Tapachula

The southernmost city in Mexico, Tapachula lies at the center of the Soconusco mountain region, which extends down into southwestern Guatemala. Significant numbers of European and Asian immigrants—many fleeing World War II and the Communist Revolution in China—were attracted to the area by its coffee- and cacao-driven prosperity, and modern-day Tapachula still has this diverse population. Guatemalans come here to shop, do business, and find work on the plantations—the border is just a few miles away. All this activity has rendered Tapachula a bustling, cosmopolitan town, where you can even find a decent cappuccino.