Lake Pojoj: Chiapas's 198-Meter-Deep Turquoise Sinkhole

Lake Pojoj sits in the far southwestern corner of Lagunas de Montebello National Park, roughly an hour's drive from Comitán de Domínguez in Chiapas. Soundings have recorded a maximum depth near 198 meters, making it the deepest measured lake in the Montebello system and one of the deepest bodies of freshwater in Mexico. What that number means in practice: the water shifts from pale aquamarine at the reedy margins to a dense, opaque teal in the middle, and the color does not break down with distance the way it does in shallow lagoons. You can walk the entire shoreline in under an hour, but most visitors end up standing still for far longer than they planned.

Geologists classify Pojoj as an uvala — a karst depression formed where several collapsed chambers merged. The lake has no surface river feeding it; it fills and drains through groundwater moving through limestone, which is why the level and clarity can change noticeably between the dry months and the September rains.

Getting to Lake Pojoj and What It Costs

The park gates open daily from 8:00 to 17:00, and CONANP currently lists the federal entry fee at 125 MXN per person per day. Mexican nationals and residents pay less under a separate rate schedule, students and teachers get a 75 percent discount with valid credentials, and seniors, pensioners, people with disabilities and children under 12 enter free. On top of the federal fee, the local ejido collects around 40 MXN at the main lakes — Tziscao, Cinco Lagos, Pojoj, Internacional and Montebello — so a foreign visitor should budget roughly 165 MXN in total. All of it is cash, and there is no ATM anywhere inside the park. Bring small bills; nobody at a wooden gate has change for a 500.

By car from Comitán or San Cristóbal

Take Federal Highway 190 southwest from Comitán toward La Trinitaria, then follow the signed park road. The drive from Comitán takes about 45 minutes to an hour; from San Cristóbal de las Casas it runs 2.5 to 3 hours. The road linking the main lakes is paved and in decent shape, though the last stretch into Pojoj's parking area narrows and has potholes after heavy rain.

By colectivo and moto-taxi

Shared shuttles leave Comitán for the park entrance for around 75 MXN. From the entrance you are on foot or at the mercy of the three-wheeled moto-taxis that run between lakes — a ride between Tziscao and Pojoj costs about 70 MXN. If you are relying on public transport, arrange your return ride with the driver before you set off, because the moto-taxis thin out sharply after 15:00.

Organized day tours

Day tours from San Cristóbal combine Montebello with El Chiflón waterfalls and run around 12 hours, typically costing the equivalent of 45 to 60 USD including transport and park fees. They generally stop at Cinco Lagos, Pojoj and the International Lake, and give you somewhere between 60 and 90 minutes at Pojoj itself — enough for the raft and a lap of the shore, not enough to sit with the place.

The Raft, the Orchid Island and the Rest of the Experience

The signature activity is a ride on a balsa, a flat raft built from locally cut logs and poled across the water. Rates are usually quoted around 250 MXN per person, sometimes per boat depending on the operator and the day. Confirm the price and whether it is per head before you step on. The crossing takes you out toward Isla de las Orquídeas, a small overgrown islet in the middle of the lake where orchids and bromeliads cling to the trunks — the name is old and slightly generous, but the island itself is a strange, quiet thing to circle in a wooden boat.

One rule that catches people out: swimming from the bank is prohibited unless you have paid for the raft, and the fine for ignoring that is reported at 1,000 MXN. The concession is structured so that water access comes bundled with the boat ride.

The orchid island

The islet is the standard photo subject and the turnaround point for most rafts. Ask your boatman to cut the engine — or rather, to stop poling — and drift for a minute on the western side. The reflection off the pine slope behind it is cleaner there, and the light is less flattened than from the landing.

Walking the shore and nearby trails

A marked path follows the rim of the lake, and a longer 6.3-kilometer circuit links Pojoj with Lago El Caracol and the Mirador Laguna La Cañada, gaining about 150 meters of elevation over an easy 1 hour 50 minutes. That loop includes a short ferry crossing, so check the schedule at the landing before committing to it. Sturdy shoes with real grip matter here — the clay along the shaded sections holds water and turns slick.

Photographing the water

The color reads strongest under high, direct sun, so the window from 10:00 to 14:00 beats the usual golden-hour advice. If you want the still, glassy surface, arrive before 08:00, when mist often sits on the water and the day-trippers are still eating breakfast in Comitán. Late afternoon gives you mirror reflections and far fewer people, and sunset around 18:00 is genuinely worth waiting for.

When to Go and What to Know Before You Arrive

November through April is the dry season and the reliable window for the turquoise color. During the rainy months, runoff from the surrounding slopes can turn several lakes in the park a muddy brown, and the shallow lagoons near the Río Grande de Comitán silt up first. Pojoj's depth makes it more resilient than its neighbors, but even here the water loses some of its punch after a week of hard rain. September is the worst of it.

Altitude is a factor people underestimate. The park sits high enough that nights get cold and afternoons can swing from sunburn to drizzle in an hour. Pack a light shell and a fleece, plus a hat, insect repellent and biodegradable sunscreen. Drone use, fishing and alcohol are all prohibited inside the protected area, and the reserve rules ban leaving any waste, lighting fires, or removing plants, animals or minerals. Camping is not allowed at Pojoj itself.

There is no cell signal across most of the park, so download offline maps before leaving Comitán. The closest hospital and ATM are both back in Comitán, an hour away. Local women sell handicrafts near the landing at prices well below what you will pay in tourist shops in San Cristóbal — a small, direct way to put money into the ejido that maintains the site.

Allow around three hours at Pojoj if you want the raft, the shore walk and an unhurried lunch; add another two if you are doing the El Caracol loop. Most people who rush it in 45 minutes on a tour bus come away puzzled about what the fuss was about. The lake rewards sitting still. Entrance fees and raft prices are subject to change — check the CONANP site or ask at the gate for current rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How deep is Lake Pojoj?

Measurements put its maximum depth at close to 198 meters, making it the deepest recorded lake in the Montebello system. That depth is the main reason its color holds up better than the shallow lagoons after heavy rain.

Can you swim in Lake Pojoj?

Only in connection with a paid raft ride. Standing and swimming from the bank without a ticket is fined at 1,000 MXN, so buy the balsa crossing if you want to get in the water.

How much does a visit cost in total?

Budget about 165 MXN for a foreign adult: 125 MXN federal entry plus roughly 40 MXN in ejido fees. Add around 250 MXN for the raft. Everything is cash-only and there is no ATM in the park.

How long should I spend at Lake Pojoj?

Three hours covers the raft, the shoreline path and a meal. If you plan to hike the 6.3-kilometer loop to Lago El Caracol and the La Cañada viewpoint, set aside five hours including the ferry crossing.