VIsit Chiapas
Complete Guide
Visit Chiapas: Travel Guide & Practical Tips
Why visit Chiapas?
The Chiapas region is one of the most spectacular areas in southern Mexico, where nature takes over completely. Between tropical jungle, turquoise waterfalls, and ancient Mayan ruins, this destination offers a deep immersion into indigenous culture and wild landscapes.
If you are planning to visit Chiapas, expect a mix of adventure, nature, and cultural discovery.
Please note: the prices of the activities and accommodation mentioned in the article can vary greatly depending on the time of year (weekday vs weekend, holidays, etc.).
Plan your Road Trip in Mexico
To find all the information about our trip to Mexico in general: full itinerary, budget, safety, tips… check out our article about our road trip in Mexico!
Our Itinerary in Chiapas
1. Tuxtla & Sumidero Canyon (1/2 days)
Amazing landscape
A practical first stop when you start to visit Chiapas.
Things to do:
Sumidero Canyon (Cañón del Sumidero)
A massive and impressive gorge with dramatic rock formations and even spider monkeys.
(Tours can be organized from San Cristóbal de las Casas)⚠️ Note: viewpoints are closed on Tuesdays
💰 Boat tour: ~350 pesos/person (without viewpoints)
- Chiapa de Corzo village
A charming colonial town and the departure point for canyon boat tours.
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🔑 Where to stay in Tuxtla
Accomodation
in Tuxtla
Casa Kopling
- 5 min walk from the bus station
- Nice pool available (Wi-Fi not great in our room but good at the restaurant)
- Far from Chiapa de Corzo but well connected by collectivos (30p/p)
💰 ~25€ for two (with private bathroom & breakfast).
Book this hostel –> See availability.
🚌 Transport tips
- Tuxtla > Chiapa de Corzo : stop collectivos along the main road 30p/p.
- Tuxtla > San Cristobal de las Casas : ADO bus: ~1h30 | ~€3/person
2. San Cristóbal de las Casas – Bohemian Heart of Chiapas (6 days)
Visit Chiapas and discover this magnificent little colonial town
A true highlight when you visit Chiapas — one of our favorite cities in Mexico.
Things to do:
- Join a walking tour of the historic center (very informative and fun)
- Explore the 3 pedestrian streets filled with cafés, restaurants & artisan shops
- Hike up 2 viewpoints hills (beautiful views, but be careful late afternoon)
- Enjoy nightlife & live music:
- Wine & tapas at Vina de Bacco
- Jam sessions at Coffee Bean
- Party at Palenqueria or Revolution
- Mezcal at Puro Mexico
- Take a ceramics workshop
⚠️ Important: tap water quality in San Cristóbal is not great
Nina actually got salmonella on day 2 — so be careful!
🔑 Where to stay in San Cristobal de las Casas
Accomodation
in San Cristobal
Las Colores Hostel:
We really liked this cheap roots hostel with its rooftop and nice owners.
- Simple but cheap and comfortable
- Good wifi !
- Slightly outside the center (30 min walk to ADO station)
💰 ~14€ for a double room ( shared bathroom & kitchen).
Book this hostel –> See availability!
🚌 Transport tips
- San Cristobal de las Casas > Comitan : ADO Bus, ~2h | ~€4/person (78 pesos). There are also even cheaper collectivos, but we did it “in comfort”.
- San Cristobal de las Casas > Palenque : ⚠️ Route can be sensitive in 2025
- Big bus companies take a longer detour (via Tuxtla & Villahermosa)
- ~8h | ~€20/person
- Alternative: collectivo via Ocosingo (faster but less comfortable)
3. El Chiflón via Comitán (3 days)
A real gem in the heart of Chiapas!
A great stop while you visit Chiapas, especially for nature lovers.
We spent one night in Comitán before heading to El Chiflón. The town is pleasant, and we even arrived during a local festival.
El Chiflón waterfalls:
A stunning natural park with 5 incredible waterfalls.
- Entry: 80 pesos/person
- Around 2-hour walk to explore all waterfalls
- Zipline available at different levels
We were almost alone during the day — and completely alone at night (we camped on site!). Camping: 50 pesos/tent – Cabins: ~700 pesos for 2
- Extra note: Las Nubes / Montebello
We were also supposed to spend 2 nights camping in Las Nubes (campsites and cabanas were available), but our colectivo turned back due to a safety issue on the road. We asked the locals, and they confirmed that we should listen to the driver, so we ended up going back to Comitan > San Cristobal! It’s a shame, it’s a region we’d really love to explore more…
🔑 Where to stay in Comitan / Chiflon
Accomodation
in Comitan / Chiflon
Comitán – Orchideas Hotel:
- Clean and simple
- We were able to leave our bags there for 2 days free of charge while we went to Chiflon (check with them beforehand).
- ~26€ for 2 (with private bathroom).
⚠️ Be careful: they may charge extra fees on arrival (even if booked online)
Book this hostel –> See availability!
Chiflon : camping in the park (50p/tent) includes some BBQ areas. Toilets are pay-per-use during the day but free at night.
🚌 Transport tips
- Comitan > Chiflon: Shared taxis (collectivos) are available on the main road, not far from the ADO bus terminal. ~ 2h and costs 50p per person.
- Comitan > Montebello: Shared taxis depart from a different location than those for Chiflon.
- Comitan > San Cristóbal de las Casas: ADO bus terminal. ~ 2h / ~ €4 per person (78p per person). Shared taxis are also available.
4. Palenque & Roberto Barrios (3 days)
A Mayan site in the heart of nature
A must-see stop when you visit Chiapas, combining jungle, history, and waterfalls.
Things to do:
- Palenque Archaeological Site
A stunning Mayan city hidden in the jungle. Temples, wildlife, and a magical atmosphere.- Entry: ~16€
- Can be reached by collectivo or on foot (3 km) from Kin Balam (our accomodation)
- Optional free trail: Maputí path
- Roberto Barrios waterfalls
Perfect for swimming and cooling off
💰 40 pesos/person
Beautiful pools, waterfalls, and even our 1st encounter with howler monkeys’ family
Camping available on site
- Agua Azul & Misol-Ha waterfalls
Another natural spot with incredible water… perhaps more touristy than Roberto Barrios, so I didn’t go!
🔑 Where to stay in Palenque
Accomodation
in Palenque
🩷 Kin Balam:
- Nice jungle hostel with pool, shared kitchen, cabins (a bit pricey), and camping available
- Located at the entrance of Palenque ruins
- Surrounded by wildlife (we saw geckos, toucans, agoutis, taattooed monkeys, so happy!…)
💰 ~16€ per tent
⚠️ Not in the town center and shops (15 mins by collectivo)
Book this hostel –> See availability!
🚌 Transport tips
- Palenque Kin Balam > Palenque (town) : 25 pesos/person (until ~5–6pm), then taxi ~100 pesos. Approx 10-15 mins.
- Palenque (town) > Roberto Barrios : Collectivo: ~70 pesos/person (~1h). Ask for the last departure time from Roberto Barrios.
- Palenque (town) > Merida : bus ADO 45€/p, ~9h
Practical Tips to Visit Chiapas
When you visit Chiapas, keep in mind that some roads can be sensitive depending on local conditions.
- Always check updated travel info before moving between regions
- Use official transport whenever possible
- Drink only filtered or bottled water
Some areas may be affected at times, but the main tourist destinations remain accessible with caution. Always check with locals before venturing into certain regions, especially near the Guatemalan border.
There's no single answer; we spent two weeks there, we could have stayed much longer. But 7 to 10 days to enjoy the main sites can be enough.
Yes, no problem at all, it might even be safer than renting a car since using local transport attracts less attention. There are plenty of buses (ADO and collectivos).
Mexican Regions
This road trip in Mexico allowed us to discover an incredible diversity of landscapes, cultures, and traditions.
To plan your trip step by step, check out our detailed guides for each region.
Oaxaca
Chiapas
