Top Things to do in Tuxtla Gutierrez
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Top 6 Nature & Parks in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas
Discover the best top things to do in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico including Zoologico Miguel Alvarez del Toro, Parque de la Marimba, Miradores Canon del Sumidero, Parque Cana Hueca, Jardin Botanico Faustino Miranda, Parque Morelos Bicentenario.
Restaurants in Tuxtla Gutierrez
1. Zoologico Miguel Alvarez del Toro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 525 reviews
Reviewed By johnpB3780YQ - Guadalajara, Mexico
When I read that the zoo in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, had been called, back in 1979, “The Best Zoo in Latin America,” I knew I had to pay it a visit. And I was not disappointed. Zoológico Regional Miguel Álvarez del Toro, affectionately known as ZOOMAT, struck me as quite unusual, first because every single one of its 1600 animals is native to Chiapas. Then there is its location. Most zoos I’ve seen look as if their architects started with a flat, featureless plot of ground which was then landscaped. Here in Chiapas, however, you have jungle everywhere and it appears they chose one of their finest tropical forests, put in paths, and transformed it into a zoo so beautiful that a walk through it would be utterly delightful even if you never saw a single animal. A third thing I really like about this zoo is that many of its inhabitants are not behind fences or walls at all, but run about just as free as the visitors. Fortunately, there are plenty of signs reminding people to stay on the walkways at all times, and the result is that you are quite likely to discover, all by yourself, creatures you have never seen or heard of before, such as the endangered Guatemalan black howler monkey or the critically endangered guaqueque or Mexican agouti, a rabbit-sized rodent with a big black rump, which I bumped into over and over. Then again, you might find yourself suddenly engulfed by a whole family of noisily chatting chachalaca birds crossing your path on their way to who knows where, clearly letting you know that it is they who own this place while you are merely a guest. Chiapas has one of the greatest diversities of wildlife in the Americas, with more than 700 species of birds, 50 species of mammals and more than 200 of reptiles. It’s famous for its species of regional fauna such as wild boars, black jaguars, toucans, macaws and of course quetzals, all of which you can see in this zoo. And let’s not forget the nocturnal animals: ZOOMAT certainly hasn’t. To see them in semi-darkness, you first step into a dimly lit room where you are asked to do nothing for a while so your eyes can adjust to the dark. Then you are asked to keep silence as you enter a long, wide tunnel with window after window giving you a rare opportunity to observe animals like the tepezcuintle (lowland paca), the martucha (kinkajou or honey bear), the cacomixtle (ringtail) and, of course, murciélagos, bats, all doing their thing in the murky twilight. ZOOMAT is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. That is not a typo: it closes unusually early because the path is 2.5 kilometers long and getting everyone out must be quite a challenge. On top of that, the tall trees and dense foliage bring darkness well before sunset. So, if you would like to be among ZOOMAT’s 450,000 yearly visitors, I suggest you go there as early as possible and psychologically prepare yourself for spending most of the day within its boundaries. After all, if you dedicate only four minutes to visiting each of the zoo’s 80 attractions, that alone would take over five hours.
2. Parque de la Marimba
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 721 reviews
Reviewed By 778ezekiela
Wondeeful place to spend the evening.if you want front seats you need to be there early. The music starts at 6pm.you'll be storie surrounded by wonderful peaceful people.
3. Miradores Canon del Sumidero
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 434 reviews
Reviewed By rachelxo43
We went to visit this beauty on a boat ride, it takes you thru the river and while you are watching the beauty of nature you are listening to the most amazing stories from the tour guide... I will go again to this breathtaking tour, I will recommend this place, don’t go to Chiapas without visiting
4. Parque Cana Hueca
5. Jardin Botanico Faustino Miranda
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 15 reviews
