Tapachula

Tapachula de Córdova y Ordóñez or simply Tapachula is a city of 320,000 people (2010) in Chiapas. Tapachula is Mexico's main border city with Guatemala on the Pacific coast area although it is some kilometers away from the border.

Understand


It is one of the most important cities of Chiapas economically as the capital of the agriculturally rich Soconusco region, and a port for trade between Mexico and Central America.

History
The first human settlements of the peoples that later developed into the Mayan civilization have been found on the northern Pacific coast of what is now Guatemala. However, southern Chiapas state in Mexico and Guatemala were a unified region prior to colonization.

One archaeological site of note, Izapa, is 10 km from Tapachula. In addition, the Museo Archaeologico del Soconusco is located in the center of Tapachula in the same building that houses the tourist information center and the Casa de Cultura.

Climate
The climate of the city area is hot and humid most of the year. The area is one of the rainiest in the world with annual rainfall in the mountains of about 3,900 millimetres (150 inches).

By plane
The following airlines offer year-round service:
 * Aeromexico Connect (Mexico City)
 * Viva Aerobus (Monterrey)
 * Volaris (Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey, and Tijuana)

It is the nearest airport to Tapachula, Puerto Chiapas and the Guatemalan frontier towns of Cd Hidalgo/Cd Tecun Uman; and Talisman/El Carmen. It is also another transit point for onward travel to Guatemala from Mexico as it may be less expensive to fly to Tapachula from Mexico City (or elsewhere in Mexico) and continue by bus or shuttle to Guatemala then flying into Guatemala City from Mexico or the U.S.

By car
From Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, it is about 130 km to Tapachula and will take about 2 hours driving plus whatever time is needed at the border for immigration and customs formalities.

From Salina Cruz, it is 470 kilometers, or about a 6-hour drive to Tapachula via federal highway MEX-200.

From Tuxtla Gutierrez, it is about 370 kilometers, or about a 5-hour drive to Tapachula via the autopista MEX-190D and then highway MEX-200.

By bus


There are plenty of buses arrivining from Huixtla, Tuxtla Gutierrez, San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico City, Oaxaca, among others. Also, Tapachula is a good connection point between Guatemala and Mexico with plenty of buses going to Guatemala City. Unlike other Mexican cities, bus companies in Chiapas have their own separate bus stations with the following:

By train
A new daily intercity train from Salina Cruz is planned to launch in 2024.

See

 * Most of the city's monumental structures in the historic center were built in the first decades of the 20th century, although there are large homes near this same area built in the 1960s in Art Deco style, such as the La Portaviandas building. Outside the city downtown, the structures just about all date from the latter 20th century on due to recent growth.
 * The historic center is marked by a large, tree-lined plaza called Parque Miguel Hidalgo. The center of this plaza contains an octagon kiosk with Baroque ironwork with some Moorish influence. Parque Miguel Hidalgo is the center of the city. It surrounded by the old and new municipal palaces, the Perez Porta and the Teatro al Aire Libre (Open Air Theater), which often has marimba concerts.
 * The San Agustín parish church dates from the 18th century, established to honor the patron saint of the city, Augustine. It is a simple construction with a red Spanish tile roof, supported by wood beams. The facade is a simple Neoclassical with six Ionic order columns, three on each side of the entrance, joined by false arches. The top of the facade has two bell towers. This design is based on the Teopisca church. The church became a cathedral in 1958, shortly after the Tapachula diocese was established but that status has since been ceded to the San José Cathedral, consecrated in 2009.
 * The Casa de Cultura was built in 1929 as the municipal palace when the city was prosperous because of the surrounding coffee plantations. Although the style is Art Deco, the facade is decorated with Oaxacan style fretwork, images of Aztec warriors and stylized serpents along with the Mexican and state coats of arms. Today, the building functions as a cultural center for the city.
 * The municipal cemetery is notable as a testament to the immigrant past of the area, with gravestones with German names and Chinese characters. The best examples of both date from the late 19th to early 20th century.
 * Head out of town a little to Calle Miguel Hidalgo (the one out near Calle Semanarista) and check out the crocodile zoo. A quirky little backyard business that houses something like 50 crocodiles and alligators of various species and sizes. the family that runs it is friendly and as much as seeing the crocs themselves it's funny to watch small children chase an even smaller puppy around a backyard literally packed with ferocious reptiles in various cement and chainlink enclosures. Cost is M$25 per person, and a taxi should cost about M$25 each way.
 * The municipal cemetery is notable as a testament to the immigrant past of the area, with gravestones with German names and Chinese characters. The best examples of both date from the late 19th to early 20th century.
 * Head out of town a little to Calle Miguel Hidalgo (the one out near Calle Semanarista) and check out the crocodile zoo. A quirky little backyard business that houses something like 50 crocodiles and alligators of various species and sizes. the family that runs it is friendly and as much as seeing the crocs themselves it's funny to watch small children chase an even smaller puppy around a backyard literally packed with ferocious reptiles in various cement and chainlink enclosures. Cost is M$25 per person, and a taxi should cost about M$25 each way.

Do

 * A tour of Mayan archaeological sites in western Guatemala and southwest Chiapas is available. These sites include: Izapa, Iximche, Zacalueu, Tenam Puente, and Chinkultic.
 * The Cafetaleros de Tapachula represent the city in the Ascenso MX, the second division of Mexican football.

Budget
If you´re on a budget, Tapachula has very affordable lodgings. One example is Hotel Tacana (8a Norte at 13a Poniente). The rooms go for as little as M$100 per night and many have been newly renovated.

Located a block and a half from the main plaza in town (Miguel Hidalgo), on 5a calle pointe, one of the cheaper places to stay is Hotel Quinta instantly recognizable by its astonishingly large sign that says "hotel" in black and white vertical letters.

The lowest budget rooms go for M$200 with no television and no air conditioning. Rooms are a little dirty and toilets have no toilet seats but you can't beat the price in this part of town.

Connect
Tapachula has extensive cellular network coverage but only the downtown area has reliable 5G. Outlying areas are typically 4G. Broadband internet is ubiquitous and most hotels and restaurants offer WiFi connectivity.

Go next

 * Izapa
 * Quetzaltenango
 * El Castaño