Central Plaza at Santiago Tuxtla
Santiago Tuxtla: pop: 51,000.. First class bus service on ADO stops here several times daily from Veracruz.. AU, a second class bus line, also runs daily service every 40 minutes.. (no bathroom, movies, or air conditioning included.on second class buses). with several stops it cost 63 pesos and takes roughly 2 hrs and 45 minutes to and from Veracruz. (april 06) also regular service by local buses painted red and gray called Las Tuxtlas. (about every 20 minutes)
The bus stops alongside the highway, near the center of town for you to disembark.. Unless your carrying a lot of luggage it is a short walk to the center of town. From where you get off of the bus, walk a sort distance down the hill on Moralos.. turn right on Ayuntamiento, it is about a 3 block walk to the central park.. Here you’ll find lodging by the name of Hotel Castellanos.. unique in shape as its a 7 story, round structure with a good view overlooking the town and nearby hills. It is a bit pricy by backpackers standards at 350 pesos a night, but is first class, great view, has a good restaurant with surprisingly, cheap food and a clean swimming pool.. good place to splurge for a night.. (there are a few other less expensive hotels in town, but I have no firsthand knowledge of locations, prices or conditions)
Directly in front of the hotel is a typical and pleasant little square. Santiago Tuxtla straddles the Río Tuxtla on the edge of the tropical forest. and its evident with lots of trees full of loud chirping birds, bushes and plenty of park benches to take in the "action" along with the locals.. As in most Mexican towns there are several things of interest located in and around the central square.. a large Olmec Head is located on the one end of the plaza. It is the largest Olmec Head found to date and is easy to view. On the same side of the square as the hotel is a large church, built in 1891. On the opposite side you’ll see a 2 story building with many arches running along the entire front. Tuxteco Museum, where a collection of pieces from the Olmec culture is exhibited and some arts displays.. It cost 30 pesos to get in, nothing to get out. There are several large and small Olmec pieces that were found locally, some Spanish colonial pieces and an art gallery on the second floor.. it is small museum, but worth the price of admission (IMO). Just past the museum you’ll find several small eateries, juice shops, etc.. with pathways leading behind into a typically stocked mercado. About a block behind the mercado you’ll a footbridge over the less than pristine Rio Santiago. If its a hot day you may want to cross it and stop in at a local oasis (restaurant bar) that is located on the bank of the river. Of an evening the lights twinkle from all of the homes nestled into the hillside that surround el central like a bowl.
In a nutshell.. Santiago is a small and interesting town that it shouldn’t take more than a day to see the "sights". The people are pleasant and helpful if you need something.. There is a giant Olmec head on display in park, the regional museum, a large church built in 1891, perhaps a stroll or shopping binge in the local mercado, check out the local cuisine at a few of the small eateries and a stroll up and down a few side streets will probably do it. If your interested you can also arrange for a short side trip to the smaller town of Tres Zapotes where a few more Olmec artifacts are on display that were found in the area.
To continue on to San Andres Tuxtla, (9.3mi to San Andrés Tuxtla) walk back to where you got off of the bus and wait for the next one going south to stop.. If your wanting to go to Veracruz walk down the hill about a block on Morales where you’ll see buses lined up on the opposite side.. There are food stalls along here and a good place for a snack or refreshment while you wait for your bus to Veracruz. There is no ticket booth, they will sell you the ticket after your on the bus. buses run every 40 minutes or so..(if your an early riser and coffee drinker you can get a cup of coffee here before any of the local restaurants open up)
*******************************************
