A calm industrial center in Chiapas' valley, with strong production of coffee, textiles and lumber. Home to a state university and surrounded by Sierra Madre mountains.
Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital of Mexico's southernmost state Chiapas, sits in a valley surrounded by mountains at 1,740 feet above sea level. You'll spot spider monkeys swinging through the trees at ZooMAT's 100-hectare forest, hear marimba bands playing nightly concerts in the central park, and watch eagles soar above the 3,000-foot limestone walls of Sumidero Canyon. The city's streets buzz with local markets, coffee shops, and cultural museums, while traditional Chiapaneco food fills the air with aromas of adobo and regional spices.
Getting Around Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Plaza Cívica forms the heart of downtown, with its whitewashed Saint Mark's Cathedral and government buildings. Local buses run along the main avenues throughout the day, and radio taxis operate 24 hours for direct routes. To reach the city from Ángel Albino Corzo International Airport, located 35 kilometers away, take an authorized taxi or pre-arranged shuttle.
ZooMAT and El Zapotal Reserve
Walk through 100 hectares of semi-humid forest at the Miguel Alvarez del Toro Zoo (ZooMAT), set within El Zapotal Ecological Reserve. The zoo's winding paths take you past 220 species native to Chiapas. You'll walk right past jaguars lounging in forest clearings, spot brilliant quetzal birds in the canopy, and watch spider monkeys swing through the branches in environments that mirror their wild habitats.
Parks and Green Spaces
Every evening at Marimba Park, local bands play traditional music from the central gazebo while families and couples gather to listen and dance. Stroll through the Dr. Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden's four hectares along the Sabinal River to see endangered plant species from central Chiapas. Six blocks from Plaza Cívica, Madero Park's Paseo de los Hombres Ilustres walkway connects several museums and cultural centers.
Local Food and Markets
Inside Mercado de los Ancianos, near the zoo, vendors fill their stalls with fresh produce, meat, seafood, and local crafts. Stop at the market's outdoor café, marked by its distinctive red tent, to taste regional specialties like pictes (sweet corn tamales), chispota (beef with chickpeas), and cochito (pork in adobo sauce). Look for local ingredients like chipilín herbs wrapped in tamales and regional spices seasoning meat dishes.
Museums and Culture
Explore pre-Hispanic artifacts from ancient Chiapas settlements in one hall of the Regional Museum of Anthropology and History, then walk through its collection of 15th-century colonial art. Try hands-on experiments at the Museum of Science and Technology, where exhibits focus on robotics, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. Learn about coffee production at the Coffee Museum, where you can follow the journey from bean to cup inside a colonial-style building.
