Minutes from the Guatemalan border, the enchanting Mexican city of Tapachula is located in the southern State of Chiapas and is only now beginning to open its doors to tourism, and what a jewel it is .  For those who like the unspoiled and refreshing attitudes of a destination where the clamor for the all mighty dollar has not yet been felt, Tapachula offers exactly that.  When walking the downtown area of this city you are not approached by marauding vendors so typical of places found along the beaten path, for here the locals enjoy their own culture with all of its festive colors and innocent charm.

None the less, Tapachula is laced with excellent hotels, fine restaurants and shops that invite those who  come to visit to enter and partake.  This urban setting makes an excellent base camp from which to explore the many fun and unique diversions this region offers.  For example, a short taxi ride gets you to the Izapa Archeological Site, an excavated ruin of the Mixe and Zoque cultures that dates back to 1,500 B.C.  The center of trade circa that same period, the currency used here during those pre-Hispanic times was the cocoa bean, where a hundred such beans could facilitate the purchase of property, slaves, etc.   Carpeted by rich grasses that cover the flat terrain Izapa sits on and surrounded by a jungle that would once again (and in an instant) envelope these ruins if the Mexican Government was not dedicated to preserving and showcasing this multi-cultural and diverse society, Izapa is but one of several jewels in the crown of Chiapas.

Located across the street from Central Miguel Hidalgo Park in downtown Tapachula is the Regional Museum of Athropology (Museo Arqueologicao of Soconusco), a must-stop when visiting downtown. Housed inside and beautifully displayed are many of the important artifacts of the Pre-Classic Maya Period, along with artifacts from the Olmec and Aztec cultures that have been excavated from the many local archeological sites like Izapa. Sitting immediately adjacent to the Museum is the House of Culture with its legion of local arts and crafts exhibits and many of Tapachula’s unique antiques.  Located across the street in the city’s town square are massive stained glass windows, the breadth and width which beautifully portray the rich history, many cultures and regional icons that are such an integral part of Tapachula and the Mexican State of Chiapas.

Proactive and on the cusp of developing its regional treasures, the Mexican government has worked closely with the major cruise lines to build the needed infrastructure that can support large cruise ships visiting Tapachula and the south of Chiapas.  Holland America Cruise Lines is one such cruise line that now makes regularly scheduled stops at the Port of Chiapas.  Their organized tours to the Ixapa and into the City of Tapachula are excursions that provide a broad variety of things to see and experience.  In addition to these you can also visit the Buenos Aires Ranch and explore the acres of orchids they grow and ship around the world.  Here you can take a look at the state-of-the-art commercial fish farm from which hundreds of tons of fresh tilapia are sold to neighboring countries each year.  A festival that features the Charreria (the national Mexican sport of tumbling a bull by the tail, calf roping, horseback riding) is a popular past time that can experienced while visiting the southern tip of Mexico.

 For the naturalist and especially for those whose world revolves around the sighting of exotic birds, Laguna de Pozuelox is for you.  An important eco system, this lagoon includes a system of mangrove trees that play an important role in maintaining and shaping the Chiapas coast line, especially during hurricanes.  This is a habitat that is home to hundreds of birds that birders from around the world come seeking to see.  All of these things that appear to the unique and unusual to the outsider are routine occurrences in the southern end of Chiapas State.   And for those who enjoy nature’s many different faces, sharing the border between Mexico and Guatemala is Tacana, a volcano that rises 13,000- plus feet above the surrounding jungles and whose mere presence serves as a reminder that the world is an awesome place. 

Happy Traveling!