Attractions in Chiapas & Maya Highlands
Jungle ruins and living Maya culture 🐆🌿
Showing 34 attractions · Sorted by importance
Cascadas de Agua Azul
📍 Tumbalá
🌲 NatureA stunning series of turquoise-colored waterfalls and pools formed by limestone minerals, ideal for photography and nature walks.
Jardín Botánico Dr. Faustino Miranda
📍 Tuxtla Gutiérrez
🌿 GardenFamilies can explore Mexico's oldest botanical garden, featuring a diverse collection of tropical trees and medicinal plants native to the Chiapas region.
Montebello Lakes National Park
📍 La Trinitaria
🏔 Scenic ViewA collection of 59 multi-colored lakes ranging from turquoise to emerald, surrounded by dense pine and oak forests.
Palenque Archaeological Zone
📍 Palenque
🏰 CastleA UNESCO World Heritage site featuring the iconic Temple of Inscriptions and a sprawling royal palace complex set in the jungle.
Puerto Arista
📍 Tonalá
⛱ BeachChiapas' most popular beach destination, featuring a 32-kilometer stretch of volcanic sand and a dedicated marine turtle sanctuary.
San Juan Chamula Village
📍 San Juan Chamula
🏘 Town / VillageAn autonomous indigenous village famous for its unique spiritual traditions and the iconic white church where photography is strictly prohibited inside.
Sumidero Canyon
📍 Chiapa de Corzo
🏔 Scenic ViewA spectacular deep canyon with walls up to 1,000 meters high, best explored by boat tours along the Grijalva River.
Toniná Archaeological Site
📍 Ocosingo
🏰 CastleA massive Maya acropolis rising over 70 meters with seven levels of terraces, temples, and palaces overlooking the Ocosingo valley.
Zoológico Miguel Álvarez del Toro (ZOOMAT)
📍 Tuxtla Gutiérrez
🦁 ZooWidely considered one of Mexico's best zoos, it exclusively showcases species native to Chiapas within a natural tropical forest setting.
Aluxes Ecoparque
📍 Palenque
🦁 ZooA wildlife rescue center and eco-park near the Palenque ruins where families can see jaguars, manatees, and scarlet macaws in a lush jungle environment.
Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya
📍 San Cristóbal de las Casas
🖼 Art GalleryAn exquisite museum showcasing over 2,500 hand-woven Maya textiles from across Mexico and Guatemala, housed in the historic Santo Domingo convent.
Centro Ecoturístico Cascadas El Chiflón
📍 Tzimol
🧗 AdventureFamous for its series of turquoise waterfalls, this center features a thrilling zip-line course that crosses directly over the roaring Velo de Novia falls.
Chiapa de Corzo Historic Center
📍 Chiapa de Corzo
🏘 Town / VillageOne of Mexico's first colonial towns, home to the unique Moorish-style brick fountain and the gateway to the Sumidero Canyon.
Finca Argovia
📍 Tapachula
🐄 FarmA world-renowned organic coffee plantation where families can tour the processing plant and explore vast tropical botanical gardens.
Museo de Sitio de Palenque Alberto Ruz Lhuillier
📍 Palenque
🖼 Art GalleryOne of the finest archaeological art museums in the Maya world, featuring stunning stone reliefs, ceramics, and a replica of Pakal's tomb.
Parque Ecoturístico El Arcotete
📍 San Cristóbal de las Casas
🧗 AdventureCentered around a massive natural stone arch carved by a river, this park offers zip-lining, rappelling, and scenic trails through a pine-oak forest.
Parque Ecoturístico Rancho Nuevo
📍 San Cristóbal de las Casas
🧗 AdventureA natural park featuring vast pine forests, limestone caves with impressive stalagmites, and family activities like zip-lining and horseback riding.
San Cristóbal de las Casas Historic Center
📍 San Cristóbal de las Casas
🏘 Town / VillageA charming highland colonial city known for its well-preserved Spanish architecture, vibrant indigenous markets, and cobblestone streets.
Boca del Cielo
📍 Tonalá
⛱ BeachA scenic sandbar between a peaceful lagoon and the Pacific Ocean, offering calm waters for swimming and rustic beachside dining.
Bonampak Archaeological Site
📍 Lacanja Chansayab
🏰 CastleFamed for its incredibly preserved 8th-century Maya murals depicting ancient court life and warfare in vivid detail.
Cascada de Misol-Ha
📍 Salto de Agua
🌲 NatureA majestic 35-meter single-drop waterfall that falls into a wide circular pool, featuring a walkable path behind the water curtain.
Na Bolom Cultural Museum
📍 San Cristóbal de las Casas
🖼 Art GalleryThe historic home of researchers Frans Blom and Gertrude Duby, featuring a gallery of Lacandon Maya art, ethnographic photography, and textiles.
Sima de las Cotorras
📍 Ocozocoautla
🧗 AdventureA massive 140-meter deep sinkhole offering extreme rappelling, hiking, and the chance to see thousands of parrots emerging at dawn.
Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
📍 San Cristóbal de las Casas
🏰 CastleA stunning 16th-century Baroque church and former convent featuring an intricately carved pink stone facade.
Yaxchilán Archaeological Site
📍 Frontera Corozal
🏰 CastleAn ancient Maya city reachable only by boat via the Usumacinta River, known for its intricate stone lintels and hieroglyphs.
Centro Turístico Las Guacamayas
📍 Marqués de Comillas
🦁 ZooAn ecotourism and conservation center in the heart of the Lacandon Jungle dedicated to the protection and viewing of the scarlet macaw.
Finca Hamburgo
📍 Tapachula
🐄 FarmA historical highland estate offering educational coffee tours and a museum detailing the region's 19th-century pioneer history.
Orquídeas y Árboles de Chiapas (Moxviquil)
📍 San Cristóbal de las Casas
🌿 GardenThis conservation garden offers a magical experience for families, showcasing thousands of rescued orchids and bromeliads native to the Chiapas highlands.
Zinacantán Flower Farms
📍 Zinacantán
🐄 FarmA traditional Mayan community famous for its vibrant flower greenhouses and family-run textile workshops offering a glimpse into highland rural life.
Amatenango del Valle
📍 Amatenango del Valle
🏘 Town / VillageA traditional Tzeltal village world-renowned for its pre-Hispanic pottery techniques, specifically decorative ceramic jaguars and birds.
La Pila Fountain
📍 Chiapa de Corzo
🏰 CastleA unique 16th-century Mudéjar-style brick fountain inspired by Spanish-Moorish architecture, located in the town's main plaza.
