Villahermosa
The vibrant capital of Tabasco hides more secrets than the city lagoons and parks can hide. To visit is always to be part of the general intrigue in the capital of the balmy land of wetlands and adventure.
Villahermosa is the balmy state capital of Tabasco. Very nearly a Gulf Coast city itself, the town is about an hour south of Paraíso and the Dos Bocas port, both actually on the coast. The culture of the Gulf of Mexico permeates everything, but in Villahermosa the Gulf meets a deeper, equally ancient local culture.
Olmec peoples once inhabited the entire region. Some of their traditions are among the oldest in Mexico. People to arrive to Villahermosa to set off for former Olmec strongholds at San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, La Venta, Tres Zapotes, and Laguna de los Cerros.
Surrounded by rivers, lagoons and jungles, Villahermosa is set in an exotic landscape of jungles, lowland marshes, and forests. Within the city, visitors prepare for their journeys at the La Venta Park-Museum and the Carlos Pellicer Regional Museum of Anthropology, both of which are hotbeds of Olmec culture and lore. The city is set around its own Cathedral, the giant Panteón Central, the Malecón (boardwalk) along the Grijalva River and a whole variety of parks and deep refreshing lagoons.
But as much as anything, the 340,000 permanent residents of the capital are joined by those who come for the culture, music, and for meetings. The town is a major stop for conventions and congresses. Attendees are very well fed as the food, combining a near staggering array of influences, is often eaten in five or even six regular meals a day. The Mercado José María Pino Suárez and the equally giant Mercado Publico Gral. Miguel Orrico de los Llanos will both serve you at least some. And the food is excellent.
Villahermosa is just about an hour north of the Teapa station on the InterOceanic Train (Line FA). Arriving that way allows you far greater access to the vibrant and green landscapes that contribute to the character and culture of the state.
From Mexico City, regular flights include those Volaris and AeroMexico from the AICM. From the AIFA, several airlines will ask you to make at least one stop to get to Villahermosa, most likely in Mérida or Cancun. The capital is also a stop for regular buses from Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz, about two hours to the west.
