JANUARY 2024
Last November we visited a relatively unknown spot in Mexico: Chiapa de Corzo. Chiapa de Corzo is a really charming town, nearby several tourist attractions and definitely worth a visit. The Chiapas region is becoming more popular with tourists, so I expect Chiapa de Corzo to develop even more over the next years. We were guided by our dear friend Fernando, who also has a travel agency in the Chiapas region, so we really got to see beautiful and authentic parts of this area of Mexico.
Chiapa de Corzo
The heart of Chiapa de Corzo is the Plaza Central, where you will find Chiapa’s beautiful fountain “Fuente Mudejar” which is built in the Moorish style. The square is surrounded by semi-open shopping streets, where you can find authentic Mexican products for lower prices than in more touristy towns. I definitely loved browsing all the colorful dresses! The local drink of Chiapa de Corzo is Pozol, which is served in these cute brown bowls. It consists of corn and chocolate and is super filling. There are several ladies selling Pozol and I recommend trying it.
From the main square you can walk into the direction of the river. At the river several boats leave to tour the famous Sumidero Canyon. Just know that if you take a boat from Chiapa de Corzo, you have to factor in quite some extra time on the boat to get to the canyon. It is possible to take a boat closer to the canyon, which is more time effective, but if you don’t have your own transport, it is easiest to take the boat in Chiapa de Corzo. Near the boats you will also find most restaurants.
Templo de San Jacinto is not the largest church in Chiapa de Corzo, but it was my favorite one. If you stroll out of the main streets you will find this charming red and white church, which is decorated with colorful flags. I found it a true hidden gem if you are into colors and photography! If you walk into the direction of Templo de San Jacinto you will see more street art and colorful houses, compared to staying in the center.
Chiapa de Corzo is situated in the very green Chiapas region, it is surrounded by lush green hills, which you can really see in the picture I took when we drove out of town.
Canon de Sumidero
Near Chiapa de Corzo you will find several interesting nature activities, of which Canon de Sumidero is the most famous. The Sumidero Canyon is a 13 km long canyon, which has a jungle like surroundings, with monkeys playing in the trees and reptiles playing in the water. Over the years I have visited Canon de Sumidero several times and I was equally impressed. You can access Canon de Sumidero by boat or admire it from the viewpoints. Tours are affordable and generally do not need to be pre-booked. I took these pictures in 2018.
Congrejo travel
Congrego travel is the travel agency which is owned by our Mexican friends Fernando & Natalia. Fernando & Natalia are world-travelers and very knowledgable about authentic Mexican travel and hidden gems. If you are looking for a unique experience I highly recommend letting them plan (a part of) your trip. In 2018 they even arranged that we could try an original Mexican wedding costume, as we were about to get married! They are based in Tuxtla Guttierez, but they can arrange trips throughout Mexico and even outside Mexico.
