Hola viajeros! Welcome to my article on El Chiflon. My name is Odemaris Ruiz. I grew up in Mexico City, a beautiful and crazy place. Since I was little, I loved to disguise myself and create my own plays for my family. I loved acting in front of my grandma’s big mirror and pretending I was on TV.
I asked my parents to take me to a massive casting for Sesame Street and I was chosen. Since then I started to participate in TV announcements, different TV programs and even famous soap operas. I truly loved my work but I always had the desire to go to the other side of the world – to see how people lived there, learn from other cultures and make new friends.
At some point I felt like I was concentrating too much on my work and I was leaving that travel dream aside. So after college, I decided to go work as a volunteer in China and the Philippines – and this turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life. Ever since, I have promised myself that I would keep traveling and try to see as much as I can of this beautiful world.
Inspiration to Visit El Chiflon
Chiapas is a region of Mexico I had been to before but just for work. I only stayed there for a few days on my first visit and I kept hearing wonderful things about the region, so of course I had to come back. All of the amazing waterfalls, lagoons, jungle, history and archeology intrigued me.
El Chiflon was at the top of my Chiapas bucket list. I had seen many photos of El Chiflon and the beautiful turquoise colors of the water was something that attracted me a lot. As I didn’t have enough time to see everything in Chiapas, I had to make a selection and El Chiflon was a priority.
We took a tour that drove us from San Cristobal to Tzimol and to Cascadas El Chiflon. From there we hiked all the way to the waterfall. I’m not sure how long the trail took us but I think it was around 40 minutes to get there.
We did take a lot of stops along the way to take photos and videos because the views were just breathtaking. I don’t feel like the hike was hard at all (maybe for elderly people it would be a challenge). Really anyone can do it!
Highlights of Cascadas El Chiflon
Visiting El Chiflon was incredible from the very beginning. The turquoise waters were so special to see and when I finally reached Velo de Novia (the big waterfall) I was incredibly excited! I just couldn’t stop staring at it.
I ran to the closest point of the waterfall and felt the water spray on my face, hair and body. It was an epic moment, and I felt the true power and grandness of nature. Leaving this place was hard because I was having so much fun. We were lucky because we arrived at a good time. There weren’t many people around and we got to enjoy the waterfalls all to ourselves.
One of the best experiences at El Chiflon was going on the ziplines. The ziplines here are crazy and I recommend doing all of them! It’s a lot of fun and the views you get over the waterfalls are marvellous. The height, speed and views make it an incredibly unique experience. And at only $150 pesos per person (less than $10 USD per person), everyone can enjoy it.
Where to Stay near the Waterfalls
There are cabins you can rent close to El Chiflon (at a good price) but I recommend staying in San Cristobal because this town offers a lot of tours and the town itself is charming and beautiful. I stayed at a place called Hotel Diego De Mazariegos in San Cristobal. The rooms were like cozy cabins and the location was perfect – located in the downtown area.
For those who prefer something more luxurious, I also had the chance to visit Uvence Arte Hotel for breakfast and it was something special! Located at the edge of town, this charming hotel is a delight with beautiful gardens, rooms, chimneys and even an art gallery. I felt like this place would have been the perfect romantic getaway for a travel couple.
Need to Know Before you Go
The entrance to El Chiflon costs $30 pesos and you can get there from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Comitan or San Cristobal de las Casas (like I did). During the months from June to November it rains a lot, the river gets larger and so the water might not look as turquoise during this time of the year.
If you don’t want to explore the waterfalls with a lot of other people around, I suggest avoiding the weekends and public holidays in Mexico. Lastly, wear comfortable walking shoes, breathable clothes, a swimsuit for the pools at the bottom of the waterfall and get ready to get wet! You will love it!
