Parks Manager

National parks near Apas, Chiapas

Apas sits inside the San Cristóbal de las Casas area and reaches the same parks. See national parks near San Cristóbal de las Casas for the full write-up.

Cañón del Sumidero National Park is the closest national park to Apas, Chiapas — 34.7 km (21.6 mi) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 49 min behind the wheel.

Cañón del Sumidero, Palenque, and Lagunas de Montebello make a full day trip — leave early.

Apas has a population of about 1,485.

National parks near Apas

Parks ranked by distance from Apas
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
Cañón del Sumidero National Park34.7 km (21.6 mi)49 minDoable as a day trip
Palenque National Park117 km (72.7 mi)2 hr 10 minDoable as a day trip
Lagunas de Montebello National Park134 km (83.3 mi)2 hr 25 minDoable as a day trip
Huatulco National Park380 km (236 mi)6 hr 2 minWorth a longer road trip
Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano National Park419 km (261 mi)6 hr 37 minWorth a longer road trip
Benito Juárez National Park423 km (263 mi)6 hr 40 minWorth a longer road trip
Cañón del Río Blanco National Park519 km (323 mi)8 hr 5 minWorth a longer road trip
Lagunas de Chacahua National Park529 km (328 mi)8 hr 13 minWorth a longer road trip
Pico de Orizaba National Park539 km (335 mi)8 hr 23 minWorth a longer road trip
Arrecifes de Xcalak National Park554 km (344 mi)8 hr 36 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 Apas 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 Apas
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
Cañón del Sumidero → Huatulco354 km (220 mi)5 hr 39 min

Planning a trip from Apas

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 Zinacantán

Common questions

What is the closest national park to Apas?

Cañón del Sumidero National Park. It is about 34.7 km (21.6 mi) from Apas, roughly 49 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from Apas?

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

How many national parks are near Apas?

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

When is the best time to visit the parks near Apas?

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.