Tuxtla is an excellent place to shop if you are looking for car parts, a washing machine, or tight disco clothes. It definitely is not a mecca of Chiapanecan handicrafts, but rather a place to get last-minute T-shirts or machine-made knockoffs of indigenous products.

If you’re set on buying quality Chiapanecan folk art, Casa de las Artesanías (Blvd. Belisario Domínguez 2035, tel. 961/602-9800, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Mon.–Fri. and 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Sat.) is where it’s at. It’s got a little of everything: handwoven textiles, wood carvings, pottery, leather products, amber jewelry, laca, and coffee.

If the mall is more your style, head to Plaza Crystal (Blvd. Belisario Domínguez at Calle Oro Ferraro, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. daily), where there are plenty of department stores, upscale boutiques, and a decent food court.

Plaza del Sol Tuxtla (5a Av. Nte. Pte. at Blvd. Antonio Pariente Algarín, 8 a.m.–midnight daily) is another option, with a huge Soriana (like Wal-Mart), various specialty stores, an arcade, bowling alley, and a movie theater.

Other malls in Tuxtla include Poliforum (Blvd. Angel Albino Corzo) and Plaza Mirador (Libramiento Nte. Pte. 2851).