Chiapas is Mexico's southernmost state, a highland-and-jungle frontier on the Guatemalan border where colonial San Cristóbal de las Casas sits at 2,200 metres above sea level, the Maya city of Palenque rises out of rainforest, and the Grijalva River cuts the thousand-metre walls of the Sumidero Canyon. It is the most indigenous state in the country: Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Ch'ol, Tojolabal and Zoque communities keep their languages, markets and ceremonies as living practice rather than performance. Waterfalls at Agua Azul, Misol-Ha and El Chiflón, the turquoise lakes of Montebello, the coffee fincas of the Soconusco and the empty Pacific beaches at Puerto Arista round out a state that rewards slow, careful travel.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Chiapas.
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1
Palenque Archaeological Zone and Museo de Sitio Alberto Ruz L'Huillier
Palenque is the most refined Maya city of the Classic period and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 together with its surrounding national park. The Templo de las Inscripciones covers the tomb of K'inich Janaab' Pakal, discovered by Alberto Ruz L'Huillier in 1952, and the Palacio, the Grupo de las Cruces and the jungle-wrapped Templo del Conde stand among some 1,500 recorded structures, of which fewer than 10 percent have been cleared. Entry involves two separate payments, the INAH archaeological ticket and a CONANP national park fee collected at the road barrier. The site museum on the access road holds the carved panels, stucco heads and a replica of Pakal's sarcophagus lid.
Tip: Buy the INAH ticket and pay the separate CONANP park fee at the road barrier before reaching the main gate · Arrive at the 8:00AM opening to beat both the heat and the tour-bus crowds · The tomb inside the Templo de las Inscripciones is closed to visitors; only the exterior platform can be climbed · Hire a guide at the entrance for about MXN 800-1,000 per group if context on the iconography is wanted, as on-site signage is minimal · Bring water and insect repellent; there is little shade on the open plazas · Mexican nationals and residents enter free on Sundays, which also makes the site far busier
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2
Yaxchilan Archaeological Zone
Yaxchilan spreads along a horseshoe bend of the Usumacinta River on the Guatemalan border and can be reached only by boat. Its rulers Itzamnaaj B'alam II and Bird Jaguar IV left the finest carved lintels in the Maya world, several still in place above the doorways of Structure 23, showing bloodletting rites and captive-taking in crisp relief. Visitors enter through the dark vaulted passages of the Labyrinth into the Gran Plaza, and Structure 33 stands above it with its roof comb intact. Howler monkeys, spider monkeys and toucans are near-constant company.
Tip: The site is reachable only by boat from Frontera Corozal; book the shared lancha or a private boat at the community jetty, not in advance online · Bring a flashlight for the Labyrinth passage, which has no interior lighting · Passports are checked at military checkpoints on the road to Frontera Corozal, so carry ID for the whole trip · Combine with Bonampak for a full day from Palenque rather than attempting Yaxchilan alone as a half-day trip · Wear sturdy shoes; the climb to Structure 33 is steep, root-covered stone
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3
Bonampak Archaeological Zone
Bonampak is a small site with one overwhelming asset: the three painted rooms of Structure 1, the most complete Maya murals to survive anywhere. Painted around 790 AD in Maya blue, ochre and red, they show a royal procession with trumpets and drums, a battle and the arraignment of captives, and the bloodletting rites that followed. Rediscovered in 1946 with the help of Lacandon guides, the paintings are entered a few visitors at a time for a limited period to protect them. The Great Plaza in front carries Stela 1, one of the tallest in the Maya area.
Tip: Private vehicles cannot pass the San Javier barrier; the compulsory Lacandon shuttle is the only way to cover the final stretch · Visitors enter the mural rooms in small groups on a rotating basis, so allow time to wait and re-enter rather than rushing · Bring a flashlight or use a phone light to pick out mural detail in the dim rooms · Combine with Yaxchilan for a full day, since both sites share the same access road from Palenque · The last shuttle back from the site leaves around 4:30PM, so plan the return before then
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4
Tonina Archaeological Zone
Tonina rises as a seven-terrace acropolis carved into a hillside above the Ocosingo valley, reaching about 75 m and making it one of the tallest structures the Maya built. Its rulers captured and held the Palenque king K'an Joy Chitam II in 711 AD, and the site carries the latest known Long Count date, 909 AD, on Monument 101. The great stucco frieze known as the Mural of the Four Eras, with its skeletal death lord carrying a severed head, is the outstanding survival, and the on-site museum holds the sculpture recovered from the terraces.
Tip: Start the climb in the morning before the exposed upper terraces heat up in the Ocosingo valley sun · Wear sturdy shoes; the terrace stairways are steep, uneven stone · Bring water, as there are no vendors partway up the acropolis · Visit the site museum near the entrance either before or after the climb to see the sculpture in context · Combine with an overnight in Ocosingo if arriving from San Cristobal, since the connection to Palenque takes over two hours either way
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5
Chinkultic Archaeological Zone
Chinkultic occupies a limestone ridge above the Montebello lakes, and the climb to the Acropolis ends at a temple platform standing directly over a deep blue cenote into which offerings were thrown. The site preserves a ball court, carved stelae dated between 591 and 897 AD, and a marker disc showing a ballplayer that is now in the National Museum of Anthropology. The circuit is short but steep, and the summit view stretches across pine forest to the lake country and the Guatemalan border ranges.
Tip: Wear sturdy shoes for the steep, uneven stone climb to the Acropolis · Visit in late morning during the dry season for the clearest blue in the cenote · Combine with a Lagunas de Montebello day trip from Comitan, since both lie on the same road · Bring cash for the ejido's small parking fee, as there is no card payment on site · There is no shade at the summit, so bring water and sun protection
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6
Sumidero Canyon Boat Trip
The Grijalva River runs between vertical walls up to 1,000 m high through the Canon del Sumidero, and the standard two-hour lancha trip covers about 35 km from the Chiapa de Corzo jetty to the Chicoasen dam wall. Boats pass the hanging Cueva de Colores, the moss-draped Arbol de Navidad waterfall and stretches of shoreline where crocodiles bask and spider monkeys move through the gallery forest. The canyon appears on the coat of arms of Chiapas, and its fare includes the protected-area access right.
Tip: Take one of the first departures after 8:00AM for the calmest water and most active wildlife · Boats leave only once full, so early morning also means the shortest wait · Bring a hat and sunscreen, as the open lanchas offer no shade for the two-hour trip · A light rain jacket helps against spray near the Arbol de Navidad waterfall · The protected-area access fee is bundled into the boat fare, so no separate park ticket is needed
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7
Miradores del Canon del Sumidero
Five road-accessible viewpoints, La Ceiba, La Coyota, El Roblar, El Tepehuaje and Los Chiapa, line the rim road that climbs north out of Tuxtla Gutierrez into the Canon del Sumidero national park. Each platform looks straight down 800 to 1,000 m to the Grijalva River, with La Coyota giving the sheerest drop and Los Chiapa, also called La Atalaya, the widest panorama toward the dam. Vultures and hawks ride the thermals at eye level, and the drive to the last viewpoint takes about 45 minutes from the city.
Tip: Visit in the morning, especially November to April, for the clearest air over the canyon · Hire a taxi for the full round trip rather than attempting to walk between viewpoints, as they are spread along several kilometres of road · Bring water, as there are no vendors at most of the viewpoints · The park gate can close on Tuesdays in low season, so confirm before setting out · Combine with the boat trip from Chiapa de Corzo on a separate day for both perspectives on the canyon
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8
Chiapa de Corzo, La Pila and the Museo Regional de la Laca
The oldest Spanish town in Chiapas, founded in 1528, keeps at the centre of its plaza La Pila, a brick fountain of 1562 built in mudejar style on an octagonal plan, unique in the Americas and often read as the shape of the Spanish crown. Around it stand the Templo de Santo Domingo, the ruined Templo de San Sebastian on the hill and the former convent that now holds the Museo Regional de la Laca, devoted to the lacquered gourds and chests that are the town's craft signature. Chiapa de Corzo is also the home of the marimba dynasty of the Nandayapa family and of the Parachicos dance of January, inscribed by UNESCO as intangible heritage in 2010.
Tip: Combine the visit with the Sumidero Canyon boat trip, since the jetty is a short walk from the plaza · Visit the Museo Regional de la Laca to see the lacquerware craft before buying pieces in local shops · Evenings bring live marimba to the plaza arcades, worth timing a visit around · January visits during the Fiesta Grande see the town at its most crowded and colourful with the Parachicos processions · The museum closes on Mondays, so plan the lacquer museum visit for another day of the week
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9
Cascadas de Agua Azul
The Rio Xanil drops through a staircase of travertine terraces for several kilometres at Agua Azul, and the calcium carbonate suspended in the water turns it an opaque turquoise in the dry months. A stepped path climbs beside the falls past a series of pools, some roped for swimming, with palapa restaurants and craft stalls along the lower stretch. The blue colour fades to brown after heavy rain, when currents also become dangerous, so the dry season matters here more than at any other Chiapas waterfall.
Tip: Visit November to April for the clearest turquoise water and safest swimming conditions · Swim only in the pools marked and roped for it; currents elsewhere are dangerous, especially after rain · Arrive early to beat the midday tour buses that converge from Palenque and San Cristobal · Watch belongings near the lower pools, where theft has been reported at busy periods · Combine with Misol-Ha on the same day, since both lie along the Palenque-Ocosingo road
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10
Cascada de Misol-Ha
Misol-Ha drops 35 m in a single column into a wide circular pool 20 km south of Palenque, and a cut ledge lets visitors walk behind the curtain of water into a cave that runs some 20 m back into the rock. The surrounding forest is dense enough for toucans and howler monkeys, and the ejido that runs the site maintains cabanas and a small restaurant beside the pool. Swimming is allowed in the outer basin when the river is low.
Tip: Pay the small extra fee at the entrance for the walk behind the falls into the cave · Visit June to October for the strongest flow, or the dry season for calmer, clearer swimming water · Combine with Agua Azul on the same day trip from Palenque, as both sit along the same road · Wear water shoes or sandals with grip, as the rocks behind the falls are slippery · Arrive by late morning for the best light reaching into the pool basin
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmarks
Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzman, San Cristobal
The most elaborate baroque stucco facade in Chiapas, ringed by a Tzotzil craft market
Catedral de San Cristobal Martir
Ochre and white cathedral on the main plaza, restored after the 2017 earthquake
Templo y Cerro de Guadalupe
Hilltop church reached by 79 steps, with the best rooftop view of San Cristobal
La Pila de Chiapa de Corzo
Octagonal brick fountain of 1562, the only mudejar structure of its kind in the Americas
Templo de San Juan Bautista, Chamula
Pine-strewn Tzotzil church of candles and healing rites, with photography forbidden inside
Museums
Museo Regional de Chiapas, Tuxtla Gutierrez
State archaeology and history from Izapa and Chiapa de Corzo to Palenque and Tonina
Museo Na Bolom
Home and archive of Frans and Gertrude Blom, chroniclers of the Lacandon rainforest
Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya
More than 2,500 highland and Guatemalan textiles read as a coded visual language
Museo del Ambar de Chiapas
Simojovel amber, its fossil inclusions and how to tell real pieces from imitations
Museo Regional de la Laca, Chiapa de Corzo
Lacquered gourds, chests and furniture from the town's centuries-old craft tradition
Nature
Canon del Sumidero
Thousand-metre river gorge seen by boat from Chiapa de Corzo or from five rim viewpoints
Lagunas de Montebello National Park
Fifty-nine karst lakes in border pine forest, each a different shade of blue or green
Cascadas El Chiflon
Five-stage waterfall on the Rio San Vicente, crowned by the 120 m Velo de Novia
Cascadas de Agua Azul
Kilometres of turquoise travertine terraces and swimming pools on the Rio Xanil
Selva Lacandona and Montes Azules
Mexico's largest surviving rainforest, home to jaguar, tapir and scarlet macaw
Cultural
Palenque Archaeological Zone
UNESCO-listed Classic Maya capital and the tomb of K'inich Janaab' Pakal
Yaxchilan and Bonampak
Usumacinta river city of carved lintels and the best-preserved Maya murals known
San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan
Tzotzil towns governed by customary law, with distinct dress and religious practice
Chiapa de Corzo and the Parachicos
Colonial river town whose January masked dance is UNESCO intangible heritage
Izapa Archaeological Zone
Pacific piedmont city that bridges Olmec and Maya art and codified the 260-day calendar
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- INAH archaeological zones open daily 8:00AM-5:00PM with last admission between 4:00PM and 4:30PM, and Izapa runs Wednesday to Sunday only; INAH museums including the Museo Regional de Chiapas and the Museo de los Altos open Tuesday to Sunday and close Monday, as do ZooMAT and the Museo del Ambar; the Sumidero Canyon jetty at Chiapa de Corzo sells its last boat tickets between 1:30PM and 2:00PM, and the canyon rim viewpoints close on Tuesdays in low season
- Fees
- Palenque costs MXN 105 for Mexican nationals and residents and MXN 210 for foreign visitors (~USD 6 / ~USD 12) plus a CONANP park fee of about MXN 47 (~USD 3); Tonina is about MXN 86 and MXN 156 (~USD 5 / ~USD 9); Yaxchilan and Bonampak charge about MXN 75-80 (~USD 4-5) plus compulsory community boat or shuttle fares; the Sumidero boat trip runs MXN 400-460 (~USD 24-27) including protected-area access; waterfalls and lakes are community-run and cost MXN 36-80 (~USD 2-5)
- Best Times
- November to April is dry and clear, with the best waterfall colour from March to May and the safest access on unpaved roads; June to October brings heavy afternoon rain that turns Agua Azul brown and can close the Carretera Fronteriza, though the rainforest and the falls are at their most powerful
- Booking
- INAH ticket offices sell at the gate in cash pesos and no advance booking is possible or needed; Sumidero Canyon boats leave when full and are bought at the jetty window; boats to Yaxchilan are arranged at the Frontera Corozal jetty on arrival, though a private lancha can be reserved a day ahead through the Escudo Jaguar cooperative on +52 502 5350 4067; Lacanja cabanas and Laguna Miramar trips are best arranged directly with the community by phone a few days out
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Carry cash in pesos, as INAH gates, ejido barriers, community boatmen and village churches across Chiapas rarely accept cards and there are no ATMs at the rural sites
INAH sites and museums are free to Mexican nationals and foreign residents on Sundays, which also makes Sunday the busiest day at Palenque and the Museo Regional
Photography inside the churches at San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan is strictly forbidden and enforced by village authorities; cameras are also unwelcome pointed at people in either town
Palenque, Yaxchilan and Bonampak sit at low altitude in hot rainforest while San Cristobal is at 2,200 m and cold after dark, so a single trip needs both shorts and a warm layer
Keep a passport or residence card in hand on the Carretera Fronteriza to Yaxchilan and Bonampak, where military and immigration checkpoints stop every vehicle
Drive the highland and jungle roads only in daylight: they are unlit, foggy in the mornings, thick with unmarked topes and occasionally blocked by local road committees collecting a small toll
Frequently asked questions
How many days are needed to see the main attractions in Chiapas?
Seven to ten days works well: two in San Cristobal with Chamula and Zinacantan, one for the Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo, two around Comitan for El Chiflon and the Montebello lakes, and three based in Palenque for the ruins, the waterfalls and a day out to Yaxchilan and Bonampak
How much does it cost to enter Palenque in 2026?
The INAH ticket is MXN 105 for Mexican nationals and residents and MXN 210 for foreign visitors (~USD 6 / ~USD 12), and a separate CONANP national park fee of about MXN 47 (~USD 3) is collected at the road barrier before the gate; Mexican nationals and residents enter free on Sundays
Can Chiapas be visited without a car?
Yes for most of the state, since OCC buses link Tuxtla, San Cristobal, Comitan, Ocosingo and Palenque, and colectivo vans reach Chamula, Zinacantan, Chiapa de Corzo, Agua Azul and the Montebello lakes; only the Sumidero rim viewpoints, the Selva El Ocote sites and Laguna Miramar realistically need a hired vehicle or a shared excursion
Is it possible to visit Yaxchilan and Bonampak in one day?
Yes, and most independent travellers do it as a single long day from Palenque, leaving around 6:00AM for Frontera Corozal and the Usumacinta boat, then Bonampak in the afternoon via the Lacandon shuttle at San Javier, returning after dark; staying overnight at Lacanja Chansayab or Frontera Corozal splits the distance and gives more time at each site