Tuxtla Gutiérrez

Tuxtla Gutierrez is the state capital of Chiapas. People come on their way to other parts of the state, and some lucky few are forced by travel circumstances to learn what this city is all about. Some 600,000 permanent residents make it easily the biggest city in Chiapas, and Mexican people seem to overwhelmingly respect that putting an urban center in a land of flowered pastures, pony fields, and water falls was never going to be an easy task. Tuxtla brings it together with aplomb. The dramatic Cañón del Sumidero opens practically on the northern edge of the city. To the south, an equally formidable chain of mountains just seems to emphasize that this is Chiapas - everything about the capital has to be that much more fantastic. 

Of course, Tuxtla is the capital of culture, cooking, and all of the adventures that start out from here. Every adventure team in the state will have at least some team here whether you plan to head to mountains, jungles, rivers, or little towns. The historic center of Tuxtla is rightfully a neighborhood of  museums, churches and plazas and parks that teem with the life and greenery for which Chiapas is beloved. There are no fewer than 18 museums and similar sites of interest, and mostly close by. Tuxtla Gutierrez is home to a museum dedicated to coffee, another to the marimba, plus ancient and human history.

Of course, the Chiapas botaneros are famous for combining traditional foods, cold drinks, and the local ambiance into something all its own. There are some great restaurants. But as much as anything people come back to Tuxtla for the markets. The Mercado de los Ancianos is probably the most famous. But don't miss out on the Mercado Dulces y Artesanias and if you pass any of the other dozen markets in Tuxtla, pay a visit.

At night, the Parque de la Marimba nearly always has people swaying and dancing to live music. But there is an extensive nightlife going on all the time, and even later.   

As mention, many visitors to Tuxtla stop en route to the Sumidero Canyon, the waterfall at El Aguacero, or further to the the sunken church of Quechula. The Chichon volcano, Chichonal is just one of the truly majestic sites as you start to venture back out of the city. 

The Tuxtla airport gets regular flights from both AIFA and AICM in Mexico City. There is also, of course, bus service from nearly all of Chiapas. The trip from the capital of Oaxaca takes about nine hours in a bus, and driving will only shave a little off of that. The bus from Palenque is only about six hours. But the bus from Arriaga and the new connection with the Tren Interoceanico is only about two hours directly south from Tuxtla.