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Tapachula
City and municipality in Chiapas, Mexico

Tapachula

Tapachula de Córdova y Ordóñez, simply known as Tapachula, is a municipality located in the far south of the state of Chiapas, Mexico, near the Guatemalan border and the Pacific Ocean.

Plan a trip to Tapachula→From Guatemala City

Economically, it is one of the most important cities in Chiapas; as capital of the agriculturally-rich Soconusco region, Tapachula also serves as a key port for trade between Mexico and Central America. The area was originally inhabited by the Mam, as a region under the control of the Mam state of Xelaju, but was first established as a city by the Aztecs in the 13th century. Most of its economic importance has come since the late 19th century, with the establishment of coffee plantations. This practice initiated a steady stream of migration and immigration into the area, which continues to this day, and has left the city with a significant Asian and German cultural presence. There is a large Mayan and Nahua population.

Get in

Getting to Tapachula

  1. 01
    Tapachula International Airport
  2. 02
    Autobuses Expreso Azul
  3. 03
    FYPSA

    3a Ave Nte #88, Los Naranjos, Centro (along 3a Ave between 15a y 13a Calle Nte),.

  4. 04
    Omnibus de Cristobal Colon
See

Worth seeing

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.

  1. 01
    Museo Arqueológico del Soconusco

    8a Av Nte #24, Zona Centro (housed in the old city hall (antiguo palacio municipal) building next to the Parque Central de Miguel Hidalgo in downtown.),.

  2. 02
    Zona Arqueologica de Izapa

    Km 304 La Ruta de la Costa y Soconusco (Carretera 200) (10 km NE of town on Ruta de la Costa y Soconusco (Carretera 200).),.

Do

Things to 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.

Eat

Where to eat

  1. 01
    Papablita

    Long-time Tapachula institution serving up thick grilled steaks and big baked potatoes.

  2. 02
    La Monalica

    Modern contemporary restaurant serving traditional Mexican cuisine.

  3. 03
    El Mito-T

    Casual fun restaurant serving regional Mexican cuisine.

  4. 04
    Guanábanas

    Typical botanero serving cold beer and light Mexican food.

  5. 05
    Sr Tango

    Tango is an Argentinian steak house that also has bland tasting pizzas and carries a real old-school mafia air to the place.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.