Population:
1,900,000
Size: 9,503 square miles
Location: Southeast Mexico
Borders: Gulf of Mexico and states of
Campeche, Guatemala, Chiapas and Veracruz
Important cities/sites within the state:
Grutas de Cocona, Villahermosa, Yumka and
archeological zone of Comalcalco
Major airports: Carlos Rovirosa Intl aka
Villahermosa International Airport (VSA)
Time Zone: Central Standard Time
Web site: www.tabasco.gob.mx
Tabasco is located in southeastern Mexico, bordered
by Veracruz, Chiapas, Campeche and the Gulf of
Mexico. Its landscape consists primarily of lush
forests, tropical jungle, savannah, mangrove swamps
and tranquil coasts.
The state of Tabasco is formerly home to one of the
most important Mesoamerican cultures in Mexico – the
Olmecs. The strength and power of this native group,
coupled with constant pirate attacks between the
16th and 18th centuries, prevented the Spaniards
from founding practically any cities in the area. In
1519, Hernan Cortez managed to establish Santa Maria
de la Victoria, the first Spanish city in the area,
now Villahermosa, the state’s capital.
Today, Tabasco offers a wide range of attractions
and outdoor recreational activities. The state’s
impressive Olmec and Mayan archaeological zones are
ideal to explore and include La Venta, Comalcalco
and Pomona, and Tabasco is also known for its
countless waterfalls, caverns, swamps, stunning
beaches, rivers and marshes. Folkloric villages such
as Tapijualpa, Villa Luz and Jalpa are also popular
attractions, characterized by their ambiance, still
very reminiscent of the Olmec cultural past.
The state is ideal for ecotourists, offering popular
outdoor spots like Yumka, a spacious park with 101
hectares of forest, lagoons and pastureland
featuring the Nature Interpretive Center, as well as
parks featuring fauna from different parts of the
world, including giraffes, zebras and antelopes.
Cacao, the bean chocolate is made from, flourishes
in Tabasco’s tropical climate, and tours of cacao
plantations and the chocolate production process are
not to be missed.
Villahermosa, the state’s capital, is a modern city
located 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, where the
Carrizal and Grijalva rivers meet. The city was the
first Spanish settlement ever founded on the
mainland – Santa María de la Victoria – on March 31,
1519, located on the left bank of Rio Grijalva. Soon
after its founding, pirate Frank Drake´s violence
forced the Spaniards upstream, where they later
founded Villa Hermosa de San Juan Bautista. While
the hostility continued, the city managed to escape
any major damages and during the 19th and 20th
centuries, began trading with the Caribbean Islands,
particularly Cuba.
Tabasco is a state of renowned natural beauty and
outdoor recreation. Travelers interested in diverse
surroundings will have the opportunity to explore
the many wonders of nature in one state. |
