Music and Dance

Parque Marimba (Av. Central Pte. btwn. 8 and 9 Calle Pte., daily 6 p.m.–close) is one of the best places to go for live marimba and other traditional music, and a bit of low-key dancing and people-watching.

The famous Las Pichanchas restaurant (Av. Central Ote. at 7 Calle Ote.) has ballet folklórico nightly at 9 p.m.; call to reserve a table with a good view. Another restaurant, La Casona (1 Av. Sur Pte. 134 at Calle Central Sur), has live marimba afternoons starting at 2 p.m. and at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Cultural Centers

A beautiful building set on lush grounds, the Centro Cultural Jaime Sabines (12 Ote. Nte. at Av. Central, tel. 961/612-5198, www.conecultachiapas.gob.mx/jaimesabines, 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Mon.–Sat.) often hosts dance and dramatic performances, as well as concerts and art exhibits. Call or stop by for a schedule of events.

Theater

Teatro de la Ciudad Emilio Rabasa (Parque Madero, Prolongación 5a Nte., tel. 916/613-1349, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tues.–Sun.) presents dramatic, dance, and musical performances throughout the year; independent films are occasionally screened here too. Ticket prices vary depending on the show but typically range US$5–30.

Cinema

Tuxtla’s main movie theaters are located in malls. Cinemark (Galerías Boulevard, tel. 961/615-2969) is on Bulevar Belisario Domínguez at Calle Oro Ferraro, while Cinépolis (Plaza del Sol Tuxtla, 5a Av. Nte. Pte. s/n, tel. 961/615-2969) is next to the ADO bus station. (Cinépolis has theaters at the Poliforum and Plaza Mirador malls as well.) Both chains charge around US$4.75 for adults, US$4 for children and seniors, and US$3 before 3 p.m. and all day Wednesday.

© Liza Prado and Gary Chandler from Moon Chiapas, 1st Edition