La Sima de las Cotorras, Chiapas, México

August 14, 2014|Posted in: Nature, Wildlife

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Yet another natural wonder outside of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital of the state of Chiapas, is la Sima de las Cotorras. This giant sinkhole in the earth is home to thousands of green Monk Parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) which inhabit the trees down inside the sinkhole and create a beautiful ruckus every morning starting somewhere around 7am when they wake and stir and finally get airborne, zooming around the sinkhole in small and large groups as they ascend from their home branches and eventually exit the sinkhole to feed and otherwise do their thing.

There is a developed pathway around the entire circumference of the sinkhole which you can walk and from which you can get different views of this geological feature and the parakeets. If you can’t make it right at 7am, don’t worry. The parakeets don’t immediately flood out of the sinkhole, nor do they fly out all at once in some giant endless flock. They can be observed over a two hour period at least, again in small and large groups, beginning around 7am. However, if you can make it right around 7am or shortly before, it is quite something to witness their breaking the stillness and quiet of the area.

On one side of the sinkhole along the dirt road that brings you in is a main parking lot with a visitor’s booth and signage indicating the presence of the sinkhole. On the opposite side of the rim, more or less, is a restaurant with a wooden lodge type feel to it. On this same side of the geological feature but set at a further distance from the rim are the cabañas for rent. The one we rented came at a cost of $400 MXN per night for the two of us. It was equipped with a matrimonial bed and a bunk bed and a full bathroom (sink, toilet, enclosed shower) with plenty of hot water. To get to the restaurant and cabañas, continue along the dirt road past the initial parking lot and visitor’s booth.

Our strategy was to stay the night in order to see the parakeets the next morning, then to return to bed for a couple more hours of sleep, and then to head out on our way to other sights in Chiapas. It worked well for us as we basically just came for the cotorras. The parakeets are not the only animals to be seen, however, and you can get a much closer look at the sinkhole by repelling into it. Inquire with Sima Ecoturismo or, upon arriving, inquire inside the restaurant regarding repelling activities. As for other animals, we saw other types of birds including vultures (a common sight throughout the state), and there are reportedly several species of mammals and reptiles as well. Moreover, it’s worthy of mention that the cliff walls are adorned with over 40 ancient painted images of somewhat mysterious origin, believed to predate the indigenous Zoque people of the area.

In addition to passing the night in one of the cabañas, you can camp on the land. The cost for this is $50 MXN per person. We saw what looked like a couple of camping squares under some trees right off the dirt road leading to the restaurant, but it might be yet another attraction where you can set up camp just about anywhere. Again, inquire within the restaurant regarding the cabañas or camping.

As for getting there, it was a fairly simple affair by rental car. Signs will pretty much lead you there without confusion. The road in is a dirt and rock road but we did not face any difficulties in our compact car. You can also arrive by taxi or you can request pickup by the folks at Sima Ecoturismo in their van. For either of these options, you’ll first want to make your way to the nearest town of Ocozocoautla de Espinosa (also known as Coita for short). Contact information for Sima Ecoturismo can be found on their Facebook info section or on the contact page of their web site.

To get to Ocozocoautla from Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Lonely Planet recommends starting at the Terminal de Transporte Tuxtla and catching a minibus. The van will have a pineapple logo of some kind on the side and you’ll want to take it to the final stop in Ocozocoautla, which will leave you on the side of Highway 190 next to the turnoff for la Sima. This should run you less than $20 MXN. A taxi from here might run you between $200 – $300 MXN. The van through Sima Ecoturismo may run you about the same.

{Last Visit: May 2014}