Things to do in Tuxtla Gutiérrez
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Zoológico Miguel Álvarez del Toro (Zoomat)
Chiapas, with its huge range of natural environments, has the highest concentration of animal species in North America, including several varieties of big cat, 1200 butterfly species and more than 600 birds. About 180 of these species, many of them in danger of extinction, are found in relatively spacious enclosures at Tuxtla’s excellent zoo. The Zoológico Miguel Álvarez del Toro (Zoomat) has several innovative features, including a ‘museum’ about itself with information about the life of its pioneering conservationist founder Dr Miguel Álvarez del Toro. Beasts you’ll see here include ocelots, jaguars, pumas, tapirs, red macaws, toucans, snakes, spider monkeys and three…
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Plaza Cívica
Bustling and broad, Tuxtla's main square Plaza Cívica occupies two blocks flanked by an untidy array of concrete civic and commercial structures. At its southern end, across Av Central, you'll find nice hill views in front of the whitewashed modern Catedral de San Marcos. The cathedral's clock tower tinkles out a tune on the hour to accompany a kitsch merry-go-round of apostles' images that emerges from its upper levels.
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Clásico
With a nod to the genteel decór of an English country house, this dance club has upholstered walls and tiers of smart banquettes that rise around a dance floor that pulses like a two dimensional Rubik’s Cube on acid. The ‘classic’ music shuffle includes techno, disco and tunes from the ’80s and ’90s. It’s next door to the Borakay bar and the Hotel Camino Real, though not reachable via the hotel. Go by car or taxi.
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Las Pichanchas
This courtyard restaurant specializes in Chiapas food with live marimba music and, from 9pm to 10pm every night, a show of colorful traditional Chiapas dances that whips up quite a party atmosphere. Try the tasty tamales or pechugajacuané (chicken breast stuffed with beans in a hierba santa sauce), and leave room for chimbos, a dessert made from egg yolks and cinnamon.
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Restaurante La Casona
Beyond stately carved wooden doors, high ceilings, columns and interior arches frame a dramatic table-clothed dining room in a century-old building. Dine on regional dishes like pollo juchi (fried chicken with pickled vegetables and potatoes) or tasajo en salsa de chirmol (sliced beef in tomato sauce) and listen to marimba performances from 2pm to 6pm.
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La Boutique del Café
Selling the aromatic gold of 2000 small-scale chiapeneco farmers, this friendly coffee exchange can make a killer cappuccino or send you packing with bags of heady organic ambrosia. Try the Café Mam (around $90 per kilo), produced by an indigenous cooperative in the remote Motozintla area.
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Naturalíssimo
Keeping thankful vegetarians afloat, Naturalíssimo offers healthy breakfasts, whole-wheat bread, tortas and veggie hamburgesas, as well as thirst-quenching fruit juices and licuados. The fake meat dishes aren’t super-inspiring, but do the trick if you need protein.
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Live
Just west of the Holiday Inn, you'll find the locals dancing on the seats of this pulsing, packed nightclub. DJs spin a blend of pop, rock and electronica, and there's usually a band playing in the wee margarita-soaked hours. Men cough up around $120 cover on Fridays and Saturdays.
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El Patio
White tablecloths, attractive low lighting and a dose of música romántica set the scene for this upscale steakhouse serving excellent red meat and an extensive list of red wine. Choose a table in the breezy back patio or in the old-world ambience of the main dining room.
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La Chat de la Nuit
Fancy French food meets Argentine steakhouse for a culinary collision of caracoles (snails) and prime bistek. It works delightfully, as does the elegant adjoining bar, with a speakeasy atmosphere and live trova, salsa and merengue from 21:30 till late.
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Museo Regional de Chiapas
The Museo Regional de Chiapas, an imposing modern building, has a sampling of lesser archaeological pieces from Chiapas’ many sites, and a slightly more interesting history section, running from the Spanish conquest to the revolution, all in Spanish only.
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Habana Cafe
Habana Cafe Salseros, take your places! Tucked next door to the Hotel Camino Real, the city views from this hilltop dance club are as hot as the moves. Stop in from 21:00 to 23:00 for free salsa classes so you can warm up for the live music starting at midnight.
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Grado Cero
Overlooking the Jardín de la Marimba, this upstairs open-air lounge features live trova, rock and banda starting at 8:30pm. It’s a chill place with black lights, a friendly atmosphere, and a tasty food selection to accompany the drinks.
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Bypass
A retro lounge-bar with a futuristic aura, they play electronica and house music from the '80s and '90s. A well between the two levels lets you spy on everyone shakin' it. Located between the parking garage and Sanborns at the Plaza Cristal mall.
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Centro de Convivencia Infantil
Parque Madero contains a children’s park, the Centro de Convivencia Infantil, with a minitrain, carnival games, pony rides and other diversions for the (approximately) under-sevens. A lot of rides don’t open weekdays.
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Viajes Kali
In the Hotel María Eugenia, Viajes Kali organizes trips throughout Chiapas, including day trips to the Sima de Las Cotorras (private tour M$1300, group tour Sunday M$120) and the Cañón del Sumidero (M$480 per person).
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Instituto Marca Chiapas
The Chiapas state crafts shop, 2km west of Plaza Cívica, sells a great range of the state’s artesanías (handicrafts), from Amatenango ‘tigers’ and funky Cintalapa ceramic suns to colorful highland textiles.
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Cafetería del Parque
Nice wraparound windows make this one of the better people-watching eateries around the Jardín de la Marimba. With air-conditioning reinforced by an Arctic-blue decor, it's definitely a blissful place to cool off.
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Maguey
Cacti and floral murals scale a Victorian rotunda of white wainscoting and peach walls, making a cheerful backdrop for a sunny breakfast. Its Sunday brunch, with live ranchera music, is very popular.
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Museo de la Marimba
The small Museo de la Marimba showcases 100 years of this ubiquitous instrument, with both antique and modern models on display and a photo exhibition of the most revered marimba performers.
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El Fogón Norteño
A bustling open air grill house overlooking the Jardín de la Marimba, with well-prepared meat dishes at excellent prices. Most come with tasty frijoles charros (beans cooked with bacon or pork).
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Restaurante Imperial
This busy, efficient place beside Plaza Cívica offers a wholesome two-course comida corrida (set lunch) with plenty of choice. It also offers a full breakfast menu and good drinking chocolate.
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Borakay
The city views from this swanky hilltop karaoke club inspire many a booze-boosted crooner. Enjoy the panorama and some between-the-tables dancing on its palapa terrace.
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Santa Diabla
A schizophrenic nightclub: it offers an angelic bar lit by tin stars, and a devilish disco with live rock and salsa starting at 1:30am. It’s about 2.5km from Plaza Cívica.
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Café Biomaya
One of numerous good cafés on the Jardín de la Marimba, this one serves organic indigenous-grown brew and sports low-slung black sofas that may lead to indolent lingering.
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