Waterfall 16 km southwest of Comitán
A chain of turquoise waterfalls on the San Vicente River, topped by the 120-meter Velo de Novia.
El Chiflón is a staircase of waterfalls on the San Vicente River, in the dry, warm valley west of Comitán. The river runs over limestone ledges that tint the water a pale blue-green, forming a series of falls and pools as it drops down the hillside.
The falls have names: El Suspiro, Ala de Ángel, Arcoíris, Quinceañera, and the tallest, Velo de Novia (Bridal Veil), which falls around 120 meters in a wide white curtain and throws spray over the whole viewpoint below it. A trail with steps climbs beside the river from the entrance to the foot of Velo de Novia, passing pools where you can swim along the way.
The park is run by the local community, with a restaurant, cabins and a zip line that crosses in front of the falls. It is a popular weekend outing for families from Comitán, so weekdays are calmer. The water is bluest in the dry season, while in the rainy months the falls are fuller but the river turns brown.
What to see and do
Climb the stepped trail along the river to the viewpoint at the foot of Velo de Novia, and expect to get wet from the spray.
Swim in the lower pools along the trail.
Ride the zip line across in front of the falls.
Go in the dry season, roughly November to May, for the blue water.
Getting there
El Chiflón is roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car from Comitán: take Highway 190 west toward Tuxtla, then the signed turnoff south through Tzimol toward the park. Colectivos run from Comitán toward the area, and agencies in Comitán and San Cristóbal sell day tours, sometimes combined with the Montebello Lakes. The park charges an entry fee and is usually open during the day.
16 km southwest of Comitán
Directions from Comitán on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in El Chiflón
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Tours & activities
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Weather mild
El Chiflón shares the climate of Comitán, 16 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Comitán your base
El Chiflón is an easy trip from Comitán, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Comitán
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Tenam Puente
· Archaeological site · 13 km away
Maya terraces and temples on a forested hilltop just south of Comitán, with views over the valley and few visitors. -
Cenote Chukumaltik
· Cenote · 15 km away
A wide, deep highland cenote with clear water for swimming, paddleboarding and high-altitude diving. -
Chinkultic
· Archaeological site · 40 km away
Maya ruins on the way to the Montebello Lakes, with a temple on a cliff above a deep blue cenote. -
Lagos de Montebello
· Lake · 44 km away
A national park of dozens of lakes in shades from turquoise to deep green, set in pine forest on the Guatemalan border.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.