Parks Manager

National parks near El Progreso, Chiapas

El Progreso sits inside the Comitán area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near Comitán for the full write-up.

Lagunas de Montebello National Park is the closest national park to El Progreso, Chiapas — 17.1 km (10.6 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 29 min behind the wheel.

Lagunas de Montebello is close enough to visit on an ordinary afternoon. Palenque and Cañón del Sumidero make a full day trip — leave early.

El Progreso has a population of about 1,399.

National parks near El Progreso

Parks ranked by distance from El Progreso
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Lagunas de Montebello National Park17.1 km (10.6 mi)29 minRight on your doorstep
Palenque National Park153 km (95.3 mi)2 hr 42 minDoable as a day trip
Cañón del Sumidero National Park154 km (95.5 mi)2 hr 43 minDoable as a day trip
Huatulco National Park466 km (289 mi)7 hr 18 minWorth a longer road trip
Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park491 km (305 mi)7 hr 40 minWorth a longer road trip
Benito Juárez National Park533 km (331 mi)8 hr 17 minWorth a longer road trip
Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano National Park538 km (334 mi)8 hr 22 minWorth a longer road trip
Dzibilchaltún National Park603 km (374 mi)9 hr 19 minWorth a longer road trip
Lagunas de Chacahua National Park623 km (387 mi)9 hr 37 minWorth a longer road trip
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park638 km (397 mi)9 hr 50 minWorth a longer road trip

When to make this trip

Lagunas de Montebello 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 Lagunas de Montebello National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near El Progreso 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 El Progreso
PairApartEstimated drive
Palenque → Cañón del Sumidero133 km (82.6 mi)2 hr 24 min
Lagunas de Montebello → Palenque156 km (97.2 mi)2 hr 45 min
Lagunas de Montebello → Cañón del Sumidero169 km (105 mi)2 hr 56 min
Cañón del Sumidero → Huatulco354 km (220 mi)5 hr 39 min

Planning a trip from El Progreso

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 Lagunas de Montebello National Park guide

Other towns in La Trinitaria

Common questions

What is the closest national park to El Progreso?

Lagunas de Montebello National Park. It is about 17.1 km (10.6 mi) from El Progreso, roughly 29 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from El Progreso?

Yes — Lagunas de Montebello National Park, Palenque National Park, and Cañón del Sumidero National Park are within about a three-hour drive.

How many national parks are near El Progreso?

10 parks are within reach of El Progreso, 3 of them close enough for a day trip.

When is the best time to visit the parks near El Progreso?

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