Planning Your Time

Parts of the Lakes Region [1] can be visited on a day trip from San Cristóbal [2], and that is still the most common option. Tour agencies offer all-day outings that include stops in Lagunas de Montebello [3] and El Chiflón [4] waterfall (and sometimes the pottery village of Amatenango del Valle [5] on the way back). Although it makes for a long day, it’s a logical option if your time is short.

You’ll enjoy the area much more, however, by basing yourself in Comitán [6], two hours east of San Cristóbal. A friendly and oft-overlooked city, Comitán [6] has excellent museums, plazas, and architecture, and great value in lodging and restaurants. In fact, plan on arriving early so you’ll have a full day to enjoy this “mini San Cristóbal” (just don’t call it that to locals!).

From there, you can still visit Lagunas de Montebello and El Chiflón as a day trip, or two days if you include the Maya ruins of Tenam Puente [7] and Chinkultik [8], with far less driving time than from San Cristóbal.

Staying in Comitán also gives you a jump on getting to more remote attractions east of Lagunas de Montebello, namely Las Guacamayas [9] and Las Nubes [10] eco-centers, and the isolated and gorgeous Laguna Miramar [11]. The first and last are especially lovely, and worth budgeting at least two nights apiece. All can be reached fairly easily by public transportation, though having a car certainly makes getting around quicker and more efficient.

Beyond Las Guacamayas, you can continue from the Lakes Region up and around to the Río Usumacinta Valley [12] (including Yaxchilán [13] and Bonampak [14] archaeological sites) and eventually to Palenque [15]. The roads are quite good, but combi service can be a bit spotty—you may have to leap-frog a bit leaving Las Guacamayas. Still, it’s a great way to reach Palenque without backtracking.