Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Chiapa de Corzo is a colonial town on the banks of the Grijalva River in central Chiapas, just east of the state capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez. It was among the first Spanish settlements in the region, yet the area's history goes back much further, as remains of an ancient settlement lie at the edge of town. Today it is a Pueblo Mágico and the main departure point for boat trips into the Sumidero Canyon.
Life gathers around the Plaza de Armas, where La Pila, a large brick fountain built in the colonial era in a distinctive Mudéjar style, stands as the town's symbol. The former convent of Santo Domingo houses the Museo de la Laca, dedicated to the region's lacquerware tradition. The Casa Museo de la Marimba Nandayapa celebrates the instrument so closely tied to Chiapas, and the ruined Templo de San Sebastián overlooks the town from a hillside. A short walk leads to the archaeological site. From the riverfront dock, boats head upstream through the Sumidero Canyon, passing towering rock walls and formations, crocodiles, birds and monkeys, before turning near the Chicoasén Dam. The Fiesta Grande each January, with its masked Parachico dancers, is the town's most celebrated event.
Chiapa de Corzo suits day-trippers from Tuxtla and San Cristóbal, though an overnight stay offers quieter evenings on the plaza.
WiserMap travel guideChiapa de Corzo Mexico Sumidero Canyon and Colonial ChurchesPlan a trip to Chiapa de Corzo, the Pueblo Mágico on the Grijalva River, with Sumidero Canyon boats, colonial churches, lacquerware, food and the Fiesta Grande.Read the guide
The large main square of this Pueblo Mágico, surrounded by arcades with shops and restaurants, and shaded by La Pochota, a huge old ceiba tree said to mark where the town was founded. It is lively in the evening. Try local dishes like pepita con tasajo in the arcades around the square.
A large Mudéjar style brick fountain from the 1560s in the main square, shaped like a crown, which once supplied the town with water. It is a symbol of Chiapa de Corzo and one of the most unusual colonial monuments in Mexico. Walk inside the arches to see the brickwork up close.
A large 16th century Dominican church near the river with a white facade and a tower that holds one of the oldest and largest bells in the region. The adjoining former convent now houses cultural spaces. Visit together with the lacquer museum, which is in the same complex.
The roofless ruins of a colonial church on a hill above the town, damaged by earthquakes, with arches and walls standing against the sky. Steps lead up from the streets below, and there are views over the rooftops and the Grijalva river. Climb in the late afternoon for the best light.
A museum inside the former Dominican convent that shows the local craft of lacquer painting on gourds, wooden boxes and masks, with pieces from Chiapas, other Mexican states and Asia. Sometimes artisans demonstrate the technique. It is free or low cost and takes about 30 minutes.
A small house museum devoted to the marimba, the wooden percussion instrument that is a proud symbol of Chiapas, and to the Nandayapa family of musicians. Displays show instruments and photos. Ask if a live performance is planned, and listen for marimba music in the main square at night.
The remains of one of the oldest continuously occupied settlements in Mesoamerica, with platforms and mounds dating back more than 2,500 years, at the edge of town near the highway. Some finds have early dates in the Long Count calendar. It is small and quiet, so allow about an hour.
Boats leave from the town's embarcadero for a two hour trip through Sumidero Canyon, where walls rise up to about 1,000 metres above the Grijalva river. Guides point out crocodiles, monkeys, birds and the Christmas Tree waterfall formation. Bring a hat and a jacket for spray.
A riverside walkway along the Grijalva near the boat dock, with restaurants serving fish and local dishes and views of the river and the bridge toward Tuxtla. It is a pleasant place to wait for a boat or relax after a tour. Come at sunset, when the heat eases and the river glows.
A festival held each January from about the 8th to the 23rd, when Parachicos dancers with carved wooden masks, colorful serapes and rattles fill the streets in honour of local saints. It is listed by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. Book rooms early, as the town gets very busy.
No reviews yet. Been to Chiapa de Corzo? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Chiapa de Corzo? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photosPhoto: Sgroey, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Mariela Teco, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: August Dominus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nacasma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: diego_cue, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Fotografiamerlin, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: B.B., Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Bbachand, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nacasma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Nacasma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Nacasma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Nacasma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Dge, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nacasma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Le Chule, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Nacasma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Dge, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ddavid hgo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: CésarRood, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Wolfgang Sauber, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Wolfgang Sauber, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Gwenndy, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: BIOLOGO JORGE AYALA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ihiroalfonso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ihiroalfonso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Carlos Urbina, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ihiroalfonso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Nacasma, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Ihiroalfonso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ihiroalfonso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Ihiroalfonso, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Iosu.aramburu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Pequeño mar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Adam Jones, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Alonso Cerro, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: HectoradQuintanar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: HectoradQuintanar, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Bli Farrera, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
