Help with Puerto Chiapas,Mexico

We would like to viist the archgaeological sites nearby. Also the town of Tapachula. Is it possible to do so by taxi. Apx. cost? Is this a reasonable safe area of Mexico? We are open to any and all suggestions? Thanks>

We were in Chiapas two years ago and did the exact tour you are looking for.

 

First of all, Chiapas is one of, if not the nicest port in Mexico! It has been built specifically for the cruise industry and has a wonderful market attached to it.

 

We picked up our tour just outside the main port building from one of the kiosks. Just ask what you want and they will set you up with a small van tour rather than one of the 'big bus' cruise line tours. As I recall it cost us about $45USD each for the tour and the guide was very good.

 

Things may have changed, but all they had in the area was some local political unrest....unlike the drug cartels fighting it out! At the archeological site there was a federal and state police presence, but they just sort of hung around on the edges of the site.

 

Tapachula is wonderful small town....typical of southern Mexico....lots of art, artisans, old architecture for photos.

 

Hope you enjoy it....we did.

Thanks< this was just the info that I was looking for. Thanks again.

Tapachula is wonderful small town....typical of southern Mexico....lots of art, artisans, old architecture for photos.

 

Hope you enjoy it....we did.

did you notice any shuttles into Tapachula or do you need a taxi?

Thanks

Lyn

did you notice any shuttles into Tapachula or do you need a taxi?

Lyn, when we were in Puerto Chiapas in April '09 on HAL Amsterdam, there was a shuttle service to Tapachula. We purchased tickets ($10 pp return) right inside the large palapa-styled cruise terminal. Shuttles ran all day from the cruise terminal to the central plaza of Tapachula. The trip took about 40 minutes each way & was escorted by a local who talked non-stop (interesting) about the area.

Lyn, when we were in Puerto Chiapas in April '09 on HAL Amsterdam, there was a shuttle service to Tapachula. We purchased tickets ($10 pp return) right inside the large palapa-styled cruise terminal. Shuttles ran all day from the cruise terminal to the central plaza of Tapachula. The trip took about 40 minutes each way & was escorted by a local who talked non-stop (interesting) about the area.

Thanks

Was it put on by the town or HAL do you know?

 

We will be there in March & would like to go to Tapachula for a look see ;)

 

Lyn

Was it put on by the town or HAL do you know?

Not by HAL - it was a local tour operator. In addition to the shuttle to Tapachula, there were also other tour options available on arrival, including Chocolate City and Izapa Ruins. Locals had photo albums with sample pics & descriptions for each tour. We glanced at a few but really only had interest in Tapachula.

 

Tapachula is raw, gritty, grimy Mexico. We loved it, but it's not for everyone!

Not by HAL - it was a local tour operator. In addition to the shuttle to Tapachula, there were also other tour options available on arrival, including Chocolate City and Izapa Ruins. Locals had photo albums with sample pics & descriptions for each tour. We glanced at a few but really only had interest in Tapachula.

 

Tapachula is raw, gritty, grimy Mexico. We loved it, but it's not for everyone!

Thanks for the fast reply :D

We do not want a tour so maybe just a look about would be fine

 

Lyn

Has anyone been to Puerto Chiapas and taken a tour to the Izapa Ruins and Chocolate City this cruising season. We're on HAL in March and are interested in this tour. Also, how is the walking?

I've been to Tapachula several times, but never as part of a cruise. It's, generally, a very uninteresting place to visit and the "port" was created from nothing, far from the city, to accommodate one of the cruise lines. I've been to the Izapa "ruins." It's one of the most unimpressive archaeological sites i've visited in Mexico - mostly undeveloped. It's actually in two locations, separated by a 20-minute walk. I know nothing about "Chocolate City." The only comments I've read about it, here and elsewhere, have not been complimentary. Tapachula can be scorching hot. It's a coffee-growing region, with descendants of Japan and one or two from Germany there and I think there's an excursion covering them. There is no good beach in that area, that I know of. You're very close to Guatemala.

This is not a great port--very little in the way of tours and very isolated.

Looking not to book expensive cruise line tour. Thoughts and recommendations welcomed!