Fifty-nine lakes sit at about 1,500 m in pine, oak and liquidambar forest, and dissolved minerals and depth give each one a different colour, from jade through emerald to near-black. The classic frame is the Mirador Cinco Lagos, where five separate bodies of water in five distinct shades appear in a single view; Laguna Pojoj, with its floating island, and Laguna Bosque Azul are the other reliable positions. CONANP charges about 125 MXN (approx USD 7) for foreign visitors and about 65 MXN (approx USD 4) for Mexican nationals and residents, with a further ejido access fee of about 40 MXN (approx USD 2) for the individual lakes including Tziscao, Cinco Lagos, Pojoj and Internacional. Children under twelve enter free. The colours read strongest from above and under overhead light rather than at golden hour.
Fifty-nine lakes at about 1,500 m show different colours, from jade through emerald to near-black, depending on mineral content and depth, and the colours read strongest under high overhead sun rather than at golden hour, since the light needs to penetrate the water rather than skim across the surface. The classic frame is the Mirador Cinco Lagos, where five separate lakes in five distinct shades appear together in a single view; Laguna Pojoj, with its floating island, and Laguna Bosque Azul are the other reliable positions. Because the colour effect depends on high sun, the strongest shooting window is 10:00 to 14:00, in contrast to the low-light preferences typical of landscape photography; pre-dawn mist over the lakes, which forms before about 08:00, offers a different, softer subject for those willing to shoot both ends of the day. November to April brings the most stable weather; lakes near the Rio Grande de Comitan can carry sediment and lose clarity after summer storms. CONANP charges about 125 MXN (approx USD 7) for foreign visitors and about 65 MXN (approx USD 4) for Mexican nationals and residents, with a further ejido access fee of about 40 MXN (approx USD 2) per lake for individual sites including Tziscao, Cinco Lagos, Pojoj and Internacional; children under twelve enter free. The park is large and lakes are spread out, so a car is effectively required to visit more than one or two in a day, and there is no restriction on tripod use at any of the miradores.
Shooting notes
- Equipment
- Polariser, which is essential to see through the surface into the colour, Wide lens for the Cinco Lagos panorama, 70-200mm for the forested far shores, Tripod for the pre-dawn mist, Warm layer and rain shell, as Montebello is cool and wet at altitude
Location
Parque Nacional Lagunas de Montebello, Carretera Fronteriza del Sur km 30 from La Trinitaria, 30170 La Trinitaria, Chiapas, Mexico
16.0775, -91.6806 View on map
Highlights
- Five differently coloured lakes visible together from Mirador Cinco Lagos
- Laguna Pojoj's floating island
- Laguna Bosque Azul's deep blue-green water
- Pre-dawn mist over the lake surfaces
Tips for visiting
- Shoot 10:00-14:00, when high sun penetrates the water and separates the colours
- A polariser is essential to see through the surface reflection into the true colour
- Use a wide lens for the Cinco Lagos panorama and a 70-200mm for the forested far shores
- Budget for both the CONANP park fee and separate ejido fees at individual lakes
- Bring a warm layer and rain shell, as Montebello is cool and wet at altitude
When to visit
10:00-14:00 for peak colour separation in the lakes; November to April for the most stable weather.
Frequently asked questions
Why is midday better than golden hour here?
The lake colours come from light penetrating the water rather than skimming the surface, so high overhead sun between 10:00 and 14:00 gives the strongest colour separation.
What does entry cost?
CONANP charges about 125 MXN (approx USD 7) for foreign visitors and 65 MXN (approx USD 4) for Mexican nationals, plus a further ejido fee of about 40 MXN (approx USD 2) per individual lake.
Which lake shows the most colours in one frame?
Mirador Cinco Lagos shows five separate lakes in five distinct shades in a single view.
When is the water clearest?
November to April brings the most stable weather; lakes near the Rio Grande de Comitan can carry sediment after summer storms.