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Sumidero Canyon: Scenic Boat Ride & Chiapa de Corzo
3.3
19 Ratings
San Cristobal de las Casas
Embark on a thrilling boat trip through the majestic Sumidero Canyon and explore the ancient history of Chiapa de Corzo. Discover wildlife, rainforests, and centuries-old landmarks on this unforgettable tour.
Embark on a thrilling boat trip through the majestic Sumidero Canyon and explore the ancient history of Chiapa de Corzo. Discover wildlife, rainforests, and centuries-old landmarks on this unforgettable tour.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Exploring Chiapas - The operator picks up clients from each hotel and then begins the journey.
- Chiapa de Corzo - Chiapa de Corzo, a colonial site rich in tradition and culture, is embraced by the warmth of its people and is one of the most beautiful cities in the State of Chiapas. Located just 15 minutes from the capital city, its…
- Exploring Chiapas - The operator picks up clients from each hotel and then begins the journey.
- Chiapa de Corzo - Chiapa de Corzo, a colonial site rich in tradition and culture, is embraced by the warmth of its people and is one of the most beautiful cities in the State of Chiapas. Located just 15 minutes from the capital city, its significance lies in its history as the first city founded by the Spanish in the 16th century.
Chiapa de Corzo is renowned for the Mudéjar complex, featuring La Pila, a fountain of exquisite Moorish design made of brick, unique in Ibero-America; the Santo Domingo temple and its adjoining convent building, now housing the Lacquer Museum, as well as the ruins of the San Sebastian temple.
- Sumidero Canyon National Park - The rocks forming the walls of Sumidero Canyon began to develop around 136 million years ago from sediments and calcium minerals (limestones), created by marine animals such as corals. This suggests that, in ancient times, this region of Chiapas was submerged under a shallow sea.
The Canyon itself started forming 70 million years ago due to tectonic movements known as Horst-Graben, which, because of their earth mass movement characteristics, are referred to as tectonic pillar and tectonic pit respectively.
Fifteen million years ago, seawaters receded from this region due to geological movements that formed the significant mountains of Chiapas, including those of Sumidero Canyon. These mountains began to experience dissolution and erosion from the water, marking the birth and ongoing formation of the Canyon.
- Sumidero Canyon Viewpoints - Known as the Miradors of Sumidero Canyon, this small route features three main viewpoints where visitors can admire the Sumidero Canyon in all its glory from different perspectives, each with its unique charm and worthy of appreciation.
What's Included
- Visit to Chiapa de Corzo
- Shared boat in Sumidero Canyon
- Pick-up from the hotel
- Visit to Chiapa de Corzo
- Shared boat in Sumidero Canyon
- Pick-up from the hotel
What's Not Included
- Food
- Guided commentary in English in the Canyon of the Sump.
- Private guide
- Food
- Guided commentary in English in the Canyon of the Sump.
- Private guide
Additional Information
Depart from San Cristobal de las Casas for an exciting boat journey along the Grijalva River through the majestic Sumidero Canyon, a stunning vertical canyon created around the same time as the Grand Canyon in the United States. Enjoy the diverse wildlife and the breathtaking rainforest scenery. Next, explore the ‘Magic Village’ of Chiapa de Corzo, the…
Depart from San Cristobal de las Casas for an exciting boat journey along the Grijalva River through the majestic Sumidero Canyon, a stunning vertical canyon created around the same time as the Grand Canyon in the United States. Enjoy the diverse wildlife and the breathtaking rainforest scenery. Next, explore the ‘Magic Village’ of Chiapa de Corzo, the oldest settlement in the state of Chiapas, celebrated for its natural splendor and historical significance. Discover ancient monuments and the enormous tree that marks the city’s founding, and pick up some souvenirs before heading back to San Cristobal.
- Works in all weather conditions, dress appropriately
Location
Explorando Chiapas
Calle Real de Guadalupe No. 54
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
3.3
(19 Ratings)
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Galestef
Mar 12, 2020
Good agency and Responsible - All the tours we booked left on time in clean vans and in good condition. On the way to Palenque there was a blockade and the tour driver supported us to arrive, still separating from the group we were safe. Upon contacting the agency, they immediately sent a private driver to come and pick us up at the hotel and continue our tour as planned.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pipicat63
Feb 4, 2020
Brilliant day out - Excellent customer service from start to finish. Bryan in the office was really helpful with our booking. We chose to leave from their office ( which gave us an extra half an hour for breakfast) on the day trip to the Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo. The minibus driver, Miguel, was friendly, helpful and informative from the start. We drove to the departure point for the boats to the canyon. It's a two hour boat journey so it was pointed out that there was a loo ( 5 pesos) by the quay incase we needed it. We were all given life jackets and helped on board. The captain introduced himself, gave us a safety briefing and we set off. What an absolutely fantastic trip along the canyon. Within minutes we'd seen a couple of crocodiles basking in the sun on the shore, a female spider monkey and her babe jumping in the trees, Turkey Vultures, various heron species and cormorants. We got to spot faces in the rocks, learnt a little about the history of the place and shared the captain's enthusiasm for his canyon. When we reached the dam there was a little boat bar where we could by drinks and crisps. The boat then heads back to base at speed ( so be careful with those drinks) but not so fast that we didn't stop whenever we passed more crocodiles and monkeys. We then drove through the city of Tuxtla and up into the mountain to various miradors to see the canyon from above. Amazing views.
Then onto Chiapas de Corzo, colorful and bright and cheerful. You can get some lunch here or mooch around the shops. Worth a little walk to the front of the church and then down to the waters edge. A very different laid back approach to shopping after San Cristobal, the stall/shop owners acknowledged my presence , told me to ask them if I needed any help and then let me browse. Back to the bus, back to San Cristobal , fabulous time, thoroughly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roving667163
Feb 12, 2019
You enjoy nature - It is a dream to visit these places, they are places that convey a lot of tranquility, so we value how we should take care of the Mood, the very simple people, the very rich food.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lmwjerry
Dec 13, 2018
What a Great tour - While I wasn't enthusiastic about a boat ride down the river, this turned out to be a really wonderful trip allowing for some outrageous views that only a river tour could deliver! Bring your sunscreen and a hat for sunshade!
A tour that's worth every penny, Don't forget to tip your tour guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andyreyes11
Mar 22, 2023
An OK - The excursion good, fair price and the van in very good condition.
The chauffeur ok; however we had a support dog and we could not take him than because the other clients can be upset, however it is more annoying that we have been left two blocks from the center of Chiapas de corzo just to offer us a buffet which we were not interested and even more uncomfortable that we have been told an hour to return to San Cristobal from Chiapas de corzo and by Clients we have been delayed almost one more hr, the tolerance should be 20 min, if they are not and even many agencies in other states and countries like that work, why that is annoying for other clients.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Giomaxi
Nov 7, 2025
Lights and shadows - The lights: it is one of the cheapest tour agencies in San Cristóbal. The operators are kind, the communication is good, they respond quickly to messages even if often a little too narrowly.
The shadows: the organization of the tours is questionable. On both tours (Sumidero and Palenque), pick-up at the hotel was more than half an hour late. We ended up at the back of the bus, despite clearly asking for front seats, and reassuring ourselves about it. Squeezed and tossed, especially in the very long one of Agua Azul, towards Palenque and every hole and bump (which are endless in Mexico) are devastating for back and stomach. The driving of the vehicle is nothing short of reckless (but the tour drivers all drive like this, it seems). Visiting times are very tight, almost all the time you spend on the bus. Fortunately we had asked to be dropped off at Palenque: we avoided the ordeal of returning and the next morning we enjoyed the visit of the semi-deserted archaeological area, with a guide all to ourselves. Option that I highly recommend. (and I emphasize that the Agency very correctly abundated us the return trip fee).
Useless three stops at the Canyon viewpoints, enough and one left, it would leave more time to go down by boat. Even more useless is the very long final stop at Chapa de Corzo (for the benefit of souvenirs and restaurants only): you could safely return to the base around 6pm and instead arrive two hours later.
I've read reviews that complain about the absence of guides in English: but on the tours of this operator (as well as others, it must be said) it's already a lot that there are drivers. More or less talkative, all reckless, but that's it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
200sarayc
Dec 29, 2019
Poorly organized!! - Enterprise organized the tour very badly. He summoned us at 8 am and when he saw that they weren't coming, they told us it would be 9 am. The boat in the gun was damaged and we had to wait for another substitute boat to be sent. The tour guide apologized for the delays but then proposed to cut the tour and sacrifice the visit to the viewpoints, which we do not approve. In the end, he left us in Chiapa de Corzo saying he was picking us up in two and a half hours. We didn’t hear from him until he reached the meeting point in Chiapa de Corzo Square. Overall, the tour was very bad.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
786odettel
Dec 27, 2024
Your belongings are not safe in the tour transport - A wallet was lost inside the van that was transporting us. Surprisingly the wallet appeared but without money. We never knew if it was a tour passenger or the driver who had a unit key. Nobody took over. I do not recommend the service is bad and your belongings are not safe.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
58tinkerb
May 14, 2023
Peor tour de mi vida - Everyone advised me to take a ride with an agency anyway because it would be the same financially to go to the canyon, so confident in the face of all these positive feedback I did not try to choose an agency, telling myself that they all do the same....what a mistake! Already, I detect when I ask the woman in the agency if the departure in the morning is safe and certain at the maximum time indicated and she confirms it, leaving me of course all pissed when well... I am waiting on the sidewalk for 45 minutes and that therefore, we leave much later than indicated! Which I definitely didn't want since they were announcing the 38th degree in Chiapa de Corzo and it didn't tell me too much that we're coming in the middle of the country. Bingo! Horrible heat, a van with bad ventilation, first time in my life I almost threw up in a car while I was a mountain guide in the country. The driver thinks he's in Fast and Furious to get there in lews time leaving so late and he won't let me go ahead because there are already people. That's the pinnacle! I tell him I'm going to puke but nothing does, he doesn't ask one of the people up front to give me a seat. It was the bad trip of my life this trip down the gorge! Lots of road trips to finally arrive at the worst time to see the canyon as I had imagined, (ie light to cier) then be in a boiling boat without shadow that goes at a crazy speed on the water and so no one could keep his hat, even if it meant losing it. Welcome sunshine and sunburn! I thought I was dying of heat and I felt so bad that I threw myself into the water that came to the end, so much for the crocodiles and the filthy water. It was a matter of survival to get back to normal. On the way back, he wouldn't let me pass in the front; the passengers in the back were with me on the spot but I was far too polite to impose. Since when do we pay for a seat in a van and not change it?
The must also being one of the passengers, a young Mexican who drinks all along, lights a firecracker on the boat and allows himself to tell me to keep the window closed in the van when I was looking for air... Really, I won't be caught again. I couldn't appreciate the beauty of the place at all, a trick like that ruins everything. Run away, you scumbag!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roberto
Mar 18, 2019
Scam if you book online - I booked the Sumidero Canyon tour and viewpoints via mail. Since I like to compare, I quoted with several agencies via mail which gave a similar price.
The problem is that the price awarded by mail is almost double the price they offer at their San Cristobal office (650 online vs 350 pesos).
I asked for explanations in person and they are not able to give valid arguments, implying that they do so on a regular basis. That is, they scam any user who books via mail.
At the level of the tour itself, Explorando Chiapas is at the level of the rest of the operators of San Cristobal.
However, the lack of ethics of Fatima Nava (reservations) and Eliseo Gómez (managing director) mean that I cannot recommend them for this or another tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
