Paraíso
A truly underrated city of lagoons and forgotten waterways, there is nothing quite like discovering some place absolutely special when you were already over-traveled.
Paraíso is a paradoxically named place. Many will tell you that it is anything but. The little town is most famous for the giant Dos Bocas refinery that takes up most of the waterfront, but it is still a town of tremendous history and standing on the national scene. On the muggy coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the town straddles the mouth of the Grijalva River and remains hot and humid for most of the year.
The beaches are easily the most popular in Tabasco, but they give way, inland, to lagoons, rivers, and the natural landscapes for which the state is well known. The town enjoys rubbing shoulders with a few upscale neighborhoods, like Puerto Ceiba and El Bellote, but all of them are connected with by the inland waterways that define the character of the city. But don't miss the truly authentic Ignacio Gutiérrez Gómez municipal market for a good sense of what is good to eat and for the true priorities of the entire region.
The city is home to some 95,000 permanent residents. Ample economic opportunity keeps everyone busy, but for visitors it is a place of seafood, sunrises, and trips into the surrounding country. Often enough, that can mean boat rides, kayaks and canoeing. The Mecoacán lagoon is a terrific source for trout, snapper and other sport fishes. But fisherman and mere passengers alike enjoy trips to the Seco River, Dos Boca, and La Bocana beyond the giant Mecoacán Lagoon. Countless herons, seagulls, and pelicans take to the lagoon, too.
Most visitors will join residents at the El Paraíso center in Puerto Ceiba. The center is a combination strolling area and sports complex with a swimming pool, hotels, palapas and parking. But there are many more beaches in the area.
Visitors seem to arrive at Paraíso on a sprint from the capital. After a stop at the stunning ruins at Comalcalco, it just seems natural to continue on to the coast. And for that Paraíso is very well positioned. The trip from Villahermosa is just over an hour. From Comalcalco, you can do it in 25 minutes. But try not to miss a trip up or down the coast. Except during Semana Santa, the beaches are lovely and forlorn, a mood that sweetens every trip to Tabasco.
