Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Chiapa de Corzo sits on the Grijalva River just east of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and it is the usual starting point for boat trips into Sumidero Canyon. The town is also worth more than a quick stop, with a huge main square, a Moorish-style church, a lacquerware museum and an archaeological site older than the Spanish arrival by thousands of years.
Plaza de Armas and La Pila
Templo de Santo Domingo
Museo de la Laca
Archaeological site
+4 more places
Evidence of Olmec settlement here dates back to around 1400 BC, and Spanish conquistadors founded a settlement in 1528. That long history shows in the cobbled streets, the colonial churches and the festivals that fill the calendar.
The location is the other draw. Sumidero Canyon begins just north of town, so you can spend a morning among crocodiles and sheer cliffs and be back at a shaded plaza table by lunch.
Locals like to say their main square is bigger than the Zócalo in Mexico City, and it is certainly generous. The fountain called La Pila is the centerpiece, and the shaded edges of the plaza are a good place to sit with a coffee.
La Pila fountain is the centerpiece of the main square in Chiapa de Corzo. Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
This large church was built in the late sixteenth century in a Moorish-influenced style, with three naves and an altar of gilded cedar.
The Santo Domingo church dates to the late sixteenth century and sits beside a former monastery. Photo: Mariela Teco, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The museum is housed in the old Santo Domingo monastery and explains the lacquerware tradition of Chiapas, known for smooth and brilliantly polished black surfaces. Gourds, trays and furniture show how the craft developed.
The lacquer museum occupies the former Santo Domingo monastery. Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The small site on Benito Juárez street preserves remains associated with the Olmec, who lived here until about 100 AD, and later the Zoque. It is far quieter than the big Maya cities elsewhere in Chiapas, so you may have it almost to yourself.
The archaeological site preserves remains of Olmec and Zoque occupation. Photo: August Dominus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
This small museum tells the story of the marimba, an instrument closely tied to Chiapas, and lets you compare its sound with a xylophone. Visits are by appointment, so arrange a time ahead through the contact details you find online.
The ruins of this seventeenth century church stand on San Gregorio hill after an earthquake in 1911 nearly destroyed it. Some stabilizing work now allows public visits, though it remains a ruin rather than a working church.
The canyon is the second most important tourist site in Chiapas, and boats leave from the river docks in town. The walls reach as high as 1,000 metres in places, and the river runs for about 13 kilometres through the narrow passage.
Tour boats to Sumidero Canyon leave from the river docks in Chiapa de Corzo. Photo: Nacasma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Keep your eyes on the banks, where American crocodiles and spider monkeys are often spotted, along with herons and other river birds. The guide will point out the Cueva de Colores, whose walls show pink and other mineral tints, and the stalactite called the Caballito de Mar.
The Christmas Tree waterfall in Sumidero Canyon is most striking in the rainy season. Photo: diego_cue, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The boat run ends near Chicoasén Dam at the north end of the canyon, where the reservoir spreads wide. If you also want the view from above, the national park has road-accessible lookouts such as La Coyota and El Roblar, reached from the Tuxtla side.
Parachico dancers are the best known figures of the Fiesta Grande in January. Photo: Fotografiamerlin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
From 8 to 23 January the town celebrates its biggest festival, with chunta dances, regional music, fireworks and the parachico dancers in carved wooden masks. A mock naval battle takes place on the river on 21 January.
Chicoasén Dam closes the northern end of the canyon and holds back a reservoir. Photo: B.B., Wikimedia Commons, CC0
The ground floor of the Mercado Municipal is the place to start, with stalls serving regional dishes beside fresh produce. Look for cochito al horno, roast pork seasoned with ancho chile and other spices. Chiapas is also known for crema doble, a crumbly and creamy cheese that is a pleasant surprise on tortillas. To drink, try pozol, a cold fermented corn drink, with a pinch of salt or chile if locals suggest it.
Popular dishes to try in Chiapa de Corzo
The town center is the easiest base, with the main square, the church and the market all within walking distance and several traditional guesthouses with courtyards and pools. It suits first-time visitors and anyone who likes evening strolls.
Ribera Cahuaré lies along the river near the docks, which suits travelers who want an early boat and a riverfront setting. San Jacinto is a quieter residential area close to the center and the marimba museum, and it works well for slower stays.
Where to stay in Chiapa de Corzo
The climate is hot all year, with an average annual temperature around 26 °C. The dry season from November to April is more comfortable for boat rides and sightseeing, and the canyon is easier to enjoy under clear skies.
January is the festival month, led by the Fiesta Grande. The Fiesta de Señor de El Calvario takes place on 7 October with dances, fireworks and street stalls.
The nearest commercial airport is Tuxtla Gutiérrez International Airport, about 35 kilometres south of town, with flights from Mexico City and other major Mexican airports. From the airport, take a taxi or transfer to Chiapa de Corzo.
OCC buses run frequently from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, and you can ask the driver to let you off in Chiapa de Corzo near the tourist docks. Combis to and from Tuxtla leave from the Zócalo and are signed with the destination on the windshield.
Take an early boat into Sumidero Canyon, then return for lunch at the market. In the afternoon, visit Santo Domingo and the lacquer museum, and finish at the plaza as the light fades.
Explore the archaeological site in the morning and climb to the San Sebastián ruins in the afternoon.
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