Tuxtla Gutiérrez, México
Tuxtla Gutiérrez, also known as Tuxtla is the largest city in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Just like many corners of the country, Tuxtla conserves much of the folklore and culture that makes this country so popular, but it is also notorious for being a place where you can find a wide variety of food and traditional dishes unlike any other place in the world. Tuxtla is considered a very organized and clean city; this fact has been recognized by PROFEPA (Federal Office for the Protection of the Environment) and they have also received the certificate by the International Safe Community Network for being a safe community in the year 2011.
The weather is warm and humid with a lot of rain during the summer. The local average temperature is 76 degrees Fahrenheit but during the summer they can reach temperatures of over 100 degrees. Visiting this place all year round can be a wonderful experience, especially because all of the amenities and great activities that it offers.
El Cañón Del Sumidero (Sumidero Canyon)
This natural wonder was formed millions of years ago and it was become one of the most amazing sites Mexico has to offer. The canyon has vertical walls measuring up to 1000 meters in height filled with moss and beautiful local flowers. Small boats and rafts can take visitors down the river to admire the canyon, but the trip can also be done by land finding many over watches and cliffs to observe the amazing landscape and to camp and spend the night surrounded by nature.
While traveling through the canyon, it is possible to run into wildlife like monkeys, crocodiles and many species of birds that filled the paths with songs and sounds.
To reach the Sumidero Canyon, you may take a boat from 8:00am to 5:00 pm every day; the tours lasts about 2 or 3 hours unless you are planning on staying overnight inside the national park. There is also a route that can take you there from downtown Tuxtla all the way to the over watch.
Sima De Las Cotorras (Sinkhole of the Parrots)
This geological formation is a sinkhole of around 140 meters of depth with 160 meters of circumference.
The name comes from the amount of parrots found around the area flying around and greeting visitors with a show of sound and colors. Inside the hole, you can see paintings on the rock wall that have been there for a thousand years, made by members of the ancient Zoque culture. The sinkhole is one of the favorite spots for those looking for a unique hiking, rappelling and rock climbing experience. Those are also the only ways you can access the inside of the sinkhole to appreciate the ancient art and the vegetation present at the bottom of the hole. In order to reach the Sima de las Cotorras, you must travel to the city of Ocozocoautla de Espinosa, 35 km away from Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Visitor hours are from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm every day.
Image courtesy of Erwin Morales at Flickr.com
Miguel Álvarez Del Toro Zoo
Miguel Álvarez Zoo is also known as Nocturnal House due to the night tour offered to tourist in order to see the activity of many of the nocturnal animals that are housed here. The zoo was founded by Eliseo Palacios to study many of the local species of animals and plants to find ways to better promote their conservation. The zoo can be visited 24 hours a day. At night you can see animals like owls, raccoons, and some monkeys and during the day many of the local fauna. The zoo is famous for housing many endangered species that are endemic from the region of Chiapas. The zoo is located inside the rainforest, something that provides the animal with a habitat that is more natural to them. Some of the animals housed here are parrots, jaguars, spider monkeys, otters, spiders and other insects amongst others.
Casa Chiapas Institute
Casa Chiapas Institute is a place for artisans with the objective of promoting local art created by Mexican artist belonging to the local patrimony. Chiapas is considered a site with an expansive artisanal diversity that has become a reference point for those looking for this type of art. Here you can find basket weaving, woodwork, jewelry, textiles, metalwork, leatherwork and more. Chiapas artisans aim to show the world their skill, culture and their artwork in order to keep alive their traditions and rich cultural heritage.
Marimba Park
This park is located in downtown Tuxtla and is a place where people meet daily to spend time together. The place is embellished by beautiful gardens and local stores that sell candy, pastries, and coffee. The park has become a perfect place to meet and for entertainment as well as one of the main attractions in Chiapas for those who want to listen to the Marimba, a traditional local instrument that is played by musicians who visit the park. The players are there every night of the year from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
If you decide to visit the beautiful city of Tuxtla or any of the many Mexican destinations we cover, here at Royal Holiday Destinations we recommend to stay at the beautiful Marriott Tuxtla Gutiérrez Hotel, a great location near the best spots to visit in Tuxtla.
