What to do in Sumidero Canyon?
There are two ways to visit the Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas: take a boat tour and walk along the viewpoints.
These are radically different experiences and we sincerely recommend that you do both to make the most of the Sumidero Canyon!
Boat trip along Río Grijalva River
One of the best ways to get to know the Sumidero Canyon is to take a boat trip along the course of the Río Grijalva. The boat trip takes about 2 hours and covers a distance of about 64 kilometers along the Grijalva River. The tour starts in Chiapa de Corzo, you reach the Chicoasén dam and then make the trip in the opposite direction.
It is important to know that if today the river seems calm, it is only thanks to the construction of this hydroelectric dam in 1980, because before then the current was strong and it was dangerous to cross the river.
Since 1980, this place is considered a national park, and some parts of its cliffs can reach up to 1 kilometre high. It is possible to see some species of this habitat such as crocodiles, spider monkeys and an infinity of birds. The walk is a lot of fun and the experience of entering the Sumidero Canyon and seeing the walls surrounding us as you go deeper into the Sumidero Canyon is simply amazing!
There are several small caves and several natural formations on the walls. The two most important ones are the Christmas Tree and the Cave of Colors, where the guide stops to let you observe and take some pictures.
The Cave of Colours is a natural chapel with pink tones on the walls due to the natural infiltration of different minerals. A Virgin of Guadalupe has been placed there and on December 12th a large floating mass is celebrated in her honour!
The Christmas tree is the nickname given to a 750-metre high limestone formation located on a canyon wall and created by a 200-metre high waterfall. The best time to observe the waterfall is during the rainy season.
To make the boat trip through the Sumidero Canyon, there are 4 piers in Chiapa de Corzo!
Malecon Pier
📍 Address: Embarcadero s/n, San Jacinto, 29160 Chiapa de Corzo, Chis, Mexico
📞 Phone: +52 961 616 0 453 / +52 961 171 7 542
The Malecón pier is the most crowded, so there’s no need to wait very long for a group to complete each other. You can park in the main plaza of Chiapa de Corzo and walk a few blocks to get to this pier.
Unidad Deportiva Pier
📍 Address: Capitán Vicente López 7, San Jacinto, 29160 Chiapa de Corzo, Chis., Mexico
📞 Telephone: +52 961 390 2 447 / +52 961 616 0 680
Cahuaré pier
📍 Address: Al Embarcadero 100, Ribera Cahuaré, Cahuaré, 29160 Chiapa de Corzo, Chis, Mexico
📞 Telephone : (961) 6161572
Cahuare is smaller of the piers, but it has a parking lot. However, the waiting time to gather a group on this pier is slightly longer (about 20 minutes).
Belisario Dominguez pier
📍 Address: Ribera, Ribera Cahuaré, Cahuaré, 29160 Chiapa de Corzo, Chis, Mexico (https://goo.gl/maps/rUxVKwbzkVy3ocsK7)
📞 Telephone : (961) 11 1 84 03
For all piers:
💲 Average budget :
- Price in collective boat: $200 pesos per person. This price includes the bracelet of the CONAMP (Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas) which gives access to the watchtowers.
- Cost by private boat: from $2,800 pesos.
⏱️ Schedules: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Every day.