Town 13 km southwest of Chiapa de Corzo
A town south of Chiapa famous for the Danza del Calalá at Corpus Christi, when dancers dressed as jaguars fill the streets.
Suchiapa is a farming town in the hot valley south of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, about 15 kilometers southwest of Chiapa de Corzo, and for most of the year it is a quiet place. It is worth a trip for one festival: the Danza del Calalá, celebrated around Corpus Christi in late May or June, one of the most striking traditional dances in Chiapas.
During the fiesta the streets fill with dancers dressed as tigers (jaguars) in yellow suits with black spots, roaring and whistling as they escort the Blessed Sacrament. Alongside them come other masked characters: the calalá, a deer; a Goliath figure and a little giant often identified with David; and a feathered serpent. The dance mixes pre-Hispanic and Spanish Catholic traditions in a way that is hard to untangle, and its exact origins are unknown.
The celebration builds over several days and peaks on the Thursday of Corpus Christi, when dancers from neighboring communities arrive and the processions reach the town's chapel. If you are in Chiapa de Corzo then, it is a short trip and a chance to see a festival made for the town itself rather than for visitors.
What to see and do
Watch the Danza del Calalá during the Corpus Christi festivities, with dancers dressed as jaguars.
Look for the calalá deer, the Goliath and the little giant among the masked characters.
Follow the processions to the town's chapel on Corpus Christi Thursday.
Check the festival dates in advance, since Corpus Christi moves each year.
Getting there
Suchiapa is about 25 to 30 minutes from Chiapa de Corzo by car, via the outskirts of Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Colectivos connect it with Tuxtla. During the festival streets in the center may be closed, so park on the edge of town and walk in.
13 km southwest of Chiapa de Corzo
Directions from Chiapa de Corzo on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather warm
Suchiapa shares the climate of Chiapa de Corzo, 13 km away. The best months to visit are Sep, Oct, Nov.
Make Chiapa de Corzo your base
Suchiapa is an easy trip from Chiapa de Corzo, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Chiapa de Corzo
-
El Chorreadero
· Waterfall · 7 km away
A waterfall that pours straight out of a cave into turquoise pools, with caving and rappelling trips into the mountain. -
Cristo de Chiapas
· Landmark · 11 km away
A 64-meter cross and Christ figure on the Copoya plateau, with wide views over Tuxtla and the Grijalva valley. -
Cañón del Sumidero
· Nature reserve · 17 km away
Chiapas's great canyon, with walls up to a kilometer high; the boat trip up the Grijalva leaves from Chiapa's riverfront.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.