Sumidero Canyon

The Sumidero Canyon is located about 25 miles from Tuxtla Gutierrez, capital of Chiapas State. A visit to Sumidero is an unforgettable experience. The nearby pueblo of Chiapa de Corzo is a charming colonial city on the shore of the Grijalva River, which flows right through the canyon. There, just a few steps from the Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo, you will begin your fascinating journey.

Sumidero Canyon is the result of a geological fault formed millions of years ago and the slow carving of the Grijalva River. As you coast along the river in a jungle boat through the gorge, you have magnificent views of the canyon with its 2,500-foot-high walls, which were even higher before the Chicoasen dam, the fifth highest in the world, was built in 1981. You see impressive geological formations, such as the Christmas Tree Falls, the Cave of Silence, and the Cave of Colors. Your approximately three-hour trip ends where the narrow canyon opens up into a sunny valley with magical waterfalls surrounded by wide, green glens.
The spectacular, 1-kilometer-deep Sumidero Canyon was the stage for an epic battle between the Spanish and the Chiapanecan Indians, who chose to jump into the sacred canyon rather than submit to the invaders.

Sumidero Canyon ranks among the top vacation destinations in Chiapas, and its ecosystem is quite diverse and thankfully intact. A variety of birds are abundant here, including white herons, cormorants, and kingfishers, and visitors may also see monkeys, raccoons, iguanas, and crocodiles. The area is also famous for its variety of butterflies. A road overlooks the canyon and has five different lookouts: La Ceiba, La Coyota, El Roblar, El Tepehuaje, and Los Chiapas.
Here you can climb, kayak, camp, zip-line, swim, and visit the aviary and wildlife sanctuaries, among many other activities. This is truly a spectacular experience you should not miss.