Tuxtla Gutiérrez

Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital of the Mexican State of Chiapas, is usually just a pass-through for most travelers on their way to San Cristóbal de las Casas and Palenque. However, since we had visited both of those places in 2003, we opted to break up our journey with 2 days in Tuxtla before taking a night bus onward to Oaxaca.

As I said in the previous entry, soccer fans, in town for a Saturday night match of the hometown Club de Fútbol Jaguares de Chiapas had taken the best budget rooms downtown so we settled for a so-so room. First thing Sunday morning we moved to the Hotel Torre, located at the corner of the bustling Plaza Civica. Did I say that Tuxtla was hot; in the 90's both days we were there; therefore the plazas and parks were beehives of activity in the pleasant evenings.

We especially enjoyed the Parque Marimba which features a marimba band every night. The locals really turn out to listen, dance, eat and stroll.

Day One we walked around town looking for vegetarian food and seeing sites.

Day Two, in the morning, we toured the local zoo, called ZOOMAT (Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro), which features animals native to Chiapas; most in large shady enclosures, and some roaming free. An excellent zoo. One of the best we've visited. Highlights were the resplendent quetzals, the jaguars, the anteater, the spider monkeys, the Nocturnal Animal House, and the toucans.

In the afternoon, we took a bus to Ciapa de Corzo intending to take a boat ride through Sumidero Canyon, but it was way too hot and sunny, so we had lunch, toured the few sites, and went back to Tuxtla.

The Plaza Civica.


Parque Jardín de la Marimba. Even before the band started playing, the benches were full and the dancers ready.


Busy street at night.


Newspaper vendor.


Black Jaguar at the ZOOMAT.


This toucan was very intersted in me.


Back of female quetzal. The cage was enclosed with several layers of fence and chickwire, so no good photos.


Anteater.


View from top of church in Chiapa de Corzo.


The famous Moorish Fountain in Chiapa de Corzo.


A meal from one of our sessions at Naturalismo Vegetarian.