At last! Boca del Cielo is open with services!
Its real name Isla San Marcos, is a small island on the Pacific coast of Chiapas, the most popular of the beach getaways from San Cristóbal, especially among the community of resident foreigners and backpackers who pass through here.
The curiosity of this islet is that it is divided from the coast by a lagoon of calm waters. So at the same time you can safely swim on the side of the lagoon, which is very attractive especially for families with children, and walking about 5-10 minutes you will get to admire the beauty of the Pacific on the other side.

Rustic and austere, Boca del Cielo allows you to forget about civilization (although the internet and a good phone signal have arrived) and that’s why I love it. It seems that the golden age of the island has passed. You will find several abandoned establishments, completely in ruin. At the same time there are some new places, with design, comfort and a slightly higher standard. In any case, you need to be aware that San Marcos Island is a very rustic and simple place: it is a place to spend time in nature. There are no streets, only sand, ocean and sun. You will leave the car on the other side, in one of the many parking lots in the town.

 

HOW TO GET THERE:

To get from San Cristóbal, at a good speed it takes three and a half hours. The road is very good, only the last section, crossing the town, is full of bumps. By public transport, you have to get to Tonalá and in Tonalá take a public transport to Boca del Cielo. In both cases, arriving at the town of Boca del Cielo, you have to take a boat to cross the lagoon and reach the island. Normally, with prior notice, the establishment where you go, sends the boat for you. Sometimes they give it to you out of courtesy, sometimes you have to pay.

 

LODGING AND FOOD:

This is our choice with our approximate comments and standard prices (for July 2020).

The establishments in the center of the island have easy access to the lagoon, which is recommended especially for families with children, where the little ones can swim safely. Especially on the weekend it can be noisy as boat rides with bananas are offered  and are flying all over the lagoon. As for vegetarians, it’s a good idea to bring some food with you, Paraiso and La Luna have vegetarian food on menu.

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This time we stayed for a week at Cabañas y Restaurante ERIKA and we highly recommend it. The place is clean and comfortable, prices affordable. Don José, the owner, is very attentive and friendly. The restaurant specializes, like all restaurants on the island, in fish and seafood and is eaten rich and well served.

Prices: Cabins with fan for 4 pax $ 500, for 1-2 pax $ 300. Cabins with air conditioning $ 800. Private and shared bathrooms.
Camping: yes
Pets: yes
Extras: Wi-Fi and courtesy boat with prior notice, card payments
Contact: Don Jose, calls: +52 9661271461, whatsapp: +529661361033
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/restauranterika/

 

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Another recommended economic option is COOPERATIVA PARAÍSO. The cooperative is very popular with backpackers and foreigners. It transmits tranquility and good vibes. The place has a lot of vegetation, the cabins are simple. It is indeed a cooperative in which local people produce food as well as jams, dried fruit and have chickens. The food is very rich and offers the menu of the day at $ 80. There are no waiters or anything like this. Consent to where you are going. Additionally, for nature lovers, they offer boat tours for bird watching and mangrove observation at a good price (approx. 3 hours).
It is located at one end of the island, next to the mangroves. For the same reason, I do not recommend it much for families with young children because the access to the lagoon is between the mangroves, it has practically no beach and entrance on this side so that the children can bathe. You have to know how to swim.

Prices: Cabins with 1 double bed $ 250, with 2 double beds $ 350, shared bathrooms.
Camp: yes – $ 45
Pets: yes but watch out, there are chickens
Extras: includes coffee, carafe water, soap.
Contact: Blas +52 966 114 5479, Wendy +52 966 1153588, Gabriel +52 966 1237139
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cooperativaparaiso/

 

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A little before paradise, far from the center of the island, is LA LUNA. The place is very nice, quiet, clean and full of vegetation. The food is very rich with a European influence, since the owners are a Portuguese and an Italian. The only detail is that they handle many rules, among them you can not bring any food, not even your water bottle.
Prices: Cabins with private and shared bathroom $ 400-600.
Camp: no
Pets: no
Contact: Anabela +52 966 1064893
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.lunachiapas.com.mx/

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For those looking for more comfort and air-conditioned cabins we recommend a totally new place – OASIS. Every detail was created by the designers, it even has small pools to soak your feet in. Easy access to water on the lagoon side. All cabins have air conditioning and television.

Prices: cabin for 2 pax $ 700, for 4 pax – $ 1500, for 6 pax – $ 1800.
Camp: no
Contact: +52 966 1231477, +52 961 2670392
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oasisbocadelcielo/

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Finally, in the central part, between Erika and Oasis is another of the new establishments, TURTLE HOUSE. Something more funky, different from the typical palapas of the island, with the armchairs and lounge area overlooking the Pacific, offers beautiful cabins with and without conditioned area. Very friendly service. They offer a boat ride through the mangroves.
Prices: from $ 600 with fan
Camping: yes
Contact: +52 961 303 8411
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TURTLEHOUSECHIAPAS/

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We have not known, because it is not working at the moment, but we were highly recommended an ecological and different project, a glamping: ENTREMARES. In the mangrove area, passing the Paraiso cooperative.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/entremaresmexico/