7-Day Chiapas Tour with Sumidero Canyon, Palenque and Montebello

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Spot flora and fauna on a boat ride along the Grijalva River
• 02 Visit the colonial landmarks of Chiapa de Corzo
• 03 Admire the waterfalls of Agua Azul, Misol Ha, and El Chiflón
• 04 Explore Mayan culture at the archaeological ruins of Palenque
• 05 Visit the Archaeological Zones of Yaxchilán and Bonampak
• 06 See 12 lakes in Lagunas de Montebello National Park
• 07 Spend time with the Zinacantán community and learn about their crafts

Discover Chiapas through its rich indigenous heritage, colonial towns, dramatic canyons, waterfalls, and Mayan archaeological sites. Enjoy a boat ride through Sumidero Canyon, visit the scenic waterfalls of Agua Azul, Misol Ha, and El Chiflón, and explore the ruins of Palenque, Yaxchilán, and Bonampak. The journey also takes you to the blue lakes of Lagunas de Montebello National Park and to the Mayan-Tzotzil villages, where you can learn about local textiles and try Pox, a brandy made from corn.

Enjoy a boat ride through Sumidero Canyon, visit the scenic waterfalls of Agua Azul, Misol Ha, and El Chiflón, and explore the ruins of Palenque, Yaxchilán, and Bonampak.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Tuxtla Gutierrez, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapa de Corzo, Palenque, San Juan Chamula, Lagunas de Montebello National Park, Yaxchilan

Languages English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival and Sumidero Canyon Boat Ride

• You will be picked up from Tuxtla Gutiérrez Airport before 10:00 am.
• Start your adventure towards the majestic Sumidero Canyon. Here, you can enjoy a boat ride on the amazing Grijalva River, where you can observe its magnificent flora, including ceibas and mulattoes, as well as fauna such as spider monkeys, crocodiles, and herons, all surrounded by its imposing walls that rise more than 1,100 metres high.

2

Day 02

Chiapa de Corzo and Transfer to San Cristóbal de Las Casas

• Visit the historic town of Chiapa de Corzo, the first colonial city founded by Diego de Mazariegos, where you can see the Temple of Santo Domingo, its colonial fountain, and the handicraft walkway.
• Transfer to San Cristóbal de Las Casas, located in the state of Chiapas and home to a population of 186,000 people. The indigenous communities living here contribute greatly to the region's folk art and crafts.

3

Day 03

Agua Azul, Misol Ha, and Palenque

• Meet in the lobby at 4:00 am and have breakfast on the way to the Agua Azul Waterfalls.
• On arrival, visit the beautiful Agua Azul Waterfalls, set among the beautiful mountains of Chiapas and offering spectacular landscapes. Observe the turquoise-blue waters flowing through a series of pools and admire the scenery of the waterfalls within the jungle setting. You can also go swimming in the pools.
• Continue your journey towards the 30-metre-high Misol Ha Waterfalls, surrounded by the extensive vegetation of this region.
• Later, visit the archaeological site of Palenque, where you can spend time exploring some of the most splendid temples of the Mayan culture, such as the Temple of the Red Queen, the Temple of the Cross, the observatory, and the Temple of the Inscriptions. Here, you can also explore the tomb of King Pakal, one of the most important rulers of the Mayan culture.
• Transfer to the hotel in Palenque for an overnight stay.

4

Day 04

Yaxchilán and Bonampak from Palenque

• Meet in the lobby at 6:00 am and start your journey towards the Archaeological Zone of Yaxchilán, located in the middle of the jungle and one of the most important centres of the Classic Mayan period. Breakfast will be served en route.
• Later, continue to the Archaeological Zone of Bonampak, where you can witness an emblematic room whose paintings immortalized part of its history. You can see floor-to-ceiling murals documenting several events held between 790 and 792.
• Return to your hotel in Palenque for an overnight stay.

5

Day 05

Transfer to San Cristóbal de Las Casas

• Have breakfast at the hotel in the morning, then transfer to San Cristóbal de Las Casas.

6

Day 06

El Chiflón and Lagunas de Montebello National Park

• Have breakfast at the hotel and meet in the hotel lobby at 7:30 am.
• Travel to the ecotourism centre of El Chiflón and take a walk to see its three famous waterfalls - El Suspiro, Alas de Ángel, and Velo de Novia - set among the extensive vegetation of the area.
• You can also take part in interesting activities such as zip-lining (price not included).
• Continue your journey towards Lagunas de Montebello National Park, where you will be able to access 12 of its 59 lakes, known for their varied tones. Among them, you can also visit the International Lake, which marks one of the borders with Guatemala.
• Return to the hotel in San Cristóbal de Las Casas.

7

Day 07

Zinacantán, Chamula, and Departure

• Have breakfast at the hotel and meet in the hotel lobby at 9:00 am.
• Start the day with a visit to the Mayan-Tzotzil villages of the highlands of Chiapas. Visit the indigenous community of Zinacantán, the "place of bats", where you will go to the Church of San Sebastián.
• Later, visit an indigenous family who will teach you about the making of their beautiful textiles, with looms recognized for their unique beauty and colour and crafted by artisan women. You will also have the opportunity to try their famous Pox drink, a brandy made from corn.
• Continue your journey to the community of San Juan Chamula, where you will observe the fusion of the Catholic Church and pre-Hispanic Mayan traditions. Visit the Church of San Juan Bautista, where you can observe the unique rites and traditions of this region.
• Transfer to Tuxtla Gutiérrez Airport for departure.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Shared ground transportation in a fully equipped vehicle
• Touristic operator
• Five nights of lodging
• Five American-style breakfasts
• Entrance tickets to San Juan Chamula
• Entrance tickets to Zinacantán
• Entrance fees to the Agua Azul Waterfalls
• Entrance tickets to the Misol Ha Waterfalls
• Boat payment in Yaxchilán
• Entrance tickets to the archaeological site of Yaxchilán
• Entrance tickets to the archaeological site of Bonampak
• Entrance tickets to the Archaeological Zone of Palenque
• Entrance tickets to El Chiflón Waterfalls
• Entrance fees to Lagos de Montebello
• Payment for the Sumidero Canyon boat tour
• Airport-to-hotel transfer
• Hotel-to-airport transfer

What's Not Included

• Flight tickets
• Food
• Dinner

What to bring

• Fresh clothes
• Light sweater
• Sandals or tennis shoes
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Repellent

Know before you go

• Chiapas is a state of cultural and natural diversity, and you can find many gifts and souvenirs. That is why currency exchange is important, since you may find people selling their crafts. The climate is very changeable, so we recommend being prepared with warm clothing.
• It is worth mentioning that Chiapa de Corzo is famous for its typical costumes, such as the Parachico and the Chiapanecas.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Aeropuerto Internacional Ángel Albino Corzo, Tramo Carretero Vergel Aeropuerto, Francisco Sarabia, Chis., México

Tour start

Km 12.48, Tramo Carretero Vergel Aeropuerto S/N, 29176 Francisco Sarabia, Chis., Mexico

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.