If you’re looking for a fantastic excursion in the Chiapas region of Mexico, Sumidero Canyon (Cañón del Sumidero) should be top of your list. Alongside the Palenque ruins, it is one of the most visited sites in Chiapas and it’s clear to see why.

Nestled in the heart of Sumidero Canyon National Park, close to the Guatemalan border, the natural beauty here is breathtaking. You can reach the canyon independently (via car or taxi) or a guided tour like I did. In this post, I’ll describe a typical day trip to Sumidero Canyon, how much it costs, what to bring with you and when best to visit.

Sumidero Canyon is incredibly old and well-preserved; some of its towering walls started forming over 35 million years ago. The Grijalva River (Rio Grijalva), which formed the Sumidero canyon, still runs through it today. The Chiapas region of Mexico isn’t as well-known as some of the others (I admittedly had never heard of Chiapas before researching this holiday), so you won’t find the area swarming with tourists. The locals know how special it is though; 80% of Sumidero Canyon’s annual visitors are Mexican nationals. 

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Booking a Tour vs Travelling Independently

My husband and I usually try to travel independently whenever possible. However, with Sumidero Canyon I suggest taking the tour. It takes a lot of stress out of planning your trip, worrying about how to get from A to B. We couldn’t find any public transport options to the canyon from San Cristobal (the city we were staying in) and didn’t want the hassle of negotiating taxi rates and boat prices with our basic Spanish.

Whether you’re visiting from nearby cities San Cristobal, Palenque or Tuxtla Gutierrez, there will be tons of operators running tours to Sumidero Canyon. Most of the itineraries are nearly identical, but make sure your day trip includes a visit to at least one of the canyon’s five viewpoints (miradors). There are five miradors you can visit; Mirador El Tepehuaje, Mirador el Roblar, La Ceiba Mirador, Mirador La Coyota and Mirador los Chiapa.

For the best rates, I suggest booking in-person at a tour operator or via your accommodation. However, if you’d like to book in advance for peace of mind, these tours have high ratings and are worth considering:

Typical Itinerary for Sumidero Canyon

Depending on which city you start your tour, you will be driven to Sumidero Canyon in a minivan, accompanied by a guide. Our group was very small (only twelve people including my husband and me) and our first stop was La Ceiba viewpoint. The panoramic views here are really impressive, with the canyon’s towering cliffs ranging from 100 to 1000 metres (3,300 ft) in height.

Once we’d taken dozens of photos, we were driven down to the Grijalva River to enjoy a two-hour boat ride, with a different guide. The boat guide only spoke Spanish, but some bilingual tourists kindly translated into English for us, and pointing and gesturing to the animals around us was self-explanatory! We saw spider monkeys swinging from tree branches (including a mama carrying her tiny baby) and birds soaring overhead. There were well-camouflaged crocodiles sunbathing on rocky ledges or swimming in the river. Apparently Sumidero Canyon is home to four hundred crocodiles so I don’t recommend dipping your fingers in the river! Along with monkeys, crocodiles and birds, you might also spy iguanas, giant butterflies, and river turtles.

The guide described the history of the canyon and drew our attention to some specific caves and waterfalls along the way, including the most beautiful Árbol de Navidad (“Christmas Tree”), a 200-metre waterfall in the shape of a tree. We were there in the dry season, but if you visit during the rainy season, you’ll get to watch water cascade past vibrant green formations in the canyon walls that look like tree branches. 

One of the caves is known as Cueva de Colores (“Cave of Colours”), due to the pink tones in its walls caused by the minerals inside. There is a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe nestled in the cave. Every year on 12th December, hundreds of people travel to the Cave of Colours on a pilgrimage to pay their respects. Other caves include Cueva de Silencio (“Cave of Silence”), named because of a lack of echo inside, and Caballito de Mar or “Seahorse” after its shape. The boat travelled along the river until the Chicoasen Dam, which provides a large part of Mexico and neighbouring Guatemala with energy.

At the end of the boat ride, we were all asked to tip the guide and driver before getting out of the boat, so it’s good to have some pesos ready. We were dropped in Chiapas de Corzo, one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos. Pueblos Mágicos are small towns throughout Mexico which the country’s tourism board have highlighted for their cultural value or unique traditions. The town was very touristy (unsurprisingly as it’s part of the organised tour route), but we enjoyed a quick lunch and stroll around the town before returning to our bus and to San Cristobal.

Tour Price and Timings

We left San Cristobal at 8.45am and returned at 5.30pm. We paid $400 MXN per person but after reading other blog posts about Sumidero, I think we overpaid. If you’re better at haggling, you might be able to find a tour for $300 MXN or less. The boat ride and viewpoints should be included; tips, food and drinks are not. If you arrange your own transportation to Sumidero Canyon and book a boat ride directly with a boat captain, you can expect to pay between 200 and 300 pesos per person. 

Food and Drink at the Sumidero Canyon

Make sure you have a hearty breakfast on the day of the tour. You probably won’t have time for a proper meal until late afternoon. If you get hungry during the visit, there are some possibilities to buy snacks along the way (at the miradors and where you board the boats), however the options are limited and not very substantial.

What to Bring With You to Sumidero Canyon

There is little to no sun cover during the two-hour boat trip, so don’t forget your sunscreen and something to protect yourself from the sun’s rays. It was very windy on the boat, so bring a hat with a drawstring (or hold on tight to it!). Bring pesos to pay for food, drinks and any tips you want to give. You can also bring your own snacks and packed lunch. Last, but certainly not least, plenty of water! 

Where to Stay Near Sumidero Canyon

The most convenient way to visit Sumidero Canyon is from either Tuxtla Gutiérrez or San Cristóbal de Las Casas, so I recommend choosing one of these cities as your base. Below, you’ll find accommodation options in both to help with your planning:

When to Visit Sumidero Canyon

Chiapas’ rainy season runs from May through October each year. With this in mind, the best time of year to visit Sumidero Canyon is between October and December. The canyon walls will still be lush with green foliage, but you’ll be less likely to get caught in a rainstorm. We visited in February and as you can see from the photos, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky! Avoid visiting Sumidero Canyon on Tuesdays as the viewpoints are closed on that day.

If you’re visiting San Cristobal, Palenque or another part of the region, be sure to add Sumidero Canyon to your Chiapas itinerary! It is definitely one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I have visited in Mexico.

Ciao for now

Izzie, the Curious Sparrow