Tuxtla Gutiérrez
	MedToGo Related Articles: Insurance Information Driving in Mexico Making Phone Calls Diseases Transmitted by Mosquitos Disease Transmitted by Ticks or Other Insects Safety & Security

Tuxtla Gutiérrez, in contrast to the rest of Chiapas, is a modern, bustling city and a symbol of development in a generally backward area. Fifty miles northwest of San Cristóbal, it is located in a thriving coffee-growing region. Tuxtla became the state capital in 1892 and today stands as the main gateway for visitors in search of indigenous Mexico and wild nature, offering a network of roadways to the rest of the region. While an important financial center, the town has few tourist attractions, apart from some top hotels for business tourists.

A great ecotourist attraction just a few miles east of Tuxtla Gutiérrez is the 2,625 ft. deep Cañon del Sumidero, created by the Río Grijalva following the completion of the hydroelectric dam in 1981. To the south, travelers will find the cities of San Cristóbal de las Casas and Palenque, both cities drawing scores of back-packers and culture buffs.