El Chiflón & Montebello Lakes Tour: Waterfalls & Lagoons

Two of Chiapas's most dramatic water sites in one long morning and afternoon

A full-day tour from Tuxtla Gutierrez to Cascadas el Chiflón and Lagunas de Montebello National Park, with a Spanish-speaking guide, hotel pickup, and air-conditioned transport. The tour visits five named waterfalls (including the 70-meter Velo de Novia) and five lagoons famous for their turquoise and emerald waters. Departure is 6 am. Return around 10:30 pm. Canoe rides at Montebello and guide services at the waterfalls are optional add-ons. Meals are not included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. El Chiflón Waterfalls2h · entry included
2. Lagunas de Montebello National Park2h · entry included

Waterfalls and Lagoons Tour

• Depart from Tuxtla Gutierrez at 6:00 am
• Visit Cascada el Suspiro waterfall
• Visit Cascada Ala de Ángel waterfall
• Visit Cascada Arco Iris waterfall
• Visit Cascada Quinceañera waterfall
• Visit Velo de Novia waterfall viewpoint
• Tour Montebello Lagoons including Lake Tziscao
• Visit Laguna Pojoj and Lake Montebello
• See Laguna Esmeralda and Laguna Ensueño
• Return to Tuxtla Gutierrez around 10:30 pm

The experience

The day starts before dawn from your hotel in Tuxtla Gutierrez. The drive takes you toward the San Vicente River valley, where Cascadas el Chiflón rises as a series of stepped falls reaching about 120 meters in total height. You walk through the site for roughly two hours, moving upstream past Cascada el Suspiro, Cascada Ala de Ángel, and Cascada Arco Iris before reaching Cascada Quinceañera and the main waterfall, Velo de Novia: a curtain of water 70 meters tall with a viewpoint built into the rock. The pools below each fall hold water so intensely turquoise that the color alone justifies the early start. Tall vegetation frames the whole scene: reeds, palms, and a canopy so thick it cools the air around the water.

After the waterfalls, the tour continues to Lagunas de Montebello National Park, where you see five lagoons in sequence: Lake Tziscao, Laguna Pojoj, Lake Montebello, Laguna Esmeralda, and Laguna Ensueño. Each one holds a different shade of blue or green, a result of the soil beneath the surface, the vegetation around it, and how light bends through the water. Some of these lagoons connect to underground aquatic systems, which is why the park is known for both surface and subterranean environments. You can rent a canoe (cayuco) to paddle out on any of the lagoons, though that's a separate cost and your choice to add.

The return to Tuxtla Gutierrez happens around 10:30 pm, so this is a full day. You'll want to eat before you leave or bring snacks, since meals aren't part of the package. The vehicle is air-conditioned and your guide speaks Spanish throughout. A guide at the waterfalls themselves is optional and costs extra if you want one.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return to Tuxtla Gutierrez.
• air-conditioned transport for the full day.
• entry to both Cascadas el Chiflón and Lagunas de Montebello National Park.
• a Spanish-speaking guide for the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:30

AgesAdult (3 to 50 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Apasionado X Chiapas

Is this one for you?Book this if you're prepared for a 6 am start and 10:30 pm return, and want to visit both El Chiflón's five waterfalls and Montebello Lagoons in one day rather than splitting them across separate trips.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the waterfall section actually take to walk through?

The tour at Cascadas el Chiflón lasts approximately two hours, starting at the lower falls and working upstream toward the main Velo de Novia waterfall.

Can I swim in the pools at el Chiflón?

The tour visits natural pools formed by the waterfalls, and the water is accessible, though the itinerary describes them as places to view and walk past rather than swim in. Bring water shoes or sandals that grip wet rock.

What makes the lagoon colors so different from each other?

Lagunas de Montebello's colors come from the type of soil at the bottom of each lagoon, the vegetation surrounding it, and how sunlight refracts through the water. Each lagoon has its own combination, which is why Lake Tziscao looks different from Laguna Ensueño.

Is the canoe ride included, or do I pay extra?

Canoe rides (cayuco) at Montebello are optional and cost extra. You choose whether to add one when you book or on the day itself.

What time do we get back to the hotel?

The tour returns to Tuxtla Gutierrez around 10:30 pm, making this roughly a 16-hour day from your hotel pickup at 6 am.

Is a guide included at the waterfalls?

The tour includes a Spanish-speaking guide for the overall day, but a guide specifically at Cascadas el Chiflón is optional and costs extra if you want one.