It borders the municipalities of Acala to the east, Venustiano Carranza to the southeast, and Chiapa de Corzo to the west.

[2] The rolling terrain of Emiliano Zapata is mostly covered by farmland and pastureland with isolated patches of jungle.

On 23 November 2011, the government of Chiapas decreed the creation of the municipalities of Belisario Domínguez, El Parral, Emiliano Zapata, and Mezcalapa.

[1] A paved spur route of Mexican Federal Highway 190 runs from Chiapa de Corzo northwest to southeast through the municipality, crossing over the Grijalva River on the Angostura Dam into Venustiano Carranza.

[5] Tuxtla Gutiérrez International Airport is located about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west of 20 de Noviembre.