In short
- Boat tours take 2 to 2.5 hours and cost around $460 MXN.
- Driving to the five viewpoints takes 1 to 2 hours and costs $61 MXN.
- We recommend doing both for the full experience.
In this article
Deciding between the river tour and the road viewpoints depends on your schedule and budget. The boat gets you close to wildlife and the canyon walls. The terrestrial route shows you the sheer scale of the gorge from above.
What is the Sumidero Canyon boat tour like?
You ride a shared motorized lancha for 13 kilometers along the canyon floor. The trip takes 2 to 2.5 hours.
Boats depart from the piers in Chiapa de Corzo when they fill up with 10 to 15 passengers. You look directly up at limestone walls reaching 1,000 meters high. The river route lets you spot crocodiles on the muddy banks and spider monkeys in the trees. You will also see the Christmas Tree Waterfall and the Cave of Colors from the water.
What do you see from the Sumidero Canyon viewpoints?
You see panoramic views looking down into the gorge from five official observation decks.
The road starts in Tuxtla Gutiérrez and climbs the mountain. You stop at Mirador La Ceiba, La Coyota, El Tepehuaje, El Roblar, and Los Chiapa. Los Chiapa is the highest, sitting over 1,000 meters above sea level. From El Tepehuaje, you can watch birds of prey riding thermals above the 90-degree river turns.
How do the prices and durations compare?
The boat tour costs roughly $460 MXN, while driving the viewpoints costs $61 MXN for park entry.
The boat ticket includes the mandatory CONANP conservation bracelet. If you only drive to the viewpoints, you just pay the bracelet fee. Taking the boat requires 2 to 2.5 hours on the water, plus waiting time for the boat to fill. Driving the viewpoints takes 1 to 2 hours total.
Which option is better for seeing animals?
The boat tour is the only reliable way to see wildlife up close.
Guides cut the boat engines to drift near American crocodiles sunning on the riverbanks. You also have a good chance of spotting pelicans and spider monkeys in the lower branches. The high viewpoints are mostly for landscape views, though you can spot vultures soaring over the gorge.
Should you choose just one option?
No. Doing both is the best way to understand the canyon's 70-million-year-old geology.
The boat shows you the details, while the high viewpoints show the scale. Many organized day trips from San Cristóbal de las Casas include both activities in a single 6 to 9-hour itinerary. Look for a tour that specifies visits to the miradores along with the boat ride.
Questions travellers ask
Can you do the viewpoints and the boat in one day?
Yes. The boat tour takes up to 2.5 hours, and driving the viewpoints takes up to 2 hours. You can easily fit both into a single day trip.
Do boat tours go to the viewpoints?
No. The boats stay on the Grijalva River at the canyon floor. You must take a car or bus up the mountain road to reach the five viewpoints.
Do you pay the park fee twice if you do both?
No. You only buy the $61 MXN CONANP conservation bracelet once per day. Keep it on your wrist to access both the boats and the terrestrial viewpoints.
