Visit El Arcotete in San Cristobal, Chiapas [Complete Guide]

Just 20 minutes from San Cristobal is El Arcotete Parque Ecoturistico – or just Arcotete. It’s a place to explore caves, hike trails and be surrounded by nature.

And although it’s not far from the city, you’ll feel a world away from the hustle and bustle as you swap car horns for bird chirps.

The park may be fairly small but there’s plenty of activities are on offer. From zip lines to cave exploring. All of which are detailed in this complete travel guide.

Find out whether it’s worth visiting and everything you need to know to plan a trip to this San Cristobal de las Casas day trip destination.

Water flows over a small section of rocks with the large cave in the background

Where is El Arcotete Chiapas?

The Eco Park is approximately 4 km east of San Cristobal de las Casas. Though not far from the city, you’ll find yourself surrounded by the countryside. See it on Google Maps here.

San Cristobal is a popular backpackers town in Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state that borders Guatemala.

Entrance Fees & Opening Times

Entry fee: 10 pesos per person

Opening times: 8 am to 6 pm, 7 days a week

The entrance fee includes access to the park and hiking trails. Listed below are the other available activities and their small cost. You can’t complain about paying extra per activity when the entrance fee is so low!

Is Arcotete Chiapas Worth Visiting?

It’s cheap and cheerful, but this wouldn’t make one of my top 5 must-visits in San Cristobal. Visiting the Sumidero Canyon, going to the El Chiflon waterfalls, hiking Don Lauro and taking a trip to San Juan Chamula are all better ways to spend your time – in my opinion.

So, if you only have a few days in San Cristobal, I wouldn’t worry about cramming it into your itinerary. But, if you’re enjoying an extended stay, this can make for a fun, cheap and easy half-day activity.

It’s far from the best eco park or most authentic Mexican experience. But for just a few pesos you can spend a few hours out in the fresh mountain air surrounded by greenery.

The zip line (or tirolesa in Spanish) of El Arcotete, travel across the tree tops in this ecotourism park!

On-site Activities & Landmarks

The park is full of fun activities you can enjoy for a few hours.

Explore the caves: 15 pesos
Zipline: 150 pesos
Boat ride: 35 pesos
Rent a palapa to have your picnic or grill at: 50 pesos
Use of bathrooms: 5 pesos a time
Photo session with park staff: 250 pesos

There’s also a restaurant and snack shop at the park, as well as an artisan gift shop.

Plus you have the option to organise your own rock climbing activity. The park doesn’t have guides but these can be hired externally in and around San Cristobal.

Caves (Grutas de Arcotete San Cristobal)

Venture through 400 metres of caves to see cool rock structures and views of the river.

For the faint of heart, you’ll be pleased to know that the caves aren’t particularly enclosed and you can see out into the park in many places. That said, there are a couple of places where you need to duck or slide sideways through the rock.

There are lights inside the caves so you definitely won’t get lost or stuck! And, the route is very easy to follow!

Entry into the caves is an additional 15 pesos per person.

There’s normally a staff member waiting near the entrance to collect the fee. But, you can also pay after – as we did – if there’s no one around as you enter.

Zoe inside the Grutas de Arcotete looking through a gap in the rock

Zoe climbing down through a narrow gap in the cave, it's a tight squeeze at Grutas de Arcotete

Zip Line (Tirolesa)

For 150 pesos per person, you can fly across the treetops. The zip line isn’t the longest but the price reflects this. It’s perfect for those looking to add some adventure to a day out in nature.

Ask to experience the zip line and pay at the entrance – as the zip line isn’t manned otherwise.

Even if you don’t want to sail through the sky, you can walk up to the top part by following the signs for ‘Tirolesa’ to see the views.

Boat Ride (Lancha)

Cruise along the river for just 35 pesos per person on a lancha (boat) ride. Just follow the sign from the entrance.

Note, that it’s the opposite way to the trails and other activities. At the main signpost at the entrance head to the left past the palapas and restaurant, rather than right towards the hiking trails and other activities.

I tried to do this when I visited but didn’t see a boat the entire time! Speak to staff if you can’t find the boats, although they likely won’t speak English.

Zoe stood on one of the suspension bridges at Arcotete Ecoparque

Hiking Trails

El Arcotete San Cristobal has a few easy-to-follow walking routes.

None are particularly strenuous, difficult or long. Enjoy all of these at your own pace and in whichever order you choose.

There’s a path up to the top of the zip line for views of the surrounding hills and dense forest. This walk is mostly uphill but doesn’t take very long to complete.

Another route takes you across a small bridge and along the riverside. After a while, you’ll reach a sign saying you’re at the edge of the park. This is where the path ends and you should turn back.

A third route takes you around the Eco Park, across the larger (and wobbly) suspension bridge and to the large stone arch. This is where you look down from inside the caves and is a good spot for photos.

The river flows under the archway and there is a small beach area. But, not one you’d want to get your towels and swimwear out for!

While the routes are easy to follow by having well-marked paths, the routes themselves are not well-signposted.

Instead, you’ll have to take a systematic approach to exploring the paths making sure you take all turnings to not miss anything! However, the park isn’t that big and if you find yourself back at the entrance, just loop around again.

Horse Riding

Previously, horse riding was available on-site for 30 pesos per person. However, when I visited, the sign advertising this had been removed and I didn’t see any horses. But, it may have started being offered again.

How to get to El Arcotete Ecotourism Park

Getting to the eco-park is cheap and easy. You can travel by colectivo, take a taxi or drive there yourself.

Colectivo to El Arcotete Chiapas

The easiest and cheapest way to get to the Eco Park is to take a colectivo from San Cristobal de las Casas. These are recognisable by having ‘Arcotete’ written across the front window!

Catch the colectivo from two blocks north of the Guadalupe Church (at the junction of Nicolas Ruiz and Avenida Remesal) – you can see the exact pin on Google Maps here.

You’ll be dropped off at the designated spot not far from the park entrance. There’s a small shelter here, making it easy to come back to the same spot to get the colectivo back to San Cristobal de las Casas.

The colectivo ride costs 10 to 15 pesos per person each way and takes around 20 to 30 minutes.

Let the driver know you are going to the Eco Park when you get in.

And, remember to bring change as the drivers typically don’t carry large amounts of change.

The colectivos run regularly throughout the day, so just turn up at the location above and flag down the first one you see.

Sit back and prepare for a bumpy ride! Particularly for the last 10 minutes or so, as dirt roads replace the tarmac ones!

Taxi from San Cristobal de las Casas

Taking a taxi is a good option if sharing with a group that will fill the taxi (i.e., 4 people total). Otherwise, a taxi can be quite a bit more costly than a colectivo.

Expect to pay at least 100 to 150 pesos each way. But, this price can be higher during peak times around national holidays.

A return taxi service is available at the ecotourism park, operating between 10 am and 6 pm. You’ll need to speak to the staff to organise this as they’ll call a taxi for you.

Alternatively, you can pay your driver an additional fee to wait for you before driving you back to San Cristobal for another 100 to 150 pesos. The price is dependent on your negotiation skills.

By Car

Driving from the centre of San Cristobal with your own vehicle will only take around 20 minutes. And, parking is available at the Eco Park.

As a word of forewarning, once you leave the main road then it’s pretty much all dirt roads until you reach El Arcotete Ecotourism Park. You don’t need to hire a car just to visit the Eco Park as going by colectivo or taxi will be cheaper and easier.

The entrance to the caves - Grutas de Arcotete

El Arcotete Review

In a nutshell: very cheap, moderately fun, easy to get to but nothing particularly special. There’s not much to complain about but this wouldn’t be in my top 5 of things to do in San Cristobal.

Travel Tips for a great day out

Be sure to bring: Lunch/snacks, drinks, change for entry fees/colectivo and a camera

It’s great for a few hours out, but the price reflects the experience so don’t expect too much!

Dress for the season and the weather. Be it the colder winter or the rainy season downpours!

The park is popular with locals and domestic tourists, especially on weekends and national holidays. To enjoy the park with few people around, visit during the week and early in the day.

If you have any questions or want any more information, drop a comment below and I’ll get back to you!

Information is correct as of October 2023 but is subject to change in future.