Introduction

Though it’s one of the country’s more impoverished regions, the southernmost state of Chiapas is rich in ways that cannot be measured in monetary terms. It is rich in cultural and ethnic diversity, and wildlife.

The state capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez, is the center of a thriving coffee-growing region and birthplace of Mexico’s famed marimba music. To see the state’s variety of wildlife there is no better place than Tuxtla’s Zoomat (Zoologico Manuel Alvarez del Toro), acclaimed for exhibiting only animals native to the region and for faithfully preserving their natural habitat. Also worth visiting here is the Sumidero Canyon Ecological Park, where you can take river cruises along the 26 mile long Grijalva River flanked by towering canyon walls, some as high as 6,000 feet. There’s also kayaking, mountain biking and hiking.

The nearby town of Chiapa de Corzo, which serves as a departure point for the boats, has a few attractions of its own, including an impressive 16th century Moorish fountain and the former Convent of Santo Domingo, which now houses the Museum of Enamel. At El Campanario, a restaurant on the main plaza, you can try some of the regional specialties, including cochito, a delicious pork dish, and chipilin, a hearty soup made with corn dumplings and a native herb.

Tuxtla’s leading hotel, the Camino Real, offers two great restaurants: Azulejos, which is open 24 hours a day, and La Mansion steakhouse. The hotel’s La Cascada lobby bar features live music, including marimba musicians Friday evenings. Two favorite restaurants around town for regional fare are Las Pichinchas (Av. Central Oriente 837; T. (961) 611 1139) and La Casona (1ª Sur Poniente 134; T. (961) 612 7534).