also snakes. Be particularly careful in certain areas towards the evening. It is worth swimming through the entire cave until you reach the other side. Your guide will give you a life jacket, which is mandatory. In the evening, a campfire is lit for cooking. Everyone goes to bed early afterward.
Good to Know:
- The abseiling ends in the water, so bring water shoes if you wish, or go barefoot.
- Luggage is lowered to the beach with separate ropes, so it stays dry (you do not).
- The jungle hike is hot, with occasionally steep sections. Don’t bring too many items!
- This camping trip is very basic. Expect no luxuries and little comfort. You come for the adventure and experience.
- There is no toilet available (though there is a kind of toilet tent), so you’ll have to go in nature.
- Bring enough drinking water, sunscreen, and snacks like nuts and fruit.
- On the way back, you may encounter soda vendors. Keep some cash with you, a soda can be very refreshing at that moment!
- You do not need climbing or abseiling experience for this trip. However, good basic fitness is important.
- The tour is not suitable for people with a fear of heights.
- Arco del Tiempo can only be visited from mid-February to mid-May.
Practical Information about Palenque
Palenque is visited by travelers because of the Mayan city of the same name and the beautiful waterfalls Agua Azul and Misol Ha. Just like in various other places in Mexico, you’ll find wonderfully preserved Mayan ruins here, offering a glimpse into the ancient Mayan kingdom. The location of Palenque in the jungle makes it definitely worth a visit. The city center itself is not very remarkable, but near the bus station, you’ll find the tourist area with restaurants and various hotels. This is a good place to stay during your visit. There aren’t many attractions in the town itself; you come here mainly for the Mayan city and the surrounding waterfalls. A two-night stay is usually sufficient, depending on what you want to see and do in the area.
Mayan Ruins of Palenque
What makes Palenque special is its location in the jungle, giving the ancient Mayan city a mystical atmosphere. This makes this Mayan city in Chiapas different from, for example, Chichen Itza or Uxmal in Yucatán. During my visit (May 2022), it was once again possible to climb one of the main temples for a stunning view over the ruins and the surrounding jungle. This is not allowed at Chichen Itza, for example. You can visit the ruins of Palenque on your own or with a tour. The advantage of a tour is that you have a guide who can tell you more about the historical site. Many tours also combine visits to the Agua Azul and Misol Ha waterfalls. If you have already visited several Mayan cities, you can also choose not to book a tour and go on your own. It takes about 15 minutes by collectivo from the village to reach the main entrance. A tour to the waterfalls can also be booked separately.
Agua Azul and Misol Ha Waterfalls
In addition to the archaeological excavations, you’ll find beautiful waterfalls in the surroundings of Palenque. The most famous ones are the Agua Azul waterfalls. As the name suggests, these waterfalls are bright turquoise on sunny days, similar to El Chiflón. But it’s not just the color that makes the waterfalls one of the beautiful sights in Chiapas. The size is also exceptionally impressive. You can walk all the way up along the dozens of waterfalls, and swimming is also possible. During my visit, it was raining, so the color was less turquoise, but it was still impressive. The easiest way to visit Agua Azul is with a tour, but you can also go by collectivo from Palenque. A tour to Agua Azul is often combined with the Misol Ha waterfall, which is located approximately on the route. Misol Ha is quite different from Agua Azul; this 35-meter-high waterfall flows into a kind of cenote. You can even walk behind the waterfall.
How to Travel from Palenque to San Cristóbal de las Casas (or vice versa)?
If you want to visit both Palenque and San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas (which I recommend), you can do so by overnight bus. But you can also choose to do this with a tour if you’re visiting the ruins of Palenque and/or the Agua Azul waterfalls. With almost all tours, it’s possible to travel from the waterfalls to San Cristóbal de las Casas (or Palenque if you’re traveling in the opposite direction). This is because the Agua Azul waterfalls are on the route from Palenque to San Cristóbal. After visiting the waterfalls, you’ll be transferred to another tour van. You can indicate this preference when booking your tour. More information about these tours can be found below.
Palenque offers a fascinating blend of ancient Mayan history and natural beauty, making it a must-visit destination in Chiapas, Mexico. From exploring the mystical ruins nestled in the jungle to marveling at the turquoise waters of Agua Azul and Misol Ha waterfalls, there’s no shortage of awe-inspiring experiences to be had. Whether you choose to embark on a guided tour or venture out independently, Palenque promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of Mayan civilization and the stunning landscapes of Chiapas.
