Things to do in  Tuxtla Gutiérrez

Situated on the northern banks of the Grijalva River, Chiapa de Corzo is one of the region’s oldest Spanish settlements with a rich indigenous history, which serves as a jumping-off point for excursions into the Sumidero Canyon. Highlights include the 16th-century church—among the best-preserved in Chiapas—and crown-shaped La Pila fountain.

A busy, leafy town square tucked into Tuxtla Gutiérrez’s central Guadalupe barrio, or neighborhood, this pint-sized park takes its name from the wooden percussion instrument native to Mexico, Guatemala, and many parts of Africa. Parque de la Marimba is one of the best places in the Chiapas capital to catch an evening marimba performance, while during the day, it provides a refuge from the city’s bustle.

Most zoos showcase animals from around the world, but Zoológico Miguél Álvarez del Toro (ZOOMAT) focuses on the flora and fauna of Chiapas, the second most biodiverse state in Mexico. Many animals are kept in naturalistic, open-air enclosures while others roam free, making ZOOMAT more like a national park than a traditional zoo.