Tuxtla Gutiérrez, usually just called Tuxtla, is the capital of Chiapas, and a busy government, commercial and services-oriented city. It is not a tourist attraction, but normal Mexican city, also acting as a transportation hub for tourists coming into the state due to its major airport and a bus terminal.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
Tuxtla, a tropical city of 700,000 people (2015), is the economic powerhouse and biggest city of Chiapas. It is a transportation hub for the entire region which also hosts one of the main airports of Chiapas. Tuxtla has had one of the fastest growing rates in Mexico since the 1970s. As most of the city was constructed during the boom that began in the 1970s, it's quite livable for residents but isn't oriented around tourism. However, its outskirts do hold some locations of interest to visitors, such as the viewpoints over the Cañón del Sumidero just outside town to the north, and the famous ZooMat natural-style zoo, showcasing local wild animal species.
As in most Mexican cities, taxis are readily available, and cheap by North American or European standards. The city has an extensive network of "colectivos" (white vans acting as buses) that run fixed routes, generally stopping only at designated stops marked by street pullouts and/or bus-shelter canopies, which are located every two or three blocks. As of April 2024, they seem to all cost 8 pesos per ride. Though the system is complex, it can be quite easy to use once you get the hang of it. Every colectivo is associated with a route number, marked on the outside as "Ruta ___", not to be confused with the often larger, longer operator registration number.
1 Miradores Cañón del Sumidero. Closed Tuesdays. Though more tourists visit here as part of a tour from San Cristóbal de las Casas, the viewpoints over the top of the canyon are actually accessed from Tuxtla, and are convenient to visit from the city center if you have your own car. For more info on the canyon, see the Cañón del Sumidero article. Though the entrance (marked on the map in this article) is accessible by colectivo Route 69, the actual viewpoints are many kilometers up the road through the national park, and the staff at the tollbooth won't let you in without a car except during "athlete" hours from 6-8 in the morning.
1 Convivencia Infantil, Calzada al sumidero, ☏ +52 961 387 4178. daily 08:00-21:00, closed M. Games, rides (e.g. go-karts), replicas of pyramids and dinosaurs, etc. (updated Sep 2020) 2 Alberca Reserva Cerro Hueco, Calle Marcelino Álvarez 420 (next to the Science and Tech Museum). daily 09:00-17:00, except Tu. Nature preserve and swimming pool. (May want to take a look at the color of the water before jumping in.). (updated Sep 2020) Aéreo Park, At Joyyo Mayu Park. High ropes course with informational signs about the different trees as you go along. (updated Sep 2020)
Mole — A type of sauce from the south. Ordering a 'mole' will normally get you chicken and rice smothered in this sauce, sometimes tortillas are served underneath, sometimes they're given separate. All these are in the city center: 1 Hostal tres central, ☏ +52 961 611 3674. Straightforward hostel with a dining terrace. (updated Nov 2020) 2 El Pozol, Calle Tercera Ote. Sur 379. (updated Sep 2022) 3 Restaurante Candilejas, Sexta Pte. Nte. 667. (updated Sep 2022) 4 Gorditas Don Rafita, Av 1a. Sur Pte 185. (updated Sep 2022) 5 Fonda El Jardín Los Chilaquiles, Calle Segunda Pte. Sur 627. (updated Sep 2022) 6 La Casa del Sazón Restaurante & para Llevar, Av 2a. Sur Pte 331.
Pozol — A chocolate/maize drink typical to Chiapas, not to be confused with Pozole, a type of stew/soup from further north.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Jul, Tuxtla Gutierrez typically sees ~33°C daytime highs and 11 rainy days.
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