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Puerto Chiapas Basics |
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 © istockphoto.com |
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Puerto Chiapas, formerly known as Puerto Madero, and before that Puerto de San Benito, is an important commercial port in the state of Chiapas. The port was built in 1975, providing a shipping terminal for the area's agricultural produce, and to promote tourism to the Soconusco region.
The town of Puerto Chiapas itself holds little of touristic interest; the main town in the area is Tapachula, a city of just over 190,000 people. Tapachula is the second largest town in Chiapas state, after the capital Tuxtla Gutierrez.
German immigration to the area in the 1880's led to the establishment of many coffee plantations in the region. Coffee cultivation and other agricultural-related businesses are the mainstays of the area's economy.
Puerto Chiapas has a very hot and humid tropical climate, with year-round average daily temperatures in the mid-80s F (about 30° C). |
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Puerto Chiapas is a small port town that handles the export of agricultural products grown in the Soconusco region, an area of rich lowlands and foothills. The surrounding area has some beautiful beaches, including Playa Linda in Puerto Chiapas and San Benito.
Your ship will dock at the Puerto Chiapas Cruise Terminal. All of the tours offered by the cruise lines will begin ship side in the terminal. At the terminal, you'll find several vendors selling their wares, a restaurant and internet access.
Puerto Chiapas will be the staging point for all of your day's activities for the area. Tapachula, the main commercial center of the area, is a 30-minute drive away. The city has one of the highest per capita gross domestic incomes in Mexico. The archaeological ruin of Izapa is also nearby.
The Soconusco region is also the entry point for many undocumented aliens transiting from Central America to points north. |
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©istockphoto.com/Jorgeinthewater |
Puerto Chiapas is on Central Time, six hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time during standard time, or five hours during daylight savings time. Daylight savings time begins on the first Sunday of April, and ends on the last Sunday of October.
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Spanish is universally spoken in Puerto Chiapas and Tapachula; English is infrequently spoken by the shopkeepers.
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Currency
The Peso is Mexico's official currency, and uses the "$" sign to denote the peso amount. The exchange rate is currently around
12.75 Pesos per US dollar. Just be aware: larger notes (e.g., $500 Peso notes) are often difficult to change.
Banks and ATMs
Banks with ATM machines are found throughout the downtown area of Tapachula and some tourist venues. ATM machines in Tapachula can be found at the following locations:
- BBVA Bancomer: Salida Carretera Costera #1, Tapachula.
- Banamex/Citibank: Citibank has 14 ATM machines in Tapachula, including one at 17a Calle Pte No. 5 Esq Calle 43.
- Banco Internacional: Avenida Central Norte, and 2A. Norte, Equ Primera Pte in Tapachula.
Using US Dollars in Puerto Chiapas and Tapachula
Pesos, or credit cards for that matter, would probably be a better way to pay for the things you're going to buy in Puerto Chiapas or Tapachula. Some shops and restaurants will accept US dollars, but your exchange rate will be less than the market rate. And if you do use dollars in a smaller shop, they more than likely won't have change for anything larger than a $20 bill, unless the change is in pesos. |
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 © istockphoto.com/Tyrannosaur |
| Puerto Chiapas and Tapachula have a hot and humid tropical climate. The mean high and low temperatures vary very little during the year, with average monthly highs in the middle 80s F and the average monthly lows in the low 70s.
It is very humid in the Puerto Chiapas area, particularly during rainy season.
The rainy season begins in earnest in June, with the season lasting through October. The annual rainfall averages 87 inches. When rainfall comes, the storms are usually relatively short, with a tendency toward sudden, heavy afternoon and evening showers or rainstorms.
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Puerto Chiapas/Tapachula Average Temperatures |
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Jan |
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Feb |
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Mar |
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Apr |
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May |
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Jun |
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Jul |
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Aug |
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Sep |
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Oct |
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Nov |
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Dec |
| Avg High - F |
86 |
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86 |
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87 |
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88 |
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87 |
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85 |
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86 |
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86 |
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84 |
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85 |
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86 |
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86 |
| Avg High - C |
30 |
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30 |
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31 |
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31 |
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31 |
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29 |
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30 |
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30 |
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29 |
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29 |
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30 |
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30 |
| Avg Low - F |
70 |
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70 |
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72 |
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74 |
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74 |
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73 |
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72 |
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73 |
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72 |
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72 |
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72 |
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70 |
| Avg Low - C |
21 |
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21 |
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22 |
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23 |
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23 |
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23 |
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22 |
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23 |
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22 |
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22 |
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22 |
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21 |
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 © istockphoto.com/rramirez125 |
Internet Cafes
You can find several cyber cafes in Tapachula. Rates are reasonable, running from $20 to $50 pesos per hour. There is an internet cafe in the port of Puerto Chiapas, across from where your ship docks. Here are a couple of additional choices for cyber cafes in Tapachula:
- TapachulaWeb, No. 7 Poniente 19, Tapachula
- Cyber y Capturas de Tesis, 20-A Calle Poniente No.24, Tapachula
Finding US Newspapers
You will not find US newspapers in the area.
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 © istockphoto.com/adamdodd |
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Local Holidays & Festivals |
The following local festivals, holidays and events are scheduled to take place in Tapachula and Puerto Chiapas in 2010:
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- Ano Nuevo (New Year's Day), January 1. A national holiday celebrated with Mass, parades and fireworks.
- Dia de los Santos Reyes (Day of the Three Kings), January 6. A national holiday when children receive their Christmas gifts as well as shoes full of candy.
- Dia de la Constitucion (Constitution Day), February 1. Public holiday commemorating the signing of the Mexican Constitution of 1917. The day is usually marked by festivals and street celebrations.
- Carnaval (Mardis Gras), February 11 to 16.
- La Feria Internacional Tapachula (International Fair of Tapachula), February 26 to March 14. One of the most important fairs in Chiapas, with cattle agricultural, crafts and sporting exhibitions, entertainment and fireworks.
- Birthday of Benito Juarez, March 15. A public holiday celebrating the birthday of Benito Juarez, who rose from humble origins to occupy the Presidency of the Republic in the second half of the 19th century.
- Semana Santa (Easter Week), March 31 to April 4. The week before Easter is filled with celebrations in Chiapas, with daily parades, processions and celebration of Mass. In some towns, the Burning of Judas ritual takes place, represented by papier mache figures and cartoons of historical or contemporary personalities.
- Primero de Mayo (Labor Day), May 1. A national holiday.
- Cinco de Mayo, May 5. A national Mexican holiday commemorating the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when the Mexican army defeated a French force twice its size just south of Mexico City. Not as big a deal in Mexico as it is in the United States.
- Festival of St. Augustine, August 20-30. Ten days of celebration of Tapachula's patron saint, with parades and traditional Masses.
- Independence Day, September 16. Look for the delivery of the "El Grito de Dolores," the offical grunt that marks the day
- Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead), November 1 to 2. Celebrants build private altars to honor the deceased, using sugar skulls, flowers and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed.
- Revolution Day, November 22. A national holiday celebrating the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
- Fiesta de la Inmaculada (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), December 8. Marks the beginning of the Christmas celebration season.
- Dia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe (Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe), December 12. Commemorates the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron saint. In Acapulco, they have street parties, carnival rides, contemporary and folk music concerts, dancing and parties. It's a festive occasion.
- Navidad (Christmas Day), December 25. A public and religious holiday celebrating the birth of Christ..
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 © istockphoto.com/bpperry Virgin of Guadalupe |
Puerto Chiapas is a "boutique" port for Holland America and Regent Cruises ships. During 2008, Holland America's ms Veendam, ms Amsterdam and ms Oosterdam set sail for Puerto Chiapas beginning in September on their longer Americas and Panama Canal cruises. Regent Cruises visits Puerto Chiapas on their Panama Canal cruises between Ft. Lauderdale and San Diego beginning in December.
The following cruise lines make port in Puerto Chiapas:
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Holland America |
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Regent Cruises |
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 © istockphoto.com/madisonwi |
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