Tuxtla Gutiérrez: Sinkhole of Parrots Full-Day Rappel

The birds are only part of the thrill. This full-day trip from Tuxtla Gutiérrez takes you into Sima de las Cotorras, a huge circular sinkhole in Chiapas where green parakeets, tall trees, and ancient cliff paintings share the same dramatic space. I like the mix of serious scenery and real adventure, and I also like that the tour includes transport, equipment, entrance fees, insurance, water, and a regional meal. The main catch is that the bird activity is strongest around dawn and dusk, while this tour may visit around midmorning.

You should also know that the descent is only half the physical challenge. After rappelling roughly 200 feet, or about 60 meters, you walk through the sinkhole and then climb back up steep walls using ladders and iron steps. I love that the excursion reaches places most visitors only view from above, but good shoes and steady legs are essential.

Key Points Before You Book

• Rappel into a 420-foot sinkhole: The rope descent takes you below the rim of Sima de las Cotorras and into a giant natural cavity.
• Parakeets fill the morning air: Thousands of green parakeets live in the sinkhole, though the best flights occur near dawn and dusk.
• Ancient art sits on the cliff wall: Cave paintings, thought to be up to 10,000 years old, appear about halfway down.
• The return climb requires effort: Ladders and iron steps make the route back to the rim athletic rather than leisurely.
• A small group keeps things manageable: The group is limited to 14 people, with English and Spanish guides available.
• Lunch adds local flavor: A regional Chiapas meal is included after the rappel.

From Tuxtla Gutiérrez to the Selva El Ocote Reserve

Your day begins with hotel pickup in Tuxtla Gutiérrez. The total outing lasts about nine hours, so eat breakfast before leaving. The tour provides water, but you should still bring drinking water, sunscreen, comfortable clothing, and shoes that can handle a steep, active route.

The drive heads toward the Selva El Ocote Biosphere Reserve. The area forms part of a large tropical rainforest region connected with the Chimalapas and Uxpanapa Chimalapas area near the borders of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz. The drive is not just a transfer between city and attraction. It gives you a look at the wooded region that supports the sinkhole’s birds and plant life.

The description promises attention to the rainforest of Chimalapas, but you should keep your expectations measured. One account of the trip found that there was no separate rainforest tour. That did not spoil the day, but it is useful to know that Sima de las Cotorras is the clear centerpiece, not a long guided nature walk through the reserve.

Pickup from your hotel adds real value. Reaching this part of Chiapas on your own would require arranging transport and finding the reserve entrance, while this package brings you there and back. The small-group limit of 14 also matters. It is large enough to share the outing, but not so large that the rappel becomes a crowd event.

Arriving at the 420-Foot Sima de las Cotorras

Sima de las Cotorras is a broad, round opening in the karst plateau. From the rim, you look down into a cavity filled with trees that can reach about 100 feet in height. The contrast is striking: a plain-looking opening gives way to a deep green interior far below.

The sinkhole is famous for its green parakeets. Thousands live among the trees at the bottom, and each day they fly out in the morning and return toward evening. If bird activity is your main reason for booking, timing deserves close attention. The available experience does not offer a dusk departure, and a midmorning visit may bring bird calls and a few visible birds rather than the full spectacle of a mass flight.

That does not make a late-morning visit empty. One account described the parakeet cries as constant around 10 a.m. and noted that some birds were still visible in flight. You will also have the unusual chance to see the birds’ home from inside the sinkhole rather than from a viewing point above it.

The reserve setting adds another layer. This is not a polished amusement park attraction. The appeal comes from a natural cavity, forest growth, wildlife, and rock walls shaped by the karst terrain. You should expect a place where the physical setting does much of the talking.

The Rappel: About 60 Meters Down

After preparing at the sinkhole, you descend by rope into the cavity. The advertised drop is about 200 feet, or 60 meters. One account described the rappel as roughly 80 meters and called it impressive but manageable, so the exact figure may vary with how the route is measured. Either way, this is a substantial descent, not a short beginner ride.

The guides handle the equipment and explain the process in English or Spanish. Insurance and rappel equipment are included, which helps keep the cost clear. You still need to bring the right attitude: this is an active outing with height, rope work, and a steep return route.

The descent gives you changing views as the sinkhole walls rise around you. From the rim, you see the opening as a broad circle. On the way down, the scale shifts. The trees at the bottom grow larger, the rock wall becomes more detailed, and the sound of birds comes from different levels of the cavity.

The guides received especially strong praise for explaining the activity and carrying it out well. That matters here. A good guide does more than clip you into a rope. You want clear instructions, a calm pace, and careful handling of the equipment before you leave the rim.

If you feel uneasy with heights, the rappel may be the hardest part of the day. The tour is not suitable for anyone with back or leg injuries, and the physical demands do not end once you reach the bottom. You should be honest with yourself before booking. This is not a scenic elevator ride into a cave.

Cave Paintings on the Sheer Wall

About halfway down, you may see ancient paintings on the cliff wall. They are thought to be up to 10,000 years old. Their value lies partly in their setting. You are not looking at a framed display in a museum. The images appear on the stone wall of a deep natural cavity, reached by rope.

The paintings add a human layer to an already unusual place. The parakeets and trees explain why the sinkhole matters as a living habitat. The art shows that people also used or visited this space long ago. Together, the wildlife and paintings make the rappel more than a one-note adrenaline activity.

Do not expect a long archaeology lecture or a large exhibit. The supplied details do not specify how many paintings you will see, what they depict, or how long the guide stops there. Treat this as a rare sight along the route rather than a full museum visit.

The steep rock also means you should avoid rushing to get a better look. Listen to the guide, follow instructions, and keep your hands and feet where they belong. The setting is memorable enough without turning the stop into a scramble.

Walking Below and Climbing Back Up

Reaching the bottom is not the end of the work. After the rappel, you walk through the sinkhole, then climb the steep wall for about an hour using ladders and iron steps. This return section may be harder than the descent for some people. Going down by rope is controlled and supported, while climbing demands repeated effort from your legs.

This is why comfortable shoes are not a minor packing suggestion. Bring footwear that stays secure and feels good during a long climb. Suitable clothing, sun protection, and water also matter, even though much of the activity takes place inside the cavity.

The climb changes how you should judge the tour. If you want a short photo stop with a little adventure, this outing may feel too demanding. If you enjoy a physical challenge and want access to the interior of the sinkhole, the climb is part of the reward.

The group size helps here. With no more than 14 people, the guide can manage the movement of the group more easily than on a large coach excursion. Still, the pace may depend on the group’s abilities, so plan for a full day rather than a tightly timed schedule.

Lunch and the Ride Back to Tuxtla

After the physical activity, the tour stops at a local restaurant for a regional meal from Chiapas. One meal is included in the price. Additional meals are not, although the available information does not specify exactly what dishes are served.

This is a welcome finish. A local meal gives the day a cultural touch beyond the reserve and provides a chance to rest before the return transfer. I would not book this outing solely for the food, since the menu is not listed, but it is a useful inclusion in a long active day.

The transfer then returns you to Tuxtla Gutiérrez. The full schedule is listed as nine hours, while the main rappelling portion is described as about seven hours. The difference likely covers transport, preparation, walking, lunch, and the return climb. Either way, keep the day open and avoid scheduling an important evening connection too closely afterward.

Is the $175 Price Fair?

At $175 per person, this is not a bargain sightseeing trip, but the price covers several costly and useful elements: round-trip hotel transport, reserve admission, rappel equipment, insurance, water, a guide, and one meal. You are paying for access, safety equipment, logistics, and a specialized activity rather than just a ride to a viewpoint.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise need to arrange transport to the reserve and find a qualified operator for the rappel. The small-group format and bilingual guiding also help justify the cost. You are not simply paying for a walk around a sinkhole. You are paying to descend into it.

The value is weaker if your priority is seeing thousands of parakeets in flight. Since the strongest bird movement occurs near dawn and dusk, and this outing does not offer a dusk period, a bird-focused visit may leave you wanting better timing.

I would judge the price by your main goal. For a controlled rope descent, ancient rock art, rainforest access, and a local meal in one day, $175 is reasonable. For a quick bird-watching stop, it is harder to defend.

Who Should Book This Chiapas Adventure?

I would recommend it to active visitors who want an unusual day outside Tuxtla Gutiérrez and feel comfortable with heights, ladders, and a long climb. It suits people who value a rare setting more than a polished attraction and who like combining nature, history, and physical challenge.

You should think twice if you have back or leg injuries, dislike heights, or want a gentle nature outing. The tour is also a poor match if you need a guaranteed mass flight of birds. Parakeets are central to the site, but wildlife follows its own clock.

The English and Spanish guide options make the trip easier for international visitors. The free cancellation policy up to 24 hours before departure and the reserve-now, pay-later option also reduce the risk when your schedule is still taking shape.

My Verdict on Sima de las Cotorras

Book this tour if you want to rappel into one of Chiapas’s most unusual natural sites and are ready for the climb back out. The best parts are the scale of the sinkhole, the parakeet calls, the cliff paintings, and the guides’ clear handling of a demanding activity.

Skip it if your idea of a day in nature means easy paths and long bird-watching sessions. The bird flights may not line up with the tour time, and the return route requires real effort. For fit visitors who want something far beyond a roadside viewpoint, this is a memorable and fairly priced adventure from Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is available from hotels in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, with round-trip transportation included.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts about nine hours. The main rappelling tour is described as lasting about seven hours.

How far do you rappel into Sima de las Cotorras?

The advertised descent is about 200 feet, or 60 meters. One account described the descent as about 80 meters.

What birds can you see at the sinkhole?

Sima de las Cotorras is known for thousands of green parakeets and other birds that live in the sinkhole.

When do the parakeets usually fly?

The parakeets generally fly out in the morning and return by dusk. The tour does not offer a dusk period, and some birds may still be seen around 10 a.m.

Can you see ancient paintings during the descent?

Yes. Ancient cave paintings are located about halfway down the cliff wall and are thought to be up to 10,000 years old.

Is food included?

One regional meal is included at a local restaurant. Additional meals are not included.

What should you bring?

Bring drinking water, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and suitable clothing. You should also eat breakfast at your hotel before departure.

Is the activity suitable for people with injuries?

The activity is not suitable for people with back or leg injuries. The descent is followed by a steep climb using ladders and iron steps.