It is bordered by the municipalities of Jesús Carranza, Hidalgotitlán, Minatitlán, and Las Choapas in Veracruz, as well as Santa María Chimalapa in Oaxaca.

[1] Its municipal seat is the town of La Chinantla (Poblado Diez), its largest community, with a 2005 census population of 2,579 inhabitants.

[3] The municipality is located in a valley of the same name, it has excellent ecotourism views, jungles, rock formations and rivers lined with sandy and gravel beaches and caves.

The region is a source of Olmec, Mayan, Chimalapan, Zapotec and Totonacan Antiquities treasured by the inhabitants, best represented by the lion statue on top of La Esmeralda, Chimalapa municipal agency.

The municipality was the base of "La Gringa" and "EL Corte" plantations, dedicated to the cultivation of rubber plants, bananas, and coffee and the illegal extraction of Emeralds, Gold and Rubies, owned by American companies before being expelled during the Mexican Revolution of 1910.