Puerto Arista facts for kids
Puerto Arista is a lively beach town on the coast of Chiapas, Mexico. It's a popular spot for people from Chiapas because it's easy to reach from cities like Tuxtla Gutiérrez and Tonalá. Even though it doesn't have fancy resorts, it's the most visited beach in the state! Puerto Arista is also special because it has one of Chiapas's four marine turtle sanctuaries. These sanctuaries help protect different kinds of sea turtles that come here to lay their eggs.
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Exploring the Community
Puerto Arista is part of the Tonalá area. It's about 22 kilometers (14 miles) from the main town of Tonalá and 16 kilometers (10 miles) off Federal Highway 200. This coastal area is a narrow strip of land between the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Most of the land here has small towns and ranches where cattle graze.
The town of Puerto Arista has a main road that runs right next to the beach. This road is often called El Boulevard. Along this road, you'll find many businesses that welcome tourists. These include hotels, restaurants, and small shops. Another important road is the Tonalá-Puerto Arista highway, which connects to El Boulevard near an old lighthouse.
Getting around is easy with buses that go to Tonalá. You can also find small vans and shared taxis to other nearby places.
A Look at History
Puerto Arista was first mentioned in 1813. Back then, it was called La Puerta. The Spanish government allowed it to trade with places like Guatemala, other parts of Mexico, and Peru. In the 1860s, President Benito Juárez made it an important port for ships traveling along the coast.
Ships used to bring goods from Panama, Acapulco, and even San Francisco. Chiapas would send out products like lime, dried fish, indigo, and special wood. Because Puerto Arista doesn't have a natural bay, large ships had to anchor far out in the ocean. Smaller boats would then ferry cargo and people to shore using a long cable.
In 1893, a lighthouse was built to warn big cargo ships that the waters weren't safe for them. Since then, Puerto Arista stopped being a major shipping port. Now, only shrimp boats stop nearby. The town's main focus has shifted to tourism, making it Chiapas's most popular beach.
In 2010, a very large wave hit the area. It damaged many beachside restaurants and boats. The wave also washed away some of the sand from the beach.
Fun for Tourists
Puerto Arista is about 195 kilometers (121 miles) from Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital. This makes it a great escape for people from that city and Tonalá. While it gets very busy during Mexican holidays like Holy Week and Christmas, it's quieter most of the rest of the year. Still, it's the most visited beach in Chiapas. It's one of the most popular places to visit in the state, after famous sites like Palenque and San Cristóbal de Las Casas.
Puerto Arista boasts 32 kilometers (20 miles) of wide beaches that face the open ocean. From the beach, you can see the peaks of the Sierra Madre de Chiapas mountains in the distance, often covered by clouds. The weather is warm and a bit humid, with most rain falling in the summer. The average temperature is about 27°C (81°F).
The beaches have fine, gray sand that comes from volcanoes. You'll often see flocks of frigatebirds flying overhead. The ocean waves can sometimes be strong, but usually, they are not. When the tide is low, the waves are gentler and safer for swimming. However, it's important to be aware of strong currents called riptides, which can pull swimmers out to sea. These usually happen beyond the second line of waves. There aren't always signs about water safety or professional lifeguards.
Most of the places for tourists are simple hotels and restaurants with palapa roofs (thatched roofs made from palm leaves). These restaurants are right on the ocean and specialize in seafood. They usually have similar menus and prices. While there are many of these restaurants, only a few are open at any given time. Near the lighthouse on the main road, you can find food stands selling traditional Mexican dishes.
Renting ATVs is a popular activity here. You can also rent boats, sports equipment, and go camping. The beach has even hosted international beach volleyball events!
Puerto Arista Turtle Sanctuary
The Puerto Arista turtle sanctuary is a special place that helps protect sea turtles. It's located about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) west of town. The sanctuary covers 500 hectares (about 1,235 acres) of mangroves and beaches. It's one of four such places in the area.
Puerto Arista is one of 144 beaches in Mexico where sea turtles come to lay their eggs. Sadly, many of these nests are at high risk of being disturbed. Also, sometimes dead sea turtles wash ashore, often due to illegal fishing practices. Even though it's against the law, some people still illegally hunt turtles and their eggs.
The main job of the sanctuary is to patrol the beach on foot and with ATVs. They look for fresh turtle nests and carefully move the eggs to safe, protected areas. Later, when the baby turtles hatch, they are released back into the sea. Visitors can even help with collecting eggs and releasing the tiny hatchlings! These activities happen all year, but most turtles come to nest between July and November.
In 2008, the governor of Chiapas visited the sanctuary to help release over 7,000 baby turtles. That year, about half a million baby turtles were released, and 25,000 people visited the sanctuary. While the sanctuary faced some challenges in 2010, efforts have been made to improve and restore it since then.
See also
In Spanish: Puerto Arista para niños
