Must-see attractions in Chiapas
Palenque
Just off the road to the ruins, El Panchán is a legendary travelers’ hangout set in a patch of dense rainforest. It’s the epicenter of Palenque’s…
Palenque
Just 20km south of Palenque, Misol-Ha cascades approximately 35m into a wonderful wide pool surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. It’s a sublime place…
Chiapas
The chapel at the Parador-Museo Santa María is a religious art museum with an interesting array of colonial-era work from Europe and the Philippines as…
San Cristóbal de las Casas
This combined cafe and coffee museum is a venture of Coopcafé, a grouping of more than 17,000 small-scale, mainly indigenous, Chiapas coffee growers. The…
Chiapas
This attractive set of cascading rapids and waterfalls is the latest attraction of the tour agencies, thanks to its easy access from the road (other falls…
Chiapas
Bustling and broad, Tuxtla’s main plaza occupies two blocks flanked by an untidy array of concrete government and commercial structures. At its southern…
Chiapas
Not open at the time of research due to damage from the 2017 earthquake, when open, the Centro Cultural is home to the wood and lino prints of talented…
Centro Cultural Rosario Castellanos
Chiapas
The Centro Cultural Rosario Castellanos started life in the 16th century as a set of monastic buildings. Since then it's been both a government building…
Centro Ecoturístico Santo Domingo
Chiapas
The village’s gorgeous three-story wooden 1920s casa grande (big house) has been restored. It belonged to the German immigrants who formerly owned the…
San Cristóbal de las Casas
The Hotel Santa Clara was built by Diego de Mazariegos, the Spanish conqueror of Chiapas. His coat of arms is engraved above the main portal. The house is…
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Dating from 1537, the Iglesia de la Merced is often seen in postcards of San Cristóbal festooned in colorful flags. The interior of the sacristy has an…
Tapachula
Tapachula’s heart is the large, very lively Parque Hidalgo, with vistas of the towering 4100m cone of Volcán Tacaná to the north on clear days. Anybody…
Chiapas
The Laguna Miramar is accessible thanks to a successful ecotourism project in the small Maya community of Emiliano Zapata, near its western shore. If you…
Centro de Convivencia Infantil
Chiapas
Parque Madero contains a children’s park, the Centro de Convivencia Infantil, with a minitrain, carnival games, pony rides and other diversions for the …
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Attractive red-and-white church in one of the town's oldest neighbourhoods. Founded in 1594 as a small hermitage it was rebuilt as a larger church after…
Palenque
Built in the 8th century by Ahkal Mo’ Nahb’ III and restored in 1955, the tower has remnants of fine stucco reliefs on the walls, but you’re not allowed…
Chiapas
The eye-catching white cathedral’s clock tower tinkles out a tune on the hour to accompany a kitsch merry-go-round of apostles’ images, which emerges from…
Tapachula
Tapachula's secondary plaza is a quiet, though not espically attractive, spot that has fountains lining the main walkways and some shady spots for…
Palenque
Main entrance to the ruins with snack bars. You're likely to be launched upon by guides; ensure they are the registered guides, identifiable by their ID…
Chiapas
Flanked by grand buildings, this pretty plaza has modern sculpture pieces and manicured mature flat-topped trees where birds flock and chirp in the…
San Cristóbal de las Casas
This pretty white-and-turquoise church suffered severe damage during the 2017 Chiapas earthquake and was closed to the public at the time of research.
Palenque
Overgrown and of little interest, Templo XI is the first structure you'll see entering the site from the main entrance.
Palenque
Palenque's central plaza is busy any time, but comes to life after the sun goes down. Sometimes hosts free concerts.
Palenque
A series of small falls tumble down to form natural bathing pools. Unfortunately, you're not allowed to bathe here.
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Founded by the Franciscans in 1577, this fairly plain little church contains baroque altarpieces and pulpit.
Chiapas
Just north of the central plaza, Comitán's market is a good place to hunt for cheap eats and photo ops.
Palenque
The man who discovered Pakal’s tomb in 1952 was buried here, under the trees in front of Templo XIII.
San Cristóbal de las Casas
A church atop the Cerro de San Cristóbal from which there are good views across the town.
Tapachula
A monument paying homage to the liberal ex-president sits beside the Cathedral.
Museo de la Cuenca del Usumacinta
Chiapas
If it's open, the one-roomed Museo de la Cuenca del Usumacinta, opposite the immigration office, has some information in Spanish on the area’s…
Palenque
A roundabout and a landmark featuring a large statue of a Maya chieftain’s head, at the west end of town.
