Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
What Tuxtla is really like.
The capital of Chiapas, and the city around our first partner home. Here are the questions people ask us most, answered plainly.
The city
Paved boulevards, not thatched roofs
Tuxtla is the largest city in Chiapas, and a busy, working state capital. You will find paved boulevards, heavy traffic, shopping malls, movie theaters, and familiar names like Walmart and Sam’s Club. Small green-and-white vans called colectivos carry many people around town.
Not a resort town
Most visitors come for work or pass through on the way to the canyon and the mountains. People here are going about ordinary lives, which is part of what makes a week here feel real.
Real need, too
Modern streets do not mean everyone is doing well. About half of the people in the metro area lived in moderate or extreme poverty in 2020.
Around the home
The home sits in a peaceful, quiet area about 40 minutes from the airport, and the center’s vans bring you there. We do not publish its name or exact location, to protect the children.
Safety
Is it safe?
Safety and security are our number one focus at the home, and the area around it is peaceful and quiet. We also want you to have the full picture, because no trip is free of risk.
What the U.S. government says
As of November 2026, the State Department rates the state of Chiapas Level 3: Reconsider Travel, because of crime and terrorism. It bars its own employees from parts of the state, including the southeast near Guatemala and the municipality of Ocozocoautla. The rating covers the whole state, not one city. Read the current advisory.
How we run our trips
You travel with the group in the center’s vans. We stay out of restricted areas, and we plan outings so the group is back before dark. We recommend travel insurance that covers medical evacuation.
Culture
Zoque roots, marimba in the air
Who lives here
Tuxtla began as a Zoque settlement. Most people today are of mixed Indigenous and Spanish heritage, and Zoque traditions live on in the city’s food, crafts, and carnival.
Languages
Spanish is the everyday language. A small share of people also speak Zoque, Tzotzil, Tzeltal, Zapotec, or Ch’ol. Scott and Elvia both speak Spanish.
Music and crafts
The marimba is the sound of Chiapas, and the Jardín de la Marimba is a park built around it. Look for hand embroidery, lacquerware, and amber jewelry.
Festivals
The Feria de San Marcos comes in April and the Feria Chiapas from late November to early December, along with the Zoque Carnival.
Typical food
Corn, herbs, and slow-baked pork.
What makes it special
A city on the edge of a canyon
Few state capitals sit this close to something this big. Just north of town, the walls of the Sumidero Canyon rise up to about 3,300 feet above the Grijalva River.
Sumidero Canyon
Boat tours of 2 to 3 hours pass spider monkeys, parrots, and river crocodiles. They leave from Chiapa de Corzo, about 30 minutes from Tuxtla.
Chiapa de Corzo
A colonial river town with a marimba museum. Its January Parachicos festival is recognized by UNESCO.
Miguel Álvarez del Toro Zoo
Founded in 1942 on about 250 acres, and known for its work breeding quetzals.
San Cristóbal de las Casas
A cooler colonial town in the mountains, roughly an hour away on the toll road. We make this trip by day.
Weather
Warm all year, wet in summer
Bring light clothes in any month. March is hot and dry. August is a little cooler and much rainier, so pack a rain jacket.
| Month | High | Low | Range | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 85°F | 58°F | 0.0 in | |
| Feb | 88°F | 60°F | 0.2 in | |
| MarService week | 92°F | 63°F | 0.2 in | |
| Apr | 95°F | 67°F | 0.4 in | |
| May | 94°F | 69°F | 3.1 in | |
| Jun | 90°F | 69°F | 8.5 in | |
| Jul | 89°F | 68°F | 6.9 in | |
| AugTrades week | 89°F | 68°F | 7.3 in | |
| Sep | 88°F | 68°F | 7.5 in | |
| Oct | 86°F | 66°F | 2.6 in | |
| Nov | 85°F | 63°F | 0.6 in | |
| Dec | 85°F | 60°F | 0.2 in |
Typical averages for 1991–2020. Any given day can differ.
Sources: 2020 census, municipal figures · Data México · Climates to Travel, 1991–2020 averages · Chiapas state tourism · Chiapas state food guide · UNESCO · Wikivoyage · Mexperience, a travel guide with more practical detail.