8 Best Things to Do in Tuxtla Gutierrez (+ 2–3 Day Itinerary)

There are plenty of things to do in Tuxtla Gutierrez, but the main reason I’d include the city in a Chiapas itinerary is what you can reach from it. Most importantly, Sumidero Canyon, which ended up being the absolute highlight of my journey.

Get ready for an action-packed trip to Tuxtla Gutiérrez! You will test your limits, see the most beautiful place in Mexico, try exceptional dishes, and depart full of memories. I prepared a step-by-step guide to show you what to do in Tuxtla Gutiérrez to enjoy it to the fullest—including photos, a detailed itinerary, opening hours, and travel tips. Let’s dig into it!

I’d plan at least 2 days in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, or 3 if you want more time for the surrounding attractions. In this guide, I’ll cover the best things to do in Tuxtla Gutierrez, the day trips I think are worth your time, and how to organize your visit.

Read more from my Mexico travel guide.

 

Is Tuxtla Gutierrez worth visiting?

Even if just for the day trips around Lago Montebello, it is soo worth visiting
 

Yes, I think Tuxtla Gutierrez is worth visiting, especially if you’re exploring Chiapas. I wouldn’t come here expecting a beautiful colonial city packed with sights, though. The real advantage of Tuxtla is that it makes a great base for some of the best places in the surrounding area.

A lot of travelers treat Tuxtla as somewhere to fly into and leave again, but if you like nature, hiking, museums, and road trips, there’s enough here and around the city to justify spending 2–3 days.

Sumidero Canyon alone is a good enough reason for me to stop here. It was the absolute highlight of my journey, and you can reach it either from Tuxtla itself for the miradors or from nearby Chiapa de Corzo for the boat trip.

With places like Sima de las Cotorras and Cascada El Aguacero also within reach, Tuxtla works particularly well as a base for exploring this part of Chiapas.

 

 

Best things to do in Tuxtla Gutierrez – quick overview

 

Things to do in Tuxtla Gutierrez

1. St. Mark’s Cathedral
2. Museums
3. Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden
4. Tuxtla Gutiérrez restaurants

Day trips from Tuxtla Gutierrez

1. Sumidero Canyon + Chiapa de Corzo
2. Cascada El Aguacero
3. Sima de las Cotorras
4. San Cristóbal

 

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• The Best Food in Mexico: 11 Things You Should Try + 3 You Shouldn’t
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• 33 Mexico Travel Tips from Our Own Experience

 

How many days do you need in Tuxtla Gutierrez?

The amount of time you spend here depends heavily on how much time you want to spend admiring Sumidero Canyon
 

I’d spend two days in Tuxtla Gutiérrez. That gives you enough time for the city and the best places nearby without dragging out a stop that doesn’t need a week. 

One day: Enough if you mainly want to see Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo, but you’ll have very little time for Tuxtla itself.

Two days: This is what I recommend. You have time for Tuxtla Gutiérrez sightseeing and Sima de las Cotorras on the first day, followed by Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo on the second.

Three days: Add a third day if you want to visit Cascada El Aguacero without squeezing it into an already busy itinerary.

After that, I’d move on and see more of Chiapas rather than add extra days in Tuxtla. My Chiapas itinerary covers where I’d go next. 

 

 

How to spend 2–3 days in Tuxtla Gutierrez: Itinerary

Here are the highlights!

 

Day 1

Let’s start with Tuxtla Gutiérrez sightseeing.

1. The Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Chiapas (around 1–2 hours)
2. Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden (around 1 hour)
3. The Museum of Coffee (up to 1 hour)
4. St. Mark’s Cathedral (20–30 minutes)
5. The Museum of Marimba (around 1 hour)
6. Lunch in Las Pichanchas
7. In the afternoon, let’s take a trip to Sima de las Cotorras. The best time to observe the parrots is just before dusk.

 

This tour starts and ends near the same place: The Regional Museum of Anthropology and History. I recommend parking there.

Check on the map how to get to Sima de las Cotorras

 

Day 2

Get ready for Sumidero Canyon!

1. Boat trip from Chiapa de Corzo (around 3 hours)
2. Chiapa de Corzo (allow some extra time to look around)
3. Miradors (around 2 hours)
4. Dinner at Cafe Bar 500 Noches

 

Let's go to Sumidero Canyon!

The boat trip starts in Chiapa de Corzo, so it makes sense to have a look around while you’re already there. After that, head back towards Tuxtla Gutiérrez and see Sumidero Canyon from above at the miradors.

 

Optional day 3

1. Morning/early afternoon: Cascada El Aguacero (around 5 hours)

Allow around 1.5 hours to drive there from Tuxtla Gutiérrez. With the drive, hike, time for swimming in the river, and the waterfall, the trip takes around 5 hours in total. That’s why I’d give El Aguacero its own day rather than try to squeeze it in after Sumidero Canyon.

 

Things to know before visiting Tuxtla Gutierrez

@ Hotel Hilton Garden Inn Tuxtla Gutierrez

 

• Best time to visit: Tuxtla Gutiérrez is hot year-round, but the dry season is the easiest time for sightseeing and day trips. I’d aim for roughly November to April if you have a choice. If you’re visiting places like El Aguacero, weather matters even more—never go there after it has been raining because of the risk of flash floods.
• How to get there: Most international travelers will arrive through Ángel Albino Corzo International Airport (TGZ), which is outside Tuxtla Gutiérrez. You can also reach the city by long-distance bus from other destinations in Mexico.
• How to get around: We had a car, and I’d recommend one if you’re following this itinerary. Tuxtla itself has taxis and colectivos, but several of the places we visited are outside the city, and having a car gives you much more flexibility. For sightseeing in the center, this tour starts and ends near the same place: The Regional Museum of Anthropology and History. I recommend parking there.
• Is Tuxtla Gutierrez safe? Safety conditions in Chiapas have changed since our trip. The U.S. State Department currently advises travelers to reconsider travel to Chiapas due to terrorism and crime, with restrictions for U.S. government employees in some parts of the state. Check the latest official travel advice before your trip.
• Where to stay: We enjoyed our stay at Marriott Tuxtla Gutiérrez Hotel. Great location, nice personnel, gym, pool, and tasty breakfast—what else could you wish for?
• Another option: Less than an hour by car from Sumidero Canyon, there is a Hotel Hilton Garden Inn. It has a great pool, cozy rooms, and look at that fancy breakfast!

 

The most beautiful atrium I’ve ever seen! @ Marriott Tuxtla Gutierrez

 

 

What to Do in Tuxtla Gutierrez: Best attractions

1. St. Mark’s Cathedral

Catedral de San Marcos
 

Opening hours: 7 am–8 pm daily
Entrance: Free
Time needed: 20–30 minutes
From Tuxtla Gutiérrez: In the city center
My tip: Time your visit for the hour so you can see and hear the cathedral’s 48-bell carillon.

Sightseeing in Tuxtla Gutiérrez should always start with Catedral de San Marcos, Tuxtla’s most prominent landmark. Its neoclassical white walls, remnants of frescoes, and 48 bells that ring every hour are what make it stand out. The 48 bells were the most memorable part for me, so I’d time your visit for the carillon. Pope John Paul II visited in 1990 too, although I suspect that had more to do with San Marcos being the seat of the local archdiocese than the bells. Who knows.

 

2. Dive into Tuxtla Gutiérrez’s museums

It goes without saying that Chiapas has a long history. You can see it with your own eyes: in Tuxtla, you’ll bump into a museum at every turn. I’d like to mention three of them:

 

Explore Chiapas history at the Regional Museum

Regional Museum Chiapas has a seriously sick collection; I highly recommend it

Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 9 am–6 pm
Entrance: 85 MXN (about USD 5) for Mexican nationals; 155 MXN (about USD 9) for foreign visitors
Time needed: Around 1–2 hours
From Tuxtla Gutiérrez: In the city
My tip: Are you into the ancient civilizations of Mexico? Instead of staring at the shards of their culture through the glass, take a trip to Chichen Itza, built by the Maya, or visit one of the ruins of bloodthirsty Aztec cities.

 

I visited the Museo Regional de Antropología e Historia de Chiapas to get a better sense of Chiapas beyond what I was seeing on the road. It exhibits over 200 fossils, some of them older than dinosaurs, which I found particularly interesting. It’s the largest museum in Tuxtla and consists of three halls:

• one for prehistory and ancient cultures
• one for the history after the Spanish conquest
• one for temporary exhibits

For me, the ancient cultures section was the most interesting, but if you’re really into Mexico’s ancient civilizations, I’d still rather see the archaeological sites themselves.

 

Discover Chiapas coffee at the Museum of Coffee

Opening hours: Monday–Friday, 10 am–4 pm
Entrance: 35 MXN (about USD 2)
Time needed: Up to 1 hour
From Tuxtla Gutiérrez: In the city
My tip: The descriptions are in Spanish only, but English-speaking guides will show you your favorite bean.
 

Museo del Café
 

I visited Museo del Café as a quick introduction to Chiapas coffee, and I’d recommend it mainly to coffee lovers. It’s a curiosity of its kind, but prepare for a rather short visit.

 

Get hands-on at the Museum of Marimba

Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–9 pm
Entrance: 10 MXN (about USD 0.60); free on Sundays
Time needed: Around 1 hour
From Tuxtla Gutiérrez: In the city
My tip: This is a great museum to visit because you can actually touch things and make music!
 

Museo de la Marimba
 

Museo de la Marimba includes five galleries, an audiovisual room, a workshop, audio libraries loaded with marimba music, and other interactive stuff. 

 

3. Wander through the Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden

If you consider yourself a nature lover, do not miss out on Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden
 

Opening hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 9 am–4 pm
Entrance: 10 MXN (about USD 0.60); free on Tuesdays
Time needed: Around 1 hour
From Tuxtla Gutiérrez: In the city
My tip: Explore the botanical treasures the garden has to offer or just zonk out. Do as you please.

 

Cactuses, cycads, palms, orchids, and other plants—all can be seen in Jardín Botánico Faustino Miranda. A series of walkways that cross 10 acres (4 hectares) of land will lead you to many endemic and endangered species from Chiapas.

 

4. Eat your way through Tuxtla Gutiérrez

On the other hand, maybe don't
 

Tuxtla has countless good restaurants, full of Mexican food (which left me disappointed, by the way). I will name two:

• Cafe Bar 500 Noches Tuxtla: a pleasant Tapas bar with top-notch food and excellent service.
• Las Pichanchas: okay food, okay service… but an absolutely great atmosphere. We had a meat plate and got sick because of the amount of fat in it, but otherwise, I do recommend it. It’s a truly authentic experience.

 

 

Best Day Trips from Tuxtla Gutierrez

Some of the best experiences around Tuxtla Gutiérrez are outside the city, so save time for these day trips into the surrounding parts of Chiapas.

 

5. Cruise through Sumidero Canyon

Sumidero Canyon
 

• Opening hours: 8 am–5 pm; land access Wednesday–Monday
• National park entrance: 125 MXN (about USD 7.30)
• Time needed: Half a day; around 3 hours for the boat trip + around 2 hours for the miradors
• My tip: Do both the boat trip and the miradors if you have time—they give you completely different views of the canyon.

My to-do list for Tuxtla Gutiérrez included a half-day boat trip in Canyon Sumidero National Park. Armed with a camera in one hand and a boat ticket in the other, I embarked on the boat, setting off from Chiapa De Corzo. I didn’t know yet that Canyon Sumidero would be the absolute highlight of our journey. I loved it so much I wrote an entire Sumidero Canyon guide.

Pro tip: To travel more efficiently, book your tickets to Sumidero Canyon online.

Canyon Sumidero is definitely number one of all the things to do in Tuxtla Gutiérrez. It’s a river surrounded by 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) high walls, welcoming you with rapids, waterfalls, caves, rock formations…

 

The canyon is accessible by boat, by car, or on foot. Depending on the option you choose, the starting point of the trip is in Chiapa De Corzo (by boat), or in Tuxtla Gutiérrez (the road to the miradors—watchtowers—starts there). The entrance fee is 34 pesos (1.7 US dollars) and the boat trip costs around 500 pesos (30 US dollars) per person.

 

 

Stop in Chiapa de Corzo

Chiapa de Corzo is a lovely addition to your Sumidero Canyon trip
 

Chiapa de Corzo is a small historic town around 20 minutes by car from Tuxtla Gutiérrez and is the main jumping-off point for boat trips through Sumidero Canyon. This is where our boat trip started, so you can easily combine the two in the same day.

I’d make sure you have some extra time before or after the boat trip to have a look around Chiapa de Corzo itself. You don’t need long, but since you’re already there, it would be a shame to skip it. The historic center is known for La Pila, its distinctive 16th-century brick fountain, and the town is one of Mexico’s Pueblos Mágicos.

My tip: Don’t treat Chiapa de Corzo and Sumidero Canyon as two separate day trips. Combine them—the main reason I’d come here is for the Sumidero Canyon boat trip anyway.

 

6. Hike and swim at Cascada El Aguacero

 

Just me visiting El Aguacero in all of its beauty
 

Opening hours: 7 am–5 pm daily
Entrance: 50 MXN per person (about USD 3)
Time needed: Around 5 hours for the whole visit, including about 2 hours of hiking
From Tuxtla Gutiérrez: Around 1.5 hours by car
My tip: Bring mosquito repellent and never go after it has been raining because of the risk of flash floods.

The visit to El Aguacero is one of the best activities to do around Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Why? It includes a hike, bathing in the river, and a roaring waterfall.

I’ll describe your way there: You’ll drive a very poor road—bumpy, dirty, full of potholes, narrow and steep. The road will be so bad that you won’t believe it could possibly lead to any tourist attraction, and you will want to turn around and head back to Tuxtla—at least a hundred times. But you’ll drive on.

Then you’ll park the car and scramble up a steep hillside, in the jungle and in 30 °C (86 °F). And that’s where mosquitoes will come in, trying to eat you alive. 

However horrid the way may sound, the result is absolutely worth it. You’ll get in a canyon with a warm river in which you can bathe. And if you follow the river, it will lead you to the most beautiful waterfall: El Aguacero.

Me taking the stairs to El Aguacero waterfall
 

Find out more about the hike to El Aguacero and other places in my top 10 hikes in Mexico article.

I thought the park managers were super kind and helpful. They work hard to keep the place tidy and run a bistro with an absolutely remarkable view. 

It’s therefore surprising that the entrance fee into the canyon is so low. I guess the managers’ salary is nothing special (read about the economic disparity in Mexico), so don’t be a miser and buy something from them.

Pro tip: You can also get a ticket for a combined Sima de las Cotorras and El Aguacero day trip.

 

7. See the parrots at Sima de las Cotorras 

Sima de las Cotorras
 

• Opening hours: 6 am–4:30 pm daily
• Entrance: 80 MXN per person (about USD 4.70)
• Time needed: Half a day
• From Tuxtla Gutiérrez: Around 1.5 hours by car
• My tip: Come early if seeing them is your priority. They usually leave around 6:30 AM and return before dusk. Keep in mind that they migrate in November and December and generally return in the second half of January.

Sima de las Cotorras are, very simply put, large holes in the ground. Or, more scientifically, if you want, sinkholes produced by tectonic and erosive processes in the limestone. What it means is that there are caves, and their ceilings collapse—creating sinkholes.

Sima de las Cotorras near Tuxtla Gutiérrez is not the largest sinkhole in the area, but it has parakeets living there. It’s therefore nicknamed the sinkhole of parrots. You can visit the local ecological park, observe the parrots, explore the cave on guided tours, or admire tropical plants.

Parrots like these live in Sima de las Cotorras!
 

Sima de las Cotorras has one thing in common with Cascada el Aguacero: a poor road with non-existent signage.

 

8. Take a day trip to San Cristóbal: Is it worth it?

My sarcastic smile in my not-so-favorite city—San Cristóbal

Time needed: Half a day to a full day
From Tuxtla Gutiérrez: Around 1 hour by car
My tip: Instead of San Cristóbal, visit Puebla or Oaxaca. They are kind of similar to San Cristóbal, but have many more places to see.
 

San Cristóbal is one of the most promoted Mexican cities; it even belongs in the list of Pueblos Mágicos, some kind of a Mexican government tourism program. It’s between Tuxtla Gutiérrez and Comitán, approximately an hour's drive from each.

Let me say two words about San Cristóbal: It sucks.

The only thing I found interesting in San Cristóbal was the museum of amber, exhibiting pieces of amber with insects captured in. Like in Jurassic Park. Otherwise, there are plenty of tourist attractions which are… just okay. Nothing horrible, but nothing special either. The question is: Do you want to travel to a Mexican city only to see mediocre sites? Check my San Cristóbal article and make your own opinion.

Another minus point for San Cristóbal: It’s absolutely crowded. There’s no room for an apple to fall, let alone for you to walk around and take pictures. San Cristóbal was the only place in Mexico where we had to deal with really bad gridlock. And we were there on January 31 in COVID time. I don’t want to see what local traffic looks like under normal conditions.

Warning: San Cristóbal lies at the altitude of 2,200 meters (7,218 feet) above sea level, which means it’s cold as a well digger’s… You know what. It was 12 °C (53.6 °F) when we were there, and I believe it must be the coldest place in Chiapas.

 

Where to stay in San Cristóbal

Luxurious Hotel Bo, San Cristóbal de las Casas
 

Hotel tip: If you still want to visit San Cristóbal (I’d recommend not to, but if you really really do) here’s a tip for the nicest hotel there—Hotel Bo that’s located about a 5-minute walk from the cathedral. It's cool design (inside and out!) is complemented by its wonderful staff and a great on-site restaurant that serves Mexican and international dishes.  

 

 

Final thoughts: Is Tuxtla Gutiérrez worth visiting?

After all I've experienced near Tuxtla, I can definitely say that it is so worth it, if you know what to expect @ Chiflon Falls
 

Tuxtla Gutierrez is worth visiting if you’re exploring Chiapas, especially for the incredible places you can reach from the city. Sumidero Canyon was the absolute highlight of our journey, and Sima de las Cotorras and Cascada El Aguacero give you even more reasons to stick around.

If you’re looking for a beautiful colonial city packed with attractions, Tuxtla probably isn’t what you’re after. But don’t treat it as just an airport city either. Give it two days, three if you want to add El Aguacero, and use it as a base for exploring this part of Chiapas.

 

Ready for more adventures?

Mexico is full of hidden jewels. Discover them in our articles!

Start by exploring these: 

• 14 Top-Rated Places in Mexico City 
• Teotihuacan 
• To 7 Aztec ruins in Mexico 

 

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