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Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
Boca del Cielo
Stay one night in Boca del Cielo (walkable town, cheap lodging) and explore the lagoon; day‑trip possible from Tuxtla (40 km).
Boca del Cielo is a tiny beach settlement on the Pacific coast of Chiapas, 40 km from Tuxtla Gutierrez. The lagoon and Isla San Marcos offer hammock‑camps, kayak, and turtle‑watching. With a few budget rooms and cash‑only eateries, a single overnight covers the main activities.
- Country
- Mexico
- Best months
- Nov–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MXN
- Money
- Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $). Cards work in hotels, chains and many restaurants; markets, street food, small shops and colectivos are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget M$400–600 excl. bed · Mid M$600–900 excl. bed · High M$900+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities. SIMs sell at OXXO shops and phone stores; registration with an ID may be requested — check.
- Emergency
- Police 911 · Tourist assistance 078
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 127 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; many older sockets have no earth pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.; Bars: MXN 10–20 per drink or 10%.; Petrol station attendants: MXN 10–20; more for windscreen and tyres.; Guides and drivers: 10% or MXN 200–400 a day.; Supermarket baggers (often older volunteers): MXN 5–10.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Taxi from Tonalá to Boca del Cielo | M$400 (~US$20) |
| Boat round‑trip to Isla San Marcos | M$200 |
| Coconut drink at a palapa bar | M$50–80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TGZ · Tuxtla Gutierrez International Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Taxi Tonalá → Boca del Cielo
- about M$400, 40 min
- Boat round‑trip Isla San Marcos
- M$200 per person
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town is walkable; hire a boat (≈M$200 round‑trip) to Isla San Marcos or rent a kayak. Taxis from Tonalá cost ~M$400 (40 min). Combis cheaper, inquire locally.
See and do
Known for
- Laguna de Joya
- Isla San Marcos palapas
- Turtle nesting sites
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tuxtla Gutierrez | Taxi or combi from Tonalá, about 40 min, 40 km (25 mi)Taxi or combi from Tonalá, about 40 min, 25 mi (40 km) | ≈1 h total |
| Puerto Arista | Road along lagoon, 15 km (9.3 mi), 20 min by car or taxiRoad along lagoon, 9.3 mi (15 km), 20 min by car or taxi | ≈30 min round trip |
| Isla San Marcos (palapa restaurants) | Boat from Boca, M$200 round‑trip, 10 min crossing | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Entremares
- Eco‑bungalows on Isla San Marcos, beachfront, M$600/night
- Cabañas Eclipse Boca del Cielo
- Rustic cabins on the beach, price check
- Hotel Koolebil
- Modern hotel in town, M$2,000/night
- Hotel eco‑chic Tachinaste
- Small hotel in town, price check
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis‑kool‑pe |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwahn‑toh kwes‑ta |
| Do you accept cards? | ¿Aceptan tarjetas?ah‑sep‑tan tar‑he‑tas |
| Where is the ATM? | ¿Dónde está el cajero?don‑de es‑ta el ka‑he‑ro |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; a kiss on the right cheek among friends; avoid: Skipping 'buenos días' when entering a shop
- Punctuality: Be on time for tours and buses; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Talking: Warm small talk, family, food, football; avoid: Jokes about cartels, the wall or migration
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Photos during mass
- Dining: Say 'provecho' to other diners when leaving; avoid: Rushing the waiter
Scams and watch-outs
- Strong tidal currents in the lagoon channel; cross only at low tide and watch signage.
- All businesses are cash‑only; no ATM in town – withdraw enough before arrival.
- Limited mobile coverage; 3G/partial 4G only.
Boca del Cielo is low‑risk; main concerns are strong tidal currents in the lagoon and limited mobile coverage – keep cash secure and avoid swimming at high tide.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Boca del Cielo yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Laguna de Joya
- Isla San Marcos palapas
- Turtle nesting sites
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Boca del Cielo coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/QXXXXX
- Wikivoyage: Boca del Cielo, revision 4823683 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4823683
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/boca-del-cielo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.