Frontera Corozal

Frontera Corozal is an important border crossing and even more important pit stop for travelers en route to the archaeological site at Yaxchilán. The town is so far into the Lancandon Jungle of Chiapas that it's not often visited. But it is a must stop on the way to Yaxchilán as that site is only really reachable by boat - from here.

As such, Frontera Corozal has a number of very enticing lodging options intended to soothe the jungle weary. Rooms come with all kinds of added amenities with every purveyor intent upon outdoing their competitors. There are some bargains and rustic digs too, but after banging up the river to the archaeological site, it helps to come back to a place that's more rather than less comfortable.

On the banks of the mighty Usumacinta River, here travelers will find that the river is itself a welcoming and open stretch through the otherwise impenetrable jungle. Visitors to the town encounter a security check point, but the town is a border crossing, and so one should expect a relatively high security apparatus to get in here, and to continue on to the archaeological site. If you want to cross over to Guatemala, which lots of travelers will do, similarly high security standards also need to be met. 

Getting to Frontera Corozal is surprisingly quick from Palenque, and most visitors are expected to come from there. After a Mexicana flight or a trip on the Tren Maya or the Interoceanic Train, it's only about a 2.5 hour drive. Likely the most common way for visitors to get to Yaxchilán at this writing is in combination with a trip to Bonampak. México Destinos offers a variety of tours all over Chiapas, but one of their most popular in this area is the combination of tours to the ancient cities. You still have to stop in Frontera Corozal to get on the boat, but that price is part of the package.