Christmas In Chiapas - Part 3 - El Sumidero Canyon (National Park)

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When the Spanish first arrived in Mexico, there were fierce battles with the indigenous peoples.  Many of the warriors threw themselves off the cliffs and into the canyon, preferring death to slavery.  The warriors believed they would be taken to the afterlife.

The embarcadero in the Sumidero Canyon

On this particular day, we took a tour of the Sumidero Canyon.  It was much more than we had expected in many respects.  The boats, the security, the length of the ride, the crocodiles and monkeys, and most of all, a very good explanation of the canyon on the part of our captain.

Our group met for breakfast at the hotel, and the tour van picked us up at 9 a.m.  Off we went for a ride through the mountains.  Up we went to the park that overlooks the canyon to get a view of where we were going to spend the next several hours.  From the windows, we would get a peek at what was coming.   We stopped at a lookout and we could see the river winding its way through the canyon.

After half an hour, we were off again, beginning our descent to the embarcadero (docks) where the boats load passengers and take off.  No one was exempt from wearing a life vest, which was a good thing.  The boats have giant outboard motors, V8 engines capable of going 90 kph.  Our maximum speed was 60 kph, and that was fine by us.  You can see in the picture below that there was some apprehension on my part!

Off we went with our group, life vests and the captain at the wheel.  He was an older guy about our age and had over 30 years of experience on the river.  He would make stops along the way, sharing factual information about the river as well as some sights that you'll see below.

This fern grows on the canyon wall is known as the Christmas tree because of its shape.  During the rainy season it becomes a waterfall.  We stopped very close to it, and water was still sprinkling down on us.

In November 2021, a German rope walker, Alexander Schultz, crossed the canyon on a tight rope.  Get this, he did it blindfolded.  The length across the river was 1,712 meters, and at a height of 800 meters.  Talk about nuts!  I'm glad there are people like that.  They can do the work for me.  I prefer to have my two feet firmly planted on the ground.  No parasailing, hot air balloons, batwing flying, etc.  I'm happy watching.  No death wishes here.

The pink, brown, white, and black colors in the "Cave of Colors" within the Sumidero Canyon are produced naturally by the minerals and salts dissolved in the water that filters and runs down the rocky walls, creating vivid hues on the limestone.  There were many boats on the river that day, and we had to take turns going into the cave.  

This would make a great campsite!  Imagine spending the night there.  Watch out for crocodiles, though!

Left middle, you can see a monkey sitting in the trees.  It wasn't an easy shot, and the captain hit some rocks, damaging the propeller on the engine, but not enough to affect the tour.  He got things going again within minutes.  Should something have happened, he would radio another boat going by, and all would be fine.

As you pass other boats, everyone gives a big wave!

As our trip was coming to a close and we were leaving the canyon, yellow flowers began to appear.  These are "yellow bells" (Tecoma stans), also known locally as candox or tronadora.

National park check to make sure everyone on board has a ticket.  Some of us didn't, as we have the Mexican old-age card.  We waved it in the air as we stopped in front of the station, and we were good to go.

Out of the canyon now, we were nearing the end of a great tour, ride, and much, much more.  Always nice to talk to people from other places.  We met a couple and their son from the Yucatan.  They told us what a disaster the Tren Maya has created with all of the pilings bored into the cenotes.   Rust, cement, trash from the workers, and more, now lie in the once crystal waters that people use for drinking water.

Saving this picture for last.  Yikes!

We got off the boat at a town called Chiapa de Corzo  where we were to meet the driver to take us back to San Cristobal de las Casas.  We had time for a quick snack and a walk around the town square.  It was a great day.   Back at the hotel we rested up and headed out for dinner.