Our back-to-back cruise on Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam started in San Diego, cruised many ports in Mexico then stopped in Guatemala, Panama City, transited the Panama Canal, to Cartagena, Columbia , Half Moon Cay, Bahamas and finally finished in Miami, Florida.
Puerto Chiapas
We arrived into Puerto Chiapas at dawn with a beautiful coloured sky as a backdrop to the unique thatched roofs of the port facilities. After disembarking we drove to Tapachula for a stroll around this interesting town.
Tapachula
Tapachula de Córdova y Ordóñez, simply known as Tapachula, is a city and municipality located in the far southeast of the state of Chiapas, Mexico, near the Guatemalan border and the Pacific Ocean. Economically, it is one of the most important cities in Chiapas; as capital of the agriculturally-rich Soconusco region, Tapachula also serves as a key port for trade between Mexico and Central America. The area was originally inhabited by the Mam, as a region under the control of the Mam state of Xelaju, but was first established as a city by the Aztecs in the 13th century. Most of its economic importance has come since the late 19th century, with the establishment of coffee plantations. This practice initiated a steady stream of migration and immigration into the area, which continues to this day, and has left the city with a significant Asian and German cultural presence. There is a large Mayan and Nahua population.
At the main plaza in the city we visited the Museo Arqueológico del Soconusco where there was some wonderful live music being played in the entrance with a lovely lady dancing in full Mexican costume. Next to the museum was the Parroquia San Agustín church. Wandering the interesting small streets we stopped at a lovely Gramlich Café for a coffee and met a wonderful group of older men having their morning coffee and chat.
Close by was the beautiful church of Catedral de San José de Tapachula.
Stuart Taylor of HighlanderImages Photography has been making images for over 40 years focusing on Asia with a documentary/photojournalistic style.
Stuart is available for a variety of assignments in subject areas of photojournalism, commercial, architectural, real estate, industrial, interior design, corporate, urbex, adventure, wilderness, and travel.