El Chiflón

El Chiflón is a beloved group of spectacular waterfalls in the jungle municipality of Tzimol in Chiapas. The falls themselves have traditional names: El Suspiro, Ala de Angel, Arco Iris, Quinceañera, but the most famous is Velo de Novia, the Bridal Veil at some 120 meters in height. Natural pools of intense turquoise blue are revealed after making the 1,000 meter trek into the jungle. Still, the trek is not that far when you consider the rewards at the end.  

In fact, the rewards are substantial all along the way, and stopping for a swim or a rest is all part of the trip. It can seem like a remarkable journey into a fantastic landscape of shimmering cascades and quirky crooked mountain trails. Wear comfortable shoes, but you should count on taking them off, too. 

The falls area is served by a big comfortable ecotourism center. Visitors get access to cabin rentals, a restaurant, and tickets for the zip line. There is a shop for local artisan works as well as parking and places for tired hikers, trekkers, and zip-liners. There are also two little towns of San Vicente la Mesilla and Francisco Villa, basically at the entrance to the falls. The towns offer most of the services you could possibly want without necessitating a trip back to Comitán. 

In fact, the El Chiflón falls are likely among the most important attractions within the greater Comitán area. The little town of Tzimol is about 30-minutes drive from San Vicente and only 15 minutes from Comitán. If you get a chance, the little Cenote de Chukumaltik is a little closer to town and absolutely dreamy. There are tour operators who will take you direct to the entrance to the falls, but travelers should be sure to get directions on how to safely return. In Francisco Villa there is a big taxi station that will get you back to the little town, or all the way to Comitán. Along the way there are a number of services and lodging establishments happy to look after visitors.