10 Things to Do in the Magic Town of Chiapa de Corzo
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Ancient ruins, lacquer artisans, traditional Parachico dancers, and a bustling Spanish square… Welcome to the beautiful town of Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas, Mexico.
This declared Magic Town (Pueblo Magico) was the first colonial city to be founded in Chiapas state by the Spanish in 1528. As such, the town boasts a historic, colonial-style plaza in its center, an excellent base from which to explore the cobbled streets and hidden nooks of the pueblo.
Many travelers come to visit Chiapa de Corzo on a day trip from San Cristobal de Las Casas, another charming Magic Town, but this time set in the mountains of the Chiapas Highlands.
Chiapa de Corzo is considered the gateway to the Sumidero Canyon. The main Cahuaré Dock, where tourists can take a boat tour through the canyon on the Grijalva River, is located but a short 10-minute drive from the main plaza.
If you’re coming to Chiapa de Corzo, you’re most likely just passing through on a visit to Sumidero Canyon National Park, but I encourage you to stop and smell the roses.
In this guide to Chiapa de Corzo, I’ll show you why you should spend a few hours exploring the pueblo’s rich culture, traditions, and history.
Below are 10 awesome things to do in Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas, Mexico!
Ultimate Guide to Chiapa de Corzo in Chiapas, Mexico
How to Get to Chiapa de Corzo
To get to Chiapa de Corzo from San Cristobal, it takes around 50 minutes to drive via Highway 190 and is 33 miles (54 km) away.
From Tuxtla, Chiapa de Corzo is only a 10-mile (15 km) drive away. The closest airport is the Ángel Albino Corzo International Airport in Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
If you don’t rent a car from Tuxtla Gutiérrez airport, then the easiest (and cheapest) way to get to Chiapa de Corzo is by bus or colectivo. Buses from San Cristobal run daily to Tuxtla and cost only $75 pesos.
Just ask the driver to drop you off at the entrance to Chiapa de Corzo along the highway. From there, you’ll find local colectivos who can take you downtown for $10-13 pesos.
You can also book your bus ticket online via Busbud.
Best Hotels in Chiapa de Corzo
Because there is so much to see and do in Chiapa de Corzo, I would highly recommend spending at least one night in a hotel or Airbnb.
Chiapa de Corzo is nestled riverside in the Grijalva Valley, and there are a handful of cute accommodation options that offer amazing views of the water. I was curious to see how much it would be and was surprised to find some really adorable places to stay that cost as little as $20-25 USD/night!
If you’d prefer to stay in a hotel for the night, you won’t find a more traditional and charming location than the Casa Grande Hotel, located just off the main plaza in the historic center of Chiapa de Corzo. You will be relieved from the heat in its air-conditioned rooms. Casa Grande also features a charming inner garden and courtyard, and all the guests have free wifi in their rooms.
Top 10 Magical Things to Do in Chiapa de Corzo
1. Explore the Main Plaza & Fountain La Pila
The main square in Chiapa de Corzo is where you’ll begin your explorations. This Spanish-style plaza is officially named after one of the town’s previous politicians, Angel Albino Corzo (hence Chiapa “de Corzo”).
On this large and open-air square, you will find several buildings and structures, including the most famous and iconic of Chiapa de Corzo: the 16th-century Moorish-style fountain named La Pila. As you stroll around its eight arches, you’ll notice its fine brickwork and its cylinder tower, which actually served as a watchtower at one point.
Apart from La Pila Fountain and the colorful “Chiapa de Corzo” tourism board sign, you will also spot many locals and indigenous Zoque women and children hanging around to sell their local handicrafts and textiles to tourists.
There is also a clock tower right in front of La Pila and a few buildings to take note of, mainly the municipal building, former home of Angel Albino Corzo, and the building with the impressive hallway of corridors, which features colonial-style archways and houses a number of local businesses, like the Marimba Museum.
2. Visit the Marimba Museum
The marimba instrument is a cultural staple of Chiapa de Corzo. You will no doubt hear its whimsical tune as you stroll the city streets. It is used daily in the town, but especially so for holidays, celebrations, or festival days, and is considered the “ancestral voice of Chiapas.”
The museum is owned by the local Nandayapa Vargas family, who have been making traditional marimbas in Chiapa de Corzo for well over a century. Their work is known internationally, making them from a keyboard and a sandboard for which both natural ant wood and redwood are used and then polished.
You can observe the marimba-making process from start to finish, as well as learn about its history, inside the museum. You will also have the chance to hear the marimba played live by a few local musicians (you can even try it yourself!).
The Museo de Marimba is open every day from 10 AM to 8 PM, and the entry fee costs only $35 MXN.
3. Boat Trip in Sumidero Canyon National Park
You can’t come to Chiapa de Corzo without visiting Sumidero Canyon National Park. Whether you want to visit the five stunning viewpoints from atop its towering cliffs or take an epic 2-hour boat tour through the canyon on the Grijalva River, it’s an unforgettable experience.
To take the boat tour, head to the Cahuaré Dock, located 10 minutes from Chiapa de Corzo. Local colectivos run there and back from the center frequently, so you should have no trouble finding transportation. The price should only cost $10-13 pesos.
Once you arrive at the boat embarkation point in Cahuaré, you will need to pay the Sumidero Canyon National Park fee, which costs 36 pesos. Then you will need to purchase your ticket for the boat tour, which costs around $270 pesos. Gratuity for the boat driver, who acts as a guide during the 2-hour trip, is not included. (You’re expected to donate a minimum of $50 pesos).
If you don’t want to DIY the experience, you can also sign up for a tour to Sumidero Canyon. Most tours leave from Tuxtla Gutierrez, which is only a 30-minute drive from Chiapa de Corzo. Keep in mind that most tours also include a visit to Chiapa de Corzo, although this tour to Sumidero Canyon focuses solely on the national park itself.
4. Tour the San Sebastián Church Ruins
The ruined Temple of San Sebastian, perched atop the San Gregorio hill, is a fun thing to do in Chiapa de Corzo if you enjoy history.
This temple was originally built in the 17th century, but was badly damaged by an earthquake in the late 19th century. The ruins stand today, and its empty hallways and arches can be toured, giving you a chance to marvel at its Mudejar architecture and facades.
5. Visit the Santo Domingo Temple & Laquer Museum
One of the most impressive sights to see in Chiapa de Corzo is the red and white Santo Domingo Temple, which sits just a block behind the town’s central plaza. This imposing church was once a Dominican convent that served as a monastery for multiple surrounding towns and municipalities.
Inside the Temple Santo Domingo lies the hidden ex-convent Santo Domingo Cultural Center. Here, you’ll find stunning archways and courtyards, plus the incredible Museo de la Laca (Lacquer Museum), which houses exhibition rooms featuring over 450 pieces of lacquered pieces from Chiapas, Michoacán, Guerrero, Guatemala, and a few Asian countries.
Lacquering is one of Chiapa de Corzo’s artisanal crafts and specialties. You will find many products, such as gourdes, bowls, Parachico masks, and other wooden items, painted in decorative lacquer by local artisans.
The Museo de la Laca is open M-F from 10 AM to 5 PM. General entry costs $45 MXN.
6. Explore the Chiapa de Corzo Archaeological Site
The Chiapa de Corzo is a Mesoamerican archaeological site that’s said to have been inhabited by the Olmecs (the earliest known civilization in Mesoamerica) sometime between 500-700 BC.
It was discovered in 2010 that this site actually houses the oldest pyramid tomb (2,700 years old) in Mesoamerica. Inside the tomb lay two ancient rulers, each decorated head to toe in red pigment and jewels, like jade, pearls, and obsidian.
Archaeologists are still puzzled by the pyramids and how they tie into the emergence of the Zoques people from the Olmec civilization, as it appears this pyramid is crucial in that cultural development.
What’s certain is that the Chiapa de Corzo archaeological site still holds many secrets yet unknown to us. It is not at all on the tourist trail, so it’s best to ask a local taxi in Chiapa de Corzo to take you there for $150 pesos.
7. Watch the Parachicos Dancers
Los Parachicos Fiesta Grande, or Grand Festival, is one of the biggest celebrations of the year in Chiapa de Corzo.
Held every January (15th-23rd), traditional Parachicos dancers from Chiapa de Corzo, dressed in colorful clothing, wigs, and lacquered masks, dance and perform in the streets in honor of Our Lord of Esquipulas and San Sebastián and San Antonio Abad — two Catholic saints.
The Parachicos dancers are iconic of Chiapa de Corzo culture and tradition. In fact, their dance was listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. Music, gastronomy, religious practices, crafts, and entertainment are on full display during this explosive eight-day celebration.
If you happen to be visiting the state of Chiapas during this time, you must visit Chiapa de Corzo for the festivities. If not, you can still find Parachico performers in the town at other times of the year or observe the traditional Parachicos dance in San Cristobal de Las Casas at the Las Pinchachas Restaurant.
8. Shop and Eat at the Local Mercado
The local market (mercado) in Chiapa de Corzo is a necessary go-to to witness the local culture and taste the local cuisine.
Chiapa de Corzo is known for its traditional pozol drink made from corn and cocoa, empanadas, tamales, and nuégados – fried dumplings covered in raw cane sugar.
Although Chiapa de Corzo has its more typical restaurants, eating out in the market is one of the best culinary experiences in the city
9. Visit the Sacred “Pochota” Tree
La Pochota is a well-known ceiba tree on the main plaza in Chiapa de Corzo. Legend has it that this large tree was living at the foundation of the city in 1528 and has witnessed life evolving and changing in Chiapa de Corzo for hundreds of years.
The Chiapanecan Indians believed the ceiba tree was sacred, and as such, it has become a symbol of the village.In fact, this tree is so well-known that the governor of 1993 declared it the “first Historic and Notable Tree” in the state of Chiapas. If you take a tour of Chiapa de Corzo, you will no doubt come across this magnificent and enchanting tree.
10. El Chorreadero Waterfall
If you have extra time to spare in Chiapa de Corzo, then take a mini day trip out in nature to the El Chorreadero Waterfall.
This waterfall spits out from a large cave entrance in the rock wall. You can swim in the clear green pool below to escape the heat of the day or snack at the on-site restaurant (menu $60-120 MXN).
To get there, you can either take a taxi or colectivo from the center of Chiapa de Corzo to Juan del Grijalva. From there, colectivos or taxis will take you to the Cascada El Chorreadero. The cost to access the waterfall is $30 MXN per person.
Final Tips for Visiting Chiapa de Corzo
Packing for Mexico can vary so much depending on the location!
Chiapa de Corzo weather is hot and humid – you don’t want – or rather need – to bring a sweater like you would for San Cristobal de las Casas. Here in Chiapa de Corzo, the days are bright and the sun is strong. Bring and wear sunscreen and a sun hat for protection!
There is a lot more to discover in Chiapa de Corzo than people give it credit for. You can wander the bustling and historically important main plaza, take a boat ride through the majestic Sumidero Canyon, eat your way through the local specialties of the region at the lively market, or go chasing waterfalls (literally).
Are you ready for a magical experience?
I hope this guide to the pueblo mágico of Chiapa de Corzo helps plan your trip! Before you go, make sure to check out my other travel guides to Chiapas, Mexico.
- How to Visit the Majestic Cañón del Sumidero
- 5 Adventurous Things to Do in El Arcotete Ecotourism Park
- How to Visit San Juan Chamula
- Zinacantán & the Indigenous Women’s Weaving Co-op
- Inside Casa Na Bolom: The House Museum of Lacandon Culture
Pin this guide to Chiapa de Corzo, Mexico for inspiration!
Thank you so much for all of your amazing posts about Chiapas! We are here on a two week road trip and have relied heavily on your information.
Thanks for reading, Karyn! So happy you’re enjoying Chiapas. I miss it very much!
Hey it’s great to give people info on traveling but I’ve noticed sometimes you put in your blog posts that they should haggle for prices. To be honest, Mexican prices are already very low for foreigners and if you’re privileged enough to be going on a Mexican vacation, then you’re privileged enough to pay artisans what their work is worth. If the same artisan was in the USA storefront, would you try to bargain a price from them? No. I enjoy your posts, but from the perspective of a Mexican, it’s really horrible when foreigners want to go to a lower price to save the equivalent of 2-3 dollars.
Hello! I am actually not seeing anywhere in my Chiapa de Corzo post where I encourage people to haggle. Negotiating in the market is the normal practice throughout Mexico and is what the locals do. My Chiapaneca friend literally WOULD NOT let me go market shopping on my own as a gringa because she knew I would get upcharged. And she was right! Even she would barter with the shopkeeper from $200 pesos down to $150 for a shawl. As much as I practice my Spanish, tourists will always be seen as rich and this only reinforces stereotypes and creates harmful competition between local communities which, in turn, increases the prices for locals… Same goes for the housing/real estate market! If tourists “accept” getting upcharged like crazy (like in Tulum) because they can simply “afford” it, then it hurts the local population, because its the locals who get kicked out of their houses so owners (also owned by other locals…) can remodel them into Airbnbs and make lots and lots of money. I agree with you on that note —- if it’s for merely saving $1 or $2 here and there, then absolutely don’t haggle and don’t force it because I do think that is unethical tourism. Thank you for sharing with me 🙂