Sections of Tuxtla Gutiérrez
ACCOMMODATIONS
AMUSEMENT AND RECREATION
ARCHEOLOGY
ARTS AND CRAFTS
ATTRACTIONS AND HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE
ECOTOURISM AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTS EVENTS
FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS
GASTRONOMY
MEETINGS AND CONVENTIONS
MUSEUMS
NIGHTLIFE
SHOPPING

ECOTOURISM AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES:
In Tuxtla Gutierrez and its surrounding areas you’ll find important parks and ecological reserves that are ideal for observing the region’s native flora and fauna. In Tuxtla Gutierrez’s surrounding areas you can go hiking along trails explore and discover caverns or rappelling down the cliffs of one of the most imposing canyons in the nation. Also the canyon and the rivers nearby offer white water rafting.

Sima de las Cotorras (Las Cotorras Chasm): Located 44 km (27 mi) west of Tuxtla Gutierrez. This impressive circular abyss is 140 meters (462 feet) deep and 160 meters (528 feet) in diameter. It is surrounded by lush vegetation, which is home to a large parakeet population. In this area you can go rappelling down the walls of the pit or you can check out nearby cave paintings, where can see petroglyphs painted on its walls representing warriors, animals and hands. The Chasm offers a view of a lush exuberant jungle in a dry environment. As the name indicates, these noisy inhabitants, thousands of parrots, gracefully fly in a spiral and come up to surface. Most trees are up 30 meters high; and some of these species are not found at the exterior. The weather is from hot to humid hot; heavy rains from June to October; the hottest months are May and June. The area is inhabited by indigenes from the ethnic groups Zoque and Tzotzil and it is excellent for flora, fauna and rupestrian painting observation, trekking, camping and rappel. It is also called the Sima del Copal, for the abundance of this aromatic tree. It is a calcareous chasm with an almost perfectly round opening that allows us to see the jungle within inhabited by parrots.

El Chorreadero Waterfall: Located in Chiapa de Corzo, more than 20 km (14 mi) east of Tuxtla Gutierrez, off Highway 190. This is a natural beautiful spot in a creek, that rises from a cave falling down to a water fall 25 meters; the water fall produces a series of natural pools, framed by a jungle vegetation, mainly amate and fig trees, climbing at the calcareous walls of the mountains. The weather is warm sub humid, rainy during summer; average temperature a year is 26°C, with a rain of 990 mm per year and it is populated by member of the ethnics groups: Zoque, Tzotzil and Tzeltal. The area is excellent for camping; forest walking or you can go rappelling down the waterfall’s rocky cliffs.

Cañón del Sumidero (Sumidero Canyon): Located more than 20 km north of Tuxtla Gutierrez, this natural area covers 21,789 hectares (53,818 acres) and it has some of Mexico’s oldest geological formations and it is one of the most relevant sites due to its ecological, historical and archaeological importance. At this park you’ll find cliffs that are 1000m (3,333 ft) high, ideal for rock climbing. At the top you’ll get a 20 km unobstructed view of the canyon. The immense canyon walls are lush with plants and abundant waterfalls. Spanning 32 km from the bridge to the dam, the width of the canyon varies according to the point of departure, and it ranges from 200 to 2000 m. The dam at the end of the canyon is called “Chicoasen” or Manuel Moreno Torres, and it is one of the biggest in Mexico. Before the completion of the dam, the canyon's walls were even higher than they are now: then the waters running trough it were not navigable; even for the most skilled boatmen. Once the river was dammed, the water levels rose dramatically, creating an extremely deep and by comparison, serene river which tour boats and taxi boats navigate with ease. The Chicoasen hydroelectric dam, opened in 1981 and it is today one of Mexico's most important sources of electric power. Travel to one of the Miradores (observation points) if you want to get a birds-eye view of the canyon; but if you really want to experience it properly, take a boat ride through this thrilling canyon. The most common embarkation point is at Chiapa de Corzo, a short drive from Tuxtla Gutierrez. The two to three hours round trip on the boat will take you on a spectacular journey through the canyon. The wildlife on display is spectacular, and your boat may take you on a tour past one of the caves in the area. The Sumidero Canyon is a truly spectacular experience which should not be missed when you are traveling in Chiapas. Formed by a geological fault millions of years ago, the canyon goes through the Grijalva River. On its vertical walls there are caves of a special beauty such as the “Cueva de Colores” (Multicolor Cave) and natural phenomenon as the “Árbol de Navidad” (Christmas tree) waterfall. In the Canyon there is an abundant wildlife including crocodiles, spider monkeys, jaguars, ocelotes, white tail deer and many aquatic birds.

Cañón del Sumidero National Park: Situated in the heart of the Canyon, the park is a small jungle surrounded by the high canyon walls. Its paths wind through areas where one has access to the native flora and fauna. There are also opportunities for various activities in this imposing setting. The only way to get to the park is by boat. The park offers a range of eco-activities including the opportunity to visit the wildlife sanctuary, see local flora and fauna such as crocodiles, spider monkeys and many aquatic birds as well as a number of physical and sporting activities such as: Kayaking, mountain biking, zip-lines, swimming and more.

Reserva Natural de la Biosfera El Ocote (El Ocote Biosphere Natural Reserve): Located 60 km west of Tuxtla Gutierrez, off Highway 190. The reserve (a torch pine reserve) has 50,000 hectare, created in 1982 to preserve fauna and flora in the north of the State of Chiapas. Predominant trees are 20 meters high, as a part of the landscape, insuperable camouflage, is kept at a place like Sima de las Cotorras; there are mahogany, chicozapotes and mojus, night monkeys, jaguar, cougar, harpy eagle, howler monkeys, spider monkeys complete the rich natural variety of this reservation, including the wonderful Cañón de la Venta and several Zoque archeological zones, still kept by the jungle. The area has a cavern system with many underground rivers and it has been considered one of the most important forests of Mesoamerica. The weather is hot, sub humid; with heavy rains from June to October. The ethnics groups of the area are: Tzotziles, Zoque, Tojolabales, Choles and Tzeltales. The reserve is perfect for: Forest walking; bird, flora and fauna observation, underground cavern findings and boat navigation.

Dr. Faustino Miranda Botanical Garden: Located at Calzada de los Hombres Ilustres and 5a avenida Norte Poniente. At this 4-hectare (10-acre) garden you’ll find important examples of indigenous forest vegetation from Chiapas, such as trees with precious woods, medicinal plants and house plants like orchids.

Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon): Can be reached via the Tuxtla-Copainala road, approximately 86 km (54 miles) from the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez. Laguna Verde has a depth of 60 to 80 m (200-266 ft) at the deepest points. The color of the water changes according to different conditions throughout the day and on different days. On cloudy days its tone is green, in the morning hours blue, and with the hot noon sun it turns silverish and by sunset, ochre. On site there is a restaurant, palapas, a dock, nature paths, bathrooms, dressing rooms and a security post.

Totopac Natural Springs: Located 93 km. from Tuxtla Gutierrez. Natural sulfurous water springs with healing properties in a clear-water river.

Berriozabal Pools: Located 7 km. from Tuxtla Gutierrez heading towards the town of Berriozabal. These are natural pools of great beauty formed by waters of the Sabinal River located in a canyon.

El Aguacero (Heavy rain) Waterfall: Located at 11 km of the city of Ocozocoautla, and after three km of driving through a dirt road. You get here through the federal highway 190 that goes to the City of Mexico. This site is considered to be a natural park and has a series of caves; and one of the most important caves is El Encanto with an underground river and with a waterfall, named "Don Nicho", that descends in a wall covered by moss and fern. This waterfall is the starting point of the tour in the Cañón Rio La Venta (Rio La Venta Canyon). The weather is sub-humid hot weather to humid warm weather depending on the zone; the rainfall season is from June to October, and the warmest months are May and June. The area is populated by indigenes from the ethnic groups: Tzotziles, Zoques, Tzeltales, Tojolabales and Choles. The area is excellent for walking, flora, fauna and landscape sightseeing. Note: you need to be in good physical shape because you have to go down 800 steps to get to the waterfall.

Cañón Río La Venta (La Venta River Canyon): Located in El Ocote Special Biosphere Reserve, more than 60 km (37 mi) west of Tuxtla Gutierrez, off Highway 190. Also known as Cañón Sagrado (Holy Canyon), this canyon is approximately 75 km. long, it is a geological fracture of vertical walls, caverns, rapids and waterfalls whose beauty is accessible only for qualified people with special equipment. The river, that in some sites has an 80 to 90 meter width, suddenly turns into a 10 meter funnel, and there is a part where the walls are so close together that form a cavern that in rainy seasons turns into a terrible siphon. Inside the cannon, several caves served as a shelter to the old human communities who left traces of its presence. The caves, high cliffs, paths and the intact jungle make the Cañón Rio La Venta (Rio la Venta Canyon) one of the best sites for adventure tourism in Chiapas. The weather is sub-humid hot weather to humid warm weather; the rainfall season is from June to October, and the warmest months are May and June. The best time of year to go rafting is between January and May. The canyon is the perfect location for speleologist, swimming, rafting, canyon tour, flora and fauna sightseeing, landscape sightseeing and camping.

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