Huixtla or Tapachula?
 

We are travelling down from Mexico into Guatemala. We know about the aduana being at Huixtla, but then again it may also be Tapachula. Before we pass Huixtla and have to return there from Tapachula, did any of you cross not long agao and tell me where to do customs?

Huixtla
 

The answer is obvious and logical - do it at the first possibility : stop to do the customs formalities at Huixtla .
The Huixtla customs facility is about 2km west of the intersection where the Mex 200 bypass begins its arc across the north of town and the City route of Mex 200 splits off to the southeast . There is no border processing "in Tapachula " , that is a catch-all designation for two border crossing that are 20km to 40 km away . Look at a detailed map of the towns at the border and Tapachula .[[/I][/I][/I][/I]

If at Huixtla for some reason they are not on that day willing to do the formalities ( highly -improbable !) then you are set to do it at the border , in either Cd Hidalgo ( south ) or at Talisman , east of Tapachula and you will not get told to go back to the Huixtla terminal.

The big modern customs complex is located on the north side of Mex 200 and you as a southbound traveller will be barred from entering it directly because of the highway median divider . But do not let that stop you because a short distance father you will encounter a RETORNO point ( make a U-turn ) where you get onto the westbound traffic lane to the Customs Terminal . DO NOT use the RETORNOS directly in front of the terminal because they are west past the entry point and useless and you would endanger yourself and other road users if you were to back up for the entry .

It is all so easy to find ,and you can look at it photographically on the Streetview on googlemaps link below .
https://www.google.ca/maps/@15.16074...7i16384!8i8192


After you have your paperwork done and in order and possible refund of the TVIP security deposit after cancelling the TVIP ... only then are you ready to leave heading west on Mex 200 as far as the next RETORNO where you do the official U-turn onto the eastbound lanes of Mex 200 and be on your merry way to Guatemala or to spend the night in Huixtla or Tapachula or any other place you wish .. You are not obliged to make a high speed panic-run straight to the border ,immediately you have two or three days to do that. You are cleared for the border zone so you could actually take Mex 211 north through Motozintla in order to get to the Mex 190 and the "La Mesilla " Guatemalan border crossing . Enjoy Tapachula , they usually have live music concerts at the central plaza open air bandstand . Plenty of hotels in city center nearby .

Muchas gracias!
That of course was my idea to start with. Would just have been helpful to know in advance. Last time (5 years ago) I went to the customs in Huixtla, we were sent off but the place is a lot more relaxed than at Cd. Hidalgo.