Local Life
San Cristóbal’s Mountain Wetlands: La Kisst & María Eugenia
La Kisst and María Eugenia are federally protected mountain wetlands inside San Cristóbal de las Casas. The combined protected area covers 215.70 hectares and supports water capture, aquifer recharge, local flood regulation and the endangered micro-endemic popoyote. These are conservation ecosystems, not ordinary urban parks.
Published
La Kisst and María Eugenia are protected mountain wetlands inside San Cristóbal de las Casas, not ordinary city parks. They are important to the city’s water system, flood regulation and native biodiversity.
Quick answer
Federal protected area: Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Humedales de Montaña La Kisst y María Eugenia
Federal decree: January 8, 2024
Combined protected area: 215.70 hectares
Why they matter: water capture, aquifer recharge, local hydrological regulation and habitat
Flagship endemic species: the endangered popoyote of San Cristóbal (Tlaloc hildebrandi)
Two wetlands, one federal protected area
The federal protected area combines Humedales de Montaña La Kisst and Humedales de Montaña María Eugenia.
CONANP records the federal decree date as January 8, 2024 and the protected surface as 215.70 hectares within the municipality of San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Both wetlands also have a longer conservation history: La Kisst and María Eugenia were designated Ramsar wetlands before the later federal protected-area decree.
Why the wetlands matter to San Cristóbal
CONANP identifies several direct environmental services from the protected area:
- water capture;
- aquifer recharge;
- local hydrological regulation;
- maintenance of soil moisture and water quality;
- habitat for native wildlife.
That means the wetlands are not only “nature near the city.” They are part of the ecological infrastructure of the San Cristóbal valley.
The popoyote of San Cristóbal
One of the most locally distinctive species is Tlaloc hildebrandi, commonly called the popoyote of San Cristóbal.
CONANP’s July 2026 monitoring update describes it as a micro-endemic fish of Los Altos de Chiapas in danger of extinction. Current conservation work includes biological monitoring and control of invasive species because urban pollution and competition from exotic species threaten its survival.
Current conservation pressure
The protected status does not mean the wetlands are free from pressure. During 2026, CONANP and PROFEPA reported enforcement actions involving unauthorized fill, machinery, construction and drainage work inside the protected polygon.
CONANP is also carrying out restoration work, including control of invasive African reed, to improve water availability and wetland resilience.
These current actions are a reminder that the wetlands are active conservation areas rather than generic recreation land.
Visiting and access
SanCrisGo does not present La Kisst or María Eugenia as conventional walk-in tourist attractions. The federal protected-area page documents access routes, but current conservation and enforcement activity means visitors should not assume that every edge, path or open-looking area is a public recreational entrance.
If you want to see the area, use the current Place pages and official CONANP information, respect protected-zone restrictions and do not enter private or restoration areas.
For visitor-oriented forest walking, use Best Hikes & Nature Walks instead.