Parks Manager

National parks near Emiliano Zapata, Chiapas

Emiliano Zapata sits inside the Cintalapa de Figueroa area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Cintalapa de Figueroa for the full write-up.

Cañón del Sumidero National Park is the closest national park to Emiliano Zapata, Chiapas — 77.2 km (47.9 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 1 hr 35 min behind the wheel.

Cañón del Sumidero makes a full day trip — leave early. Palenque, Lagunas de Montebello, Huatulco, Benito Juárez, and Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano are better with a night booked nearby.

Emiliano Zapata has a population of about 1,507.

National parks near Emiliano Zapata

Parks ranked by distance from Emiliano Zapata
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Cañón del Sumidero National Park77.2 km (47.9 mi)1 hr 35 minDoable as a day trip
Palenque National Park206 km (128 mi)3 hr 28 minBest as a weekend
Lagunas de Montebello National Park235 km (146 mi)3 hr 54 minBest as a weekend
Huatulco National Park278 km (173 mi)4 hr 33 minBest as a weekend
Benito Juárez National Park315 km (196 mi)5 hr 5 minBest as a weekend
Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano National Park344 km (214 mi)5 hr 30 minBest as a weekend
Lagunas de Chacahua National Park422 km (262 mi)6 hr 40 minWorth a longer road trip
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park425 km (264 mi)6 hr 42 minWorth a longer road trip
Pico de Orizaba National Park447 km (278 mi)7 hr 1 minWorth a longer road trip
Cofre de Perote National Park468 km (291 mi)7 hr 20 minWorth a longer road trip

When to make this trip

Cañón del Sumidero National Park is generally best December through April, the drier and less humid stretch, with May and November as the quieter shoulder either side.

June to November is the wet and hurricane season — heavy rain, high humidity, and occasional storm closures.

Heat and humidity are constant. Plan activity for early morning and carry more water than feels necessary.

Month-by-month detail for Cañón del Sumidero National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near Emiliano Zapata are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near Emiliano Zapata
PairApartEstimated drive
Cañón del Sumidero → Palenque133 km (82.6 mi)2 hr 24 min
Palenque → Lagunas de Montebello156 km (97.2 mi)2 hr 45 min
Cañón del Sumidero → Lagunas de Montebello169 km (105 mi)2 hr 56 min
Huatulco → Benito Juárez172 km (107 mi)2 hr 59 min

Planning a trip from Emiliano Zapata

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the Cañón del Sumidero National Park guide

Other towns in Cintalapa

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Emiliano Zapata?

Cañón del Sumidero National Park. It is about 77.2 km (47.9 mi) from Emiliano Zapata, roughly 1 hr 35 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Emiliano Zapata?

Yes — Cañón del Sumidero National Park is within about a three-hour drive.

How many national parks are near Emiliano Zapata?

10 parks are within reach of Emiliano Zapata, 1 of them close enough for a day trip.

When is the best time to visit the parks near Emiliano Zapata?

For Cañón del Sumidero National Park, the closest one, generally December through April, the drier and less humid stretch. Either side of that, May and November stays quieter.