Tenam Puente and Chinkultic Ruins

Tenam Puente sits about 12 km from Comitán, while Chinkultic lies a further 45 km beyond, near the Lagos de Montebello, making the full circuit a 9-10 hour round trip from San Cristóbal or a comfortable half day from Comitán itself. Taxis from Comitán's Parque Central reach Tenam Puente with wait time included, and Chinkultic is usually paired with a Montebello lakes visit by rental car or a hired taxi for the day. Tenam Puente is a hilltop ceremonial centre with several ball courts and long views over the Comitán valley, and its remoteness means it rarely holds more than a handful of other visitors even in peak season, making it one of the quieter Maya sites in the region. The walk around the terraces and ball courts covers modest, gently sloping ground and takes about an hour. From there, the route continues to Chinkultic, perched on a bluff above a cenote-like lake with striking turquoise water, where a ball court and a partially restored pyramid can be climbed for a view over the water below. Because Chinkultic sits close to the Montebello lakes, many visitors combine the ruins with a stop at one or two of the named lakes on the same day, making a natural full-day loop out of Comitán. Simple food stops are limited along this route, so most visitors eat in Comitán before setting out or bring supplies for a picnic near Chinkultic's lake overlook. November through April is the recommended season, giving the clearest long views from both hilltop sites and the driest access roads.