The 8 most beautiful natural sights in Chiapas, Mexico: travel guide

 

The majority of tourists visit Chiapas, Mexico, attracted by any of the following four aspects such as its coffee plantations (you have the option of visiting several haciendas like Hamburgo, Chiripa, Violetas and Santa Rita); the Mayan ruin sites among which Palenque is one of the most famous and the colonial style of architecture prominent throughout San Cristobal de las Casas and the other towns of awe and natural sites.

In this piece, I'll concentrate on the second: the beauty of nature in the state that is home to the majority of Mexico's diversity. In this article, I'll discuss eight of the top tourist places within Chiapas that are all well-known for their beauty and ease of access. Some of them are fantastic instances for green tourism.

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How to get to Chiapas, Mexico

Chiapas is the most southern state within Mexico that borders Guatemala. The capital city and its largest city Tuxtla Gutierrez However, the most popular one can be found in San Cristobal de las Casas.

San Cristobal is a excellent location to explore the stunning scenery in Chiapas, Mexico. The nearest airport is Tuxtla Gutierrez, from where it is possible to reach the city's historic center within a 1:55 hour trip by bus. To reach Mexico City, the trip is between 13-14 hours.

The best natural wonders within Chiapas, Mexico

Sumidero Canyon

The stunning canyon created due to the erosion of the Grijalva River, known as Canon del Sumidero in Spanish It is the most well-known natural beauty spot in Chiapas, Mexico.

The best way to experience it is by taking an excursion boat trip on the river. It gives you the chance to appreciate how massive the walls of rock that are more than 1000m high. Also, you will pass by the well-known Christmas Tree, which is a waterfall that flows on a rock structure that is when the vegetation begins to grow is reminiscent of its nature.

As well as the boat tour I would recommend taking a trip of each of the viewpoints for a view from the top. The tour is 17 kilometers long that begins with the La Ceiba viewpoint, where it is possible to see the beginning of the canyon. It it continues to La Coyota, El Roblar, Tepehuaje, Los Chiapa (highest elevation of Canyon) and Tepehuaje (highest point) and finishes at La Atalaya.

There is a Sumidero Canyon National Park is located just within Tuxtla Gutierrez. From north of the city starts the Calzada of Sumidero that is the path that will take visitors through the views. A lot of people travel it on bicycles but it's difficult to climb up when you get to the top.

Sima de las Cotorras

Another stunning landscape of Chiapas near Tuxtla Gutierrez is the Sima of the Cotorras which is located within the El Ocote Biosphere Reserve.

"Sima" is a "sima" is chasm, it's a hollow in the ground created due to the movement of plates, and the erosion caused by underground rivers. There are many similar forms within the region, including bigger ones. However, Las Cotorras, 140 meters deep, is by far the most famous due to the fact that it is designed for tourism.

Cotorras is the term used to describe "parrots" in Spanish, and you'll quickly get the meaning of this name once you witness and hear hundreds of parrots who move in circular motions in the direction of air currents through the wells in which they make their roosts.

One of them include among them the Mexican green parakeet that is at risk of disappearing. Beginning at sunset, the birds are seen gathering in the forest near the bottom of the chasm and make an ear-piercing sound.

Cascadas de Agua Azul

The Cascadas of Agua Azul (Blue Water Falls) are exactly the name they are. It is no wonder that they are thought to be one of the most stunning destinations located in Chiapas, Mexico. The Chiapas region is situated approximately 150 kilometers away from San Cristobal de las Casas and are close to Misol-Ha and Palenque and so exploring each of them is a great day trip.

It is believed that the Xanil River descends through the middle of Chiapas the jungle, until it comes to a sequence of "steps" that are formed due to the eroding of several branches. The stunning color of the river result from the significant calcium carbonate levels of the water and creates a layer of rock or fallen trees in a mineral-rich crust.

Palenque

After a refreshing dip at the Agua Azul Waterfalls, the majority of visitors continue to travel for another 65 kilometers until they arrive at one among the most iconic places in Mexico The archaeological region of Palenque.

Though the area was created by human beings, the natural nature of the area in which it's situated is worthy of being listed on this top list of best natural landscapes of Chiapas.

The House of the Nobles, the Tomb of the Red Queen, and the Temple of the Inscriptions are three of the buildings which stand out most of all in the old Mayan city it is thought to have been abandoned by about 900.

Research suggests that just 2 percent of the vast forest settlement has been found to date, which leaves many unknowns in the jungle.

Misol-Ha

If you're in the mood take the time to visit to this waterfall midway in between Agua Azul as well as Palenque.

The waterfall, which is 30-meters long, is a natural pool that is surrounded by massive mahogany trees as well as water sticks the perfect spot to spend a leisurely moment. It also has a path that runs along the side of the waterfall, and offers the best views from the other angle.

If you've seen the film Predator it is likely that you know this location since it's among the most well-known locations in the movie.

El Chiflon Waterfalls

Are you prepared to travel in the opposite direction? About 100 kilometers to the to the south from San Cristobal de las Casas are the other waterfalls that are famous in Chiapas, Mexico: those that are part of Chiapas, Mexico. They are located in the El Chiflon Park.

As you enter the park, you'll stroll along the blue San Vicente River and go past a couple of minor waterfalls however as you ascend the river, it becomes more spectacular until you arrive at the magnificent Bridal Veil (Velo of the Novia). The total number of waterfalls is five. there are five waterfalls that have pools that are cool to the touch.

The route to Chiflon is accessible via San Cristobal by public transportation however, you'll need spend the whole day to travel. The first step is to will need to take a shuttle bus from ADO Station. ADO Station to Comitan (1:30 hour) after which you take another that goes to Chiflon (45 minutes).

There are tours that will take the visitor towards El Chiflon and Montebello However, I believe it's better to explore each one separately, taking greater time rather than hurrying to visit both places within a single day.

Additional tip: If you are staying in Comitan or at the hotel near the entry point of the Park, the park will be able to enjoy the park early in the morning because tourists begin coming in big groups at 12 noon

Montebello Lagoons

This park's national status is situated located on the border of Guatemala approximately 150 km from San Cristobal de las Casas. The best option is to rest the night in Comitan (55 kilometers away) to allow time to join it with El Chiflon on the same day. Comitan de Dominguez is one of the towns that are magical in Chiapas.

In this protected zone there are over 60 lagoons as well as a huge biodiversity in which a variety of species of birds are visible like the quetzal.

When you arrive, there are many routes to explore and trips on kayaks and boats. Alongside the vibrant lakes, there are also cenotes, caves, as well as waterfalls all located within the thick woodland.

Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve

Not to be left out We are heading to one of the best places within Chiapas, Mexico. The Lacandona rainforest is among those areas that have the most diversity on the whole American continent. The Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve protects over 300,000 acres of the area.

It is believed that the area is just 0.16 percent of Mexico's space, contains approximately 30% of Mexico's reserve of water and around 20% of the diversity of Mexico. Since its beginning in 1978, this reserve has regenerated the populations of a variety of species that were in imminent danger of being extinct like jaguars wild boars with white-lipped tapirs or spider monkeys. There are also scarlet macaws.

In the park are numerous ecotourism initiatives which include accommodation and campsites. When you visit, you may explore hiking trails for instance, one of which leads you to the stunning Miramar lagoon. You can also take Raft rides along the Lacantun and Usumacinta rivers. These are used as natural borders to Guatemala.

Additionally, there are important Mayan archeological sites within the region including Bonampak along with Yaxchilan.

Discover the finest in Chiapas, Mexico while volunteering

One of the best ways to get familiar with this area is through volunteer work in Chiapas via Worldpackers. You can have numerous possibilities to assist local initiatives by providing accommodations, food as well as other advantages according to the hosts.

Apart from not having to pay for lodging You will also be able to be able to spend time meeting locals which means you will learn more about the local culture of the region and visiting areas that tourists tend to overlook. Also, it's a fantastic method to to learn Spanish and Spanish in Mexicofor absolutely nothing.

There are a variety of volunteer opportunities located in San Cristobal de las Casas that, was our experience shows is an perfect city for you to set up your base and discover. from hostels and hotels to nonprofit projects It is possible to pick the best host to match your talents and preferences.

There are also interesting jobs in towns such as Tapachula in which you could work with the integrated center or Non-Governmental Organization.

These are the eight best natural sights located in Chiapas, Mexico, but there are plenty of other places to explore if you've got the enough time to explore Chiapas. The bucket list for Chiapas, Mexico could comprise Chiapas' Tacana Volcano, Las Nubes waterfalls and Pacific beaches including Boca del Cielo, Puerto Arista, Barra San Simon, Playa Azul and Puerto Madero.