San Andres Tuxtla Attractions

West of Catemaco, the MEX 180 runs for 15km/9.3mi to San Andrés Tuxtla (370 m (1215 ft); population: 60,000), an old colonial town nestling in a basin-shaped valley encircled by volcanic hills (it was known in pre-Hispanic times as "Zacoalcos", a Náhuatl name meaning "enclosed space"). The churches of San José and Santa Rosa are both worth visiting. In 1902 a 20 cm (8 in.)-high jade Olmec figurine of a priest, subsequently found to date from AD 162, was discovered in the vicinity. Today the so-called "Tuxtla statuette" can be seen in Washington DC (USA). San Andrés is an important cigar manufacturing centre; the "Teamo" factory is well worth visiting.