Kayaking Sumidero Canyon: Double Kayak Adventure

Paddle 14 kilometers between thousand-meter rock walls and reach a waterfall mid-canyon.

Kayak Sumidero Canyon in a tandem double kayak, paddling roughly 14 kilometers in three hours between towering rock formations and stopping at the Christmas Tree Waterfall. The experience includes round-trip transfer from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, park entry, jetty access and shared GoPro photos at no extra cost. A guide certified by British Canoeing leads groups of six to eight paddlers, and moderate fitness is required.

The experience

You'll meet at 5:45 am in Tuxtla Gutiérrez for a one-hour drive to the Chicoasén Dam, where the paddling begins. The double kayak (equipped with a rudder to make steering easier) sits two people side by side, which means you're sharing the work and the view with one partner for the whole crossing. From the dam you paddle seven kilometers downstream to the Christmas Tree Waterfall, a narrow cascade that drops into the canyon. The guide stops here so you can photograph it. They'll share the GoPro shots afterward at no charge. Then you paddle the same seven kilometers back to the starting point, load the kayaks into the van and return to where you began.

The canyon walls rise over a thousand meters on both sides, and the water stays calm enough that the focus stays on paddling and the landscape rather than fighting current. The route is guided, so someone who knows the canyon leads the pace and points out what's worth noticing. Groups stay small, usually six to eight people, which means the van is shared but the experience doesn't feel crowded. The whole outing, from meeting point to return, takes about six hours.

What’s included

• Round-trip transfer from Tuxtla Gutiérrez to the Chicoasén Dam boarding point.
• access bracelet to Sumidero Canyon National Park.
• entrance fee to the Chicoasén Jetty.
• double kayak with rudder and all paddling equipment.
• guide certified by British Canoeing.
• GoPro photos taken at the Christmas Tree Waterfall, shared with you at no extra cost.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 4

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

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

Operated by Academia y Club de Kayak Uk Um de Chiapas

Is this one for you?Groups of six to eight paddle together, so you're sharing the van and the canyon with other travelers rather than paddling alone. This setup keeps the cost down and means you'll have company for the three-hour paddle and the full six-hour day.

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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 far do you paddle on this kayaking trip?

You paddle approximately 14 kilometers total: seven kilometers from the Chicoasén Dam to the Christmas Tree Waterfall, then seven kilometers back to the starting point.

What's included in the kayaking experience?

The experience includes round-trip transfer from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, access to Sumidero Canyon National Park, entrance to the Chicoasén Jetty, the double kayak with rudder, and GoPro photos taken at the waterfall that the guide shares with you afterward.

Do you need kayaking experience to paddle Sumidero Canyon?

No prior kayaking experience is required, but you do need moderate physical fitness. The paddling takes three hours and the full outing is six hours from start to finish.

What time does the kayaking start?

You meet at 5:45 am in Tuxtla Gutiérrez for the transfer to the canyon. Paddling begins at the Chicoasén Dam after the drive.

Is the kayaking trip private or shared with other people?

The experience is shared. The van transfer carries six to eight paddlers total, and you paddle as part of that small group with a British Canoeing certified guide.

What is the Christmas Tree Waterfall?

The Christmas Tree Waterfall is a narrow cascade that drops into Sumidero Canyon roughly halfway through the paddle. It's the main stop where the group pauses to photograph and rest.