Tuxtla Gutiérrez travel guide

Air

Aeropuerto Angel Albino Corzo is Tuxtla’s new international airport, 27 km south of the city. A taxi into town costs around US$15 and from town to airport US$8. ADO buses to the airport from the OCC terminal, US$3.50.

Airline offices

Aviacsa, Av Central Pte 1144, T961-612 8081; Mexicana, Belisario Domínguez 1748, T961-602 5771. All lines also have ticket offices at the airport.

Bus

There is a brand new 1st-class ADO and OCC bus terminal at 5a Norte Poniente, corner of Angel Albino Corzo, next to a new large-scale mall Plaza del Sol. There’s a 2nd-class terminal at 3a Av Sur Ote and 7a Oriente Sur, about 1 km southeast of the centre.

To Cancún, OCC, 1055 and 1310, US$53; and ADO GL, 1430 and 1800, US$66. To Córdoba, 1st class (OCC and ADO), 1720, 1950, 7½ hrs, US$38. To Chetumal, OCC, 1310, 13 hrs, US$36.50; and ADO GL, 1430, US$43.50. To Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Guatemalan border, OCC, 0630, 1015, 1615, 4½ hrs, US$13. To Comitán, OCC, many daily, 3 hrs, US$6. To Mexico City, 1st class, many daily, 12 hrs, US$56.50. To Villahermosa, 1st class, many daily, 4-7 hrs, US$16.50. To Mérida, OCC, 1500, 14 hrs, US$40; and ADO GL, 1800 US$48; or change at Villahermosa. The scenery between Tuxtla and Mérida is very fine, and the road provides the best route between Chiapas and the Yucatán. To Oaxaca, OCC, 1130, 1920, 2355, 10 hrs, US$25; and ADO GL, 2130, US$30. To Palenque, 7 OCC, 6 hrs, US$12; and ADO GL, 1430, US$14.50. To Pochutla, OCC, 2025 and 2310, 10 hrs, US$23. To Puebla, 1st class, many daily, same times as Mexico City, 10 hrs, US$49.50. To Salina Cruz, 1st class and luxury services, 1410, 1645, 2025, 2245, US$14.50. Take travel sickness tablets for Tuxtla-Oaxaca road if you suffer from queasiness. To San Cristóbal de las Casas, OCC, frequent services, 1 hr, US$3. To Tapachula, 1st class, many daily, 7½ hrs, US$18. To Tonalá, 1st and 2nd class, many daily, US$7-9. To Tulum, OCC, 1055, 1310, 17 hrs, US$47.50; and an ADO GL, 1430, US$56.50. To Veracruz, OCC, 2255, 2335, US$47; and an ADO GL, 2245, US$46.

Shuttles

To Chiapa de Corzo, from 1 Sur Ote and 5a Ote Norte; and from the Transportes Chiapa-Tuxtla station, 2a Oriente Sur and 1a Av Sur Ote, 20 mins, US$0.70. To San Cristóbal de las Casas, from 2a Sur Ote 1203, between 11 and 12 Oriente Sur, 1 hr, US$2.50.

Taxis

Easy to flag down anywhere. US$3 within the centre, US$4 to the zoo, US$6 to Chiapa de Corzo (for Sumidero Canyon).

Banks

Most banks open 0900-1600, HSBC stays open longer. Bancomer, Av Central Pte y 2 Pte Norte, for Visa and TCs, 0900-1500. HSBC, Mon-Fri 0900-1900, Sat 0900-1500 good rates and service. For cheques and cash: 1 Sur Pte 350, near Zócalo. There are ATMs in various branches of Farmacia del Ahorro, all over the city.

Immigration

, 1 Ote Norte.

Internet

Free at library of Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Route 190, 6 km from centre. Various other internet cafés all over town, especially on Av Central, costing about US$1 per hr.

Post office

On main square.

Telephone

International phone calls can be made from 1 Norte, 2 Ote, directly behind post office, 0800-1500, 1700-2100 (1700-2000 Sun).