National park · Mexico
IzapaZona Arqueológica de Izapa
Give Izapa 2–3 hours on the road between Tapachula and the Guatemala border: walk Group B, then Group A's Stela 5, then Group F by the river; go early, 8:00–10:00, before the heat and any tour vans.Give Izapa 2–3 hours on the road between Tapachula and the Guatemala border: walk Group B, then Group A's Stela 5, then Group F by the river; go early, 8:00 AM–10:00 AM, before the heat and any tour vans.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²)
approximate
Established
1938
Best months
Nov–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
- Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
- Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
- Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.
At a glance
- Country
- Mexico
- Area
- 2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²)
- The excavated and cleared zone is small — a few groups of mounds either side of MEX 200; the protected archaeological polygon is larger (check).
- Established
- 1938
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Tapachula
Izapa is the oldest of Mexico's major Maya sites, settled around 1500 BC and at its height from 800 to 100 BC, on flat cleared ground beside the Río Izapa northeast of Tapachula. It is not a pyramid destination like Palenque or Yaxchilán: what you come for is sculpture, above all Stela 5, the 'tree of life' stone, plus dozens of stelae and altars under thatch roofs. The site straddles federal highway MEX 200, so you can see it in a couple of hours between Tapachula and the Guatemalan border, or as a stop on the way to the Tacaná volcano and the Chiapas highlands.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1938.
Size and age
2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²) · national park since 1938
The excavated and cleared zone is small — a few groups of mounds either side of MEX 200; the protected archaeological polygon is larger (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Tapachula.
Why go
- The oldest major Maya site in Mexico, occupied from about 1500 BC and abandoned by 1250 AD.
- Stela 5, the 'tree of life' carving, is the best-known monument and is still on site under a thatch roof.
- Group B around Mound 30a holds the oldest structures, from about 800 BC.
- It is a 10-minute taxi ride from Tapachula, so it fits a border run or a volcano day.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepAvoid
- OctCaution
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanDry season; clear, hot by midday
- FebDry and clear
- MarDry; hottest afternoons start
- AprHot and humid; go at opening
- MayRains begin; mud and mosquitoes
- JunWet; short heavy showers
- JulWet; grass grows fast over mounds
- AugWet; check road conditions
- SepWettest month; hurricane-season rain
- OctRains easing; still muddy
- NovDry season returns; green site
- DecDry and cooler; busiest with domestic visitors
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MosquitoesMay–Oct · Worst in the wet season; repellent with DEET is worth carrying. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| SnakesAll year · They shelter behind and under stones in the ruins; watch where you put hands and feet. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Goats grazing the siteAll year · Farmers next to the site let goats graze as natural lawnmowers; they are not a wildlife attraction. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Birds and butterflies in the surrounding jungleNov–Apr · Best on dry-season mornings. | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Tapachula
Taxi or colectivo northeast on federal highway MEX 200; the main gate is on the right about 1 km (0.6 mi) before the Río Izapa.Taxi or colectivo northeast on federal highway MEX 200; the main gate is on the right about 0.6 mi (1 km) before the Río Izapa.
10–15 min
Open the page →
From Guatemala border (Talismán)
Same highway, MEX 200; the site is a short detour between the border and Tapachula.
20–30 min
From San Cristóbal de las Casas
Bus or car down to Tapachula, then a taxi to the site.
5–7 h
Open the page →
From Chiapas planning
Where Izapa sits among the state's ruins, canyons and cloud forest.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Group B (Mound 30a) | The oldest structures at the site, from about 800 BC, with stelae and sculptures under thatch roofs. | Open with a ticket; reached by the left fork of the trail from the main gate. |
| Group A | A plaza ringed by four temples and Mound 56; the best-defined stelae, including Stela 5. | Open; follow the dirt road past the farmhouses from the parking area. |
| Group F | The newest part, built from about 50 BC; platforms, pyramids and a ballcourt at the north end of the plaza. | Open; second gate and parking by the river, or a walk of about 1 km (0.6 mi).Open; second gate and parking by the river, or a walk of about 0.6 mi (1 km). |
| Río Izapa bank | The cleared ground and jungle edge along the river, where the site's vegetation is thickest. | Open; stay on cleared paths. |
Sketch map
- 1Main gate and parking (Groups A and B) · Gate≈14.921, -92.181On the right of MEX 200 coming from Tapachula, about 1 km (0.6 mi) before the river.On the right of MEX 200 coming from Tapachula, about 0.6 mi (1 km) before the river.Map ↗
- 2Group B and Mound 30a · Trail≈14.922, -92.180About 500 m along the cleared trail from the main gate.Map ↗
- 3Group A and Stela 5 · Trail≈14.920, -92.183Map ↗
- 4Group F gate and parking · Gate≈14.918, -92.184Close to the Río Izapa; about 1 km (0.6 mi) walk from the main area.Close to the Río Izapa; about 0.6 mi (1 km) walk from the main area.Map ↗
- 5Río Izapa · Trail≈14.918, -92.186Map ↗
- 6Tapachula centre · Town≈14.905, -92.260Approximate; base for hotels, buses and the regional museum.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along MEX 200 northeast of Tapachula, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site entry (foreign adult) | MXN 90–100 (≈ US$5–6) | person | 2026 estimate; INAH charges foreign visitors more than Mexican nationals. |
| Site entry (Mexican national adult) | MXN 80–90 (≈ US$5) | person | 2026 estimate; bring ID. |
| Video camera permit | MXN 50–60 (≈ US$3–4) | camera | 2026 estimate; sometimes charged separately at INAH sites. |
| Taxi from Tapachula centre | MXN 150–250 (≈ US$9–14) | car | 2026 estimate; about 10 minutes each way, agree the fare first. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Site entry ticket permit or guide
Drone flight permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- MX$90–100≈ US$5–6
- MX$80–90≈ US$5
- MX$50–60≈ US$3–4
- MX$150–250≈ US$9–14
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on INAH — Zonas arqueológicas de Chiapas before you go.
Park rules
- Do not touch the stelae
- Carved stones are fenced and roofed to protect them from visitors and animals; keep hands off and do not climb mounds.
- Stay on cleared paths
- Vegetation covers unexcavated mounds and snakes shelter in the rocks; walking off-path risks both damage and bites.
- Drones
- Not allowed over the archaeological zone without INAH permission.
- Litter and fires
- Take all rubbish out; no fires or cooking in the zone.
- Opening hours
- INAH sites in Chiapas generally open around 8:00–9:00 and close around 16:00–17:00; confirm locally before travelling.INAH sites in Chiapas generally open around 8:00 AM–9:00 AM and close around 4:00 PM–5:00 PM; confirm locally before travelling.
Where to stay
Near the park
Tapachula
The practical base: hotels, hostels and buses, 10–15 minutes from the gate.
Near the park
Cabins near the site
A few cabins and a garden restaurant sit within walking distance of the ruins; check availability before you rely on them.
Safety
Heat and humidity medium
Snakes in the ruins medium
Mosquitoes medium
Highway traffic at the gate medium
Rain and mud in hurricane season low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The cleared trail from the main gate to Group B is flat but unpaved, about 500 m.
- Group A and Group F are reached by dirt roads; a car can get close to Group F.
- No lifts, ramps or audio guides are documented at the site; wheelchair users should expect rough ground.
Visiting lightly
- Buy your ticket at the gate so the fee goes to INAH maintenance of the site.
- Do not buy or remove fragments of stone or pottery; looting is the main threat to unexcavated mounds.
- Eat and sleep in Tapachula or at the roadside restaurants so the local economy benefits from visitors.
- Carry water in a refillable bottle and take the bottle out with you.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Izapa?
Budget about MXN 90–100 per foreign adult and MXN 80–90 for Mexican nationals (2026 estimate); INAH charges foreign visitors more, and a separate video-camera fee of roughly MXN 50–60 is sometimes added. Buy the ticket at the gate — no advance booking is normally needed.
What are the best hikes in Izapa?
There are no long trails. The walking is short and flat: about 500 m from the main gate to Group B, a dirt road to Group A and Stela 5, then roughly 1 km to Group F by the river. Allow 2–3 hours for all three groups at an easy pace.
When is the best time to visit Izapa?
November to March, in the dry season, with clear mornings and less mud. Go at opening, around 8:00–10:00, to avoid the heat and any tour groups. September is the wettest month and the least comfortable.
How do I get to Izapa from Tapachula?
Take a taxi or colectivo northeast on federal highway MEX 200; the main gate is about 10–15 minutes from the city and sits on the right, roughly 1 km before the Río Izapa. Agree the fare before you set off (2026 estimate MXN 150–250 each way).
Can I see the original stelae at Izapa?
Some are still on site under thatch roofs, including Stela 5, the 'tree of life'. Many monuments were moved to the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, and other pieces are in museums in Tapachula and Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
Is Izapa worth visiting on the way to Guatemala?
Yes, if you are already on MEX 200 between Tapachula and the Talismán border crossing. It is a 2–3 hour stop with no climbing, and it pairs well with a Tacaná volcano or coffee-farm day.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialINAH — Zonas arqueológicas de Chiapas
- secondaryWikipedia — Izapa
- secondaryWikivoyage: Izapa, revision 5279719 (CC BY-SA 4.0)