El Madresal, Chiapas, México

August 7, 2014|Posted in: Beach, Nature

Leave a Comment

Along the northern part of the coastline of Chiapas lies el Madresal, another of the state’s ecoturismo (ecotourism) sites. Of all the beach spots we visited during our time in Chiapas, this was the best cared-for and maintained. There was no trash to be seen, paths were well-kept, and docks were looked after. Staff wore official clothing and were friendly and professional.

We parked right next to the welcome structure and disembarkation point and paid $15 MXN for the car and $20 MXN per person for a roundtrip lancha (motorized boat) ride out to and back from the Madresal beach area, for a total of $55 MXN. It’s a very short trip by lancha and you don’t get up to the speeds of the lanchas that take you out to Barra de Zacapulco further south. We never once worried about the car or its contents, although we still employed common sense.

After arriving at your destination dock and hopping out of the lancha, there is a path that leads out to the beach and the Restaurante El Robalo, where you can find breakfasts for $45-70 MXN, seafood cocktails for $50-120 MXN, soups for $120-140 MXN, and apps and snacks for $100-$140 MXN. Meals were around $300 MXN and up. If you’re more into family-style eating, they’ve got you covered with massive seafood platters you can share starting at around $750 MXN and up.

The food that we had was so-so, but we didn’t get anything special. The seafood looked good but we frankly didn’t try any, so don’t take our word for it if you find yourself out there and gripped by hunger – give it a go and then come back and let us know how it was.

As with Ribera de Playa Azul, the sand out there is dark and, as such, gets scorching – and we mean sc-o-o-orching – hot during the day, so if you’re going to walk barefoot, best to do it closer to the water where the sand has been cooled by the sea. Also as with Ribera de Playa Azul and Barra de Zacapulco, camping is possible here but at a cost. Inquire with the staff when you arrive. Or, you can rent a cabaña or even just a hammock if you’re a minimalist.

If you’re in the mood for a more polished beach-going experience in Chiapas, we recommend el Madresal. Have a cocktail (seafood and otherwise), rent a beach chair and umbrella, and enjoy the ocean. Heck, there’s even a lifeguard posted there on busy days (maybe everyday for all we know). That speaks volumes to the kind of playa this is.

Keep in mind as well that if you have an interest in wildlife, this is one of the spots where you can participate in turtle egg collection and hatchling release (in season) for the Boca del Cielo hatchery, or do some bird-watching or scout for crocodiles in the mangroves.

{Last Visit: May 2014}