AtlasChiapas

Sima de las Cotorras

verified ACA 3A Unknown flood risk Ocozocoautla de Espinosa, Chiapas
Sima de las Cotorras
Arlij, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the most accesible pits of Chiapas, several adventure companies take cavers and tourists to the area. At the bottom is a small forest, a naturally protected summer nesting area for the sinkhole’s namesake residents: thousands of cotorras, or green parrots.

The pit is a near perfect circle, roughly 140 meters deep and 160 meters across, with pre-Mayan petroglyphs visible on the walls partway down. The rappel fee is paid straight to the private company that owns the land and rim restaurant, not a government permit; locals also warn that bees nest in the walls, so cooler days are preferred for the descent.

Logistics

ManagerPrivate company operating the site (restaurant and rappel concession)
PermitRappelling is only permitted through the company that owns the land and restaurant at the rim. As of 2021: 750 MXN per person for a full rappel to the bottom, 550 MXN for a half rappel.
Technical1 rappels, longest 311.68 ft
SeasonMar-Oct
Vehicle accessPassenger
Coordinates16.808056, -93.474444

Sources