10 Things to Know Before Visiting Sumidero Canyon

If you’re considering visiting Sumiedro Canyon (Cañón del Sumidero in Spanish) in Chiapas, Mexico, you’ve come to the right place.

This breathtaking lush canyon in southern Mexico is one of Chiapas’ most popular tourist attractions—and for good reason. Sumidero Canyon is one of the most beautiful places I visited during my six months in Mexico, but there are so many things I wish I would have known ahead of time.

In this Sumidero Canyon travel guide I go through ten things you should know before you visit. Make sure to read through each point so you can properly set your expectations and maximize your precious time in beautiful Chiapas.

Things to Know Before Visiting Sumidero Canyon

1. The canyon has two main embarkment points

Sumider Canyon has two main embarkment points, in other words, places where you can board a boat to explore the canyon via the Rio Grijalva.

Most Sumidero Canyon travel guides only mention the most well-known embarkment point which is located in the town of Chiapa de Corzo, south of the canyon. However, you can also embark from the northern embarkment point, which is right by the giant Chicoasén dam.

The canyon itself is about 8-miles long, so you will be able to see all the same sights regardless of which embarkment point you depart from. However, keep in mind that the northern embarkment point is over an hour from Chiapa de Corzo.

For whatever reason, the tour I booked from a vendor in San Cristobal took us to the northern embarkment point, and then we stopped in Chiapa de Corzo for several hours afterward.

All in all, I think we spend between five and six hours in the car that day. As someone who gets carsick, I wish I would have specifically booked a tour that included a boat trip from Chiapa de Corzo instead, which would have halved our time in the car.

2. Whether you take a tour or drive to an embarkment point, you’ll end up on the same boat—with a Spanish speaking guide

It’s important to understand that no matter how you get to the canyon, you will only have one option for a boat ride. If you traveled to Sumidero Chiapas with a guide from San Cirstobal or Tuxtla, expect your guide to stay behind as you’re stuffed into tour boats with other visitors. They certainly aren’t luxurious boats, but they’re the only way to explore the canyon via the river!

And given that 80% of the canyon’s visitors are Mexican citizens, its not too surprising that the boat rides only have Spanish speaking guides. I visited Sumidero Canyon while I was taking Spanish classes in San Cristobal, but I honestly only understood a few things the guides said, like when they pointed out the ‘monos’ (monkeys) on the river bank.

If you don’t speak Spanish, you’ll still be able to enjoy the boat ride, but you might not learn much about the canyon itself. However, chances are, one of the other passengers might speak English and be able to translate a little for you!

3. The boat ride is sort of a booze cruise

After six months in Mexico, I’ve learned to expect nearly every boat tour in Mexico to resemble a booze cruise. Personally, beer is the last thing I want after a long, windy drive in a tour van, but beers are cheap, cold, and delivered to your tour boat via a floating bar, so I can understand the appeal.

If you do decide to purchase a drink, just be aware that these boats move fast, so you’ll probably want to drink quickly or risk spilling during the ride. Of course, also be sure to keep your trash and do your part to protect this beautiful national park.

4. If you take a tour, you won’t get ‘lunch’ until the late afternoon, so bring snacks!

If you end up booking a tour from San Cristobal, be aware that you probably won’t have a chance to buy (or eat) a proper meal until late in the afternoon.

Our tour ended up at our ‘lunch’ spot in Chiapa de Corzo at nearly 4pm. I was so glad that I had actually packed a lunch so I could fuel up earlier in the day and be able to explore Chiapa de Corzo instead of sit in an overtly touristy restaurant there.

You will probably have a few chances to buy snacks or food along the way. For instance, basic snacks like chips were sold at some of the miradors, and enchiladas were available at the northern embarkment point. However, if you have any dietary restrictions, or prefer fresh, nourishing food over chips, you’ll thank yourself later if you pack a lunch.

My husband and I bought vegan wraps from Te Quiero Verde in San Cristobal then night before and everyone on our tour was asking about them. I also always pack a ton of healthy snacks whenever I leave the US on a big trip and then eat them on day trips and travel days.

5. You might need to lower your expectations about the tour company

You might have started to catch onto this, but I didn’t love the tour company I went with. I’m obsessed with finding the best local tours whenever I travel, so I might have slightly high standards.

But given that we were forced to sit in the car for several extra hours unnecessarily during Sumidero Canyon tour, and our tour guide didn’t tell us much about the places we visited, I think I’m justified in saying that it was a mediocre experience at best.

I wish I could say I was able to find a better tour company to recommend to my readers, but I haven’t. For some reason, every tour company offering day trips to Sumidero Canyon from San Cristobal seem to have sub-par ratings and reviews online. In fact, I get the sense that most, if not all, of these tours are actually run by the same company and I’m not sure why.

Some things you can expect include: early or late pickup from your hotel, poor communication, no English speaking guides, unnecessarily long drives, etc.

You’ll still love the natural beauty that the canyon has to offer, but the experience of getting there might not be the most smooth, and honestly, that’s okay—the canyon is still worth it!

6. The canyon will be a lot hotter than San Cristobal

The temperatures at Sumidero Canyon, Chiapa de Corzo, and Tuxtla Gutiérrez can come as a shock if you’re visiting from chilly San Cristobal de las Casas.

Since this part of Chiapas is at a much lower elevation than nearby San Cristobal, temperatures are very different so you’ll probably want to bring a change of clothes.

A sun hat, sun protectant clothing, sandals, extra water, and sunscreen are helpful to have! However, it is worth noting that you may still get chilly on the Sumidero Canyon boat ride, so a light jacket should be on your Chiapas packing list as well.

Arbol de Navidad—the Christmas tree waterfall at Mexico’s Sumidero Canyon

7. You might see crocodiles, monkeys, and unique geological formations

Typical stops on a Sumidero Canyon boat tour include places where you can spot local wildlife and striking natural wonders.

Namely, you’ll have the chance to see the endangered American crocodile along the banks of the river. In addition, most tours stop at an area that is home to a family of spider monkeys.

You’ll also get to see the ‘Arbol de Navidad’ (Christmas Tree), a 200-meter waterfall in the shape of a tree. If you visit during the rainy season, you’ll get to watch water cascade past vibrant green formations on the canyon walls that look like branches. Cruising beneath this waterfall was the highlight of my visit to the canyon.

8. Sadly, you’ll also probably see a lot of trash in the canyon

I was shocked when I saw tons of floating trash on the edges of certain parts of the river. I assumed that it was from littering tourists, and I also assumed that no efforts were being made to clean it up.

I was wrong, though. With further research I learned that most of this trash comes cities and villages upstream. Unfortunately, an estimated 5000 tons of trash make their way through the Rio Grijalva each year.

There are efforts to clean up the trash, but unfortunately the root problem has not been fully addressed. Chiapas has the highest poverty rate in Mexico, so its not surprising that environmental awareness is not the most pressing concern.

On the top this, it is important to note that deforestation, limestone extraction, and illegal settlements are also a problem in the national park. Sadly, Sumidero Canyon is far from a perfect ecotourism destination, but my hope is that the next generation will create lasting change in Chiapas and Mexico as a whole.

Trash floating on the edge of the river at Sumidero Canyon

9. There are five miradors

There are five main miradors, or viewpoints, where you can look down at the canyon from above. Most tours include a stops at a few of these viewpoints, but if you’re taking your own car, you can click the links below for the locations on Google Maps.

★ Mirador “El Tepehuaje”
★ Mirador el Roblar
★ La Ceiba Mirador
★ Mirador La Coyota
★ Mirador los Chiapa

Are the Sumidero Canyon miradors worth visiting? The miradors are around an hour away away from Chiapa de Corzo, so whether you visit is totally up to you! I loved seeing the canyon from above, but I don’t think I’d miss it too much if we didn’t go. And as I mentioned earlier in this article, I would have preferred to spend much less time in the car anyhow.

10. Sumidero Canyon is breathtaking, and certainly worth visiting

Even with my mediocre tour experience, I would certainly say that Sumidero Canyon is worth visiting!

Of course Mexico is known for its beaches, but Canon del Sumidero is one of so many examples of how this country’s natural beauty expands far beyond the coastline.

If you’re visiting San Cristobal or another part of the region, be sure to add Sumidero Canyon to your Chiapas itinerary!

Best Sumidero Canyon Chiapas Tours from San Cristobal de las Casas

As I mentioned before, there aren’t any super highly-rated tours to Sumidero Canyon available. However, I still wanted include a recommendation for the best tour I could find.

If you’re taking a day trip to Sumidero Canyon from San Cristobal de las Casas, consider booking this tour. It includes:

★ Roundtrip transportation from San Cristobal in a vehicle with AC, including hotel/Airbnb pick up
★ A 2-hour boat ride through Sumidero Canyon
★ All national park fees paid
★ 1.5 hours in Chiapa de Corzo

In addition, you can pay extra and request an English speaking guide.

Looking to compare other Sumidero Canyon tour options? Check out tours on Viator, Civitatis, and GetYourGuide. There are several options but the one I recommend above is my top choice.

Sumiedro Canyon Mexico FAQs

When is the best time to visit Sumiedro Canyon?

When considering what time of year to visit Sumidero Canyon, you’ll want to think about Chiapas’ rainy season. It runs from May through October each year. If you visit in the height of the rainy season, exploring the canyon might be very uncomfortable—and flooding could even impact your tour. However, if you visit late into the dry season, the canyon will be less lush and vibrant.

With this in mind, the best time of year to visit Sumidero Canyon is near the tail end of the rainy season and beginning of the dry season, in October, November, and December. The canyon walls will still be lush with green foliage, but you’ll be less likely to get caught in a rainstorm on the river.

If you’re wondering what time of day to visit, morning is probably best and when there will be the fewest tours. Also, keep in mind that the viewpoints are closed on Tuesdays, so I recommend opting for another day of the week.

How much does it cost to visit Sumidero Canyon?

If you arrange your own transportation to Sumidero Canyon and book a boat ride directly a boat captain, you can expect to pay between 200 and 300 pesos (~$11-17 USD). However, if you book a tour with roundtrip transport from Tuxtla or San Cristobal, expect to pay anywhere from $30-65 USD. You can browse current tour prices here.

What should you bring on a Sumidero Canyon day trip?

Here is a quick Sumidero Canyon packing list:

★ Sunscreen
★ Sun hat with draw sting (so it doesn’t fall off!)
★ Sun protectant shirt
★ Light jacket
★ Snacks or packed lunch and water
★ Pesos

How long is a typical Sumidero Canyon boat tour?

Most boat tours at Sumidero Canyon last about 2 hours total.

Final Thoughts: Sumidero Canyon, Chiapas

Chiapas’ stunning Sumidero Canyon is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in southern Mexico, especially for nature lovers. If you’re looking for more natural wonders and hidden gems to explore in Mexico, check out these: