Guide To Villahermosa

About Villahermosa

Villahermosa ("Vee-ya-ehr-moh-sah") is the capital city of the State of Tabasco, a rich, fertile region of Mexico, and once the centre of the Olmec Civilisation; the first ever civilization in Mesoamerica. The climate is that of an intensely tropical and sticky heat. Its wealth today is founded on the rich petroleum fields below Mexico's Gulf waters.

At first glance, Villahermosa is anything but what its name suggests (Beautiful Villa); however, some additional exploration will reveal some pleasant surprises.

At night, when the traffic dies down and temperatures cool, the atmosphere of this place changes enormously, especially around the Zona Remodelada (Refurbished Zone) with its pedestrian streets, plazas and colonial buildings.

There are some fine museums, good parks, a zoo and a kind of 'safari park' on the outskirts. Villahermosa is a through-route for most people traveling by road to the southern peninsula; it can't be avoided as the main road 180/180D runs straight through it. Villahermosa is also a base camp for people traveling to the hugely popular, fascinating and almost awe-inspiring Palenque ruins.

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Key Attractions

Zona Remodelada ("Refurbished Zone")

The pedestrianized Zona Remodelada, referred to locally as simply "La Zona" has several points of interest. On the north end, visit Parque Juarez especially in the evenings when crowds gather to meet, chat and watch street entertainers.

A colorful eye-catching building painted in purple and pink, one of the few that has been restored to its former glory, is called La Casa Siempreviva (The Never-dying house) inside there's a small gallery and cafe.

Also in the area is the Museo de Historia (History Museum) tells of Tabasco's history, and if you want to hear the sound birds, go to the Parque de los Pajaros (Park of Birds) where budgerigars live inside large wrought iron cages.

The Plaza de Armas (main square) sometimes has live music in the evenings and offers views of the river. Just off the Plaza is the white Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace); just east of the Plaza is a bridge crossing the river Grijalva, Puente Solidaridad - it offers excellent views of the sunset.

Museums

Parque-Museo La Venta - This is the first place most visitors to Villahermosa head for; a park, zoo and outdoor museum all in one. t takes about 3 hours to see the whole place properly, so plan ahead. It's closed on Mondays.

The first section of the park is the Zoo; here you'll see a wonderful variety of animals from the region: toucans, pumas, lynx, jaguars, spider monkeys, boa constrictors, deer and many others. The Museum starts at the foot of a giant Ceiba Tree (a sacred tree of the Olmecs and Maya) and continues onwards for about half a mile through lush vegetation. Throughout the trail is a series of giant basalt heads as well as other figures including humans and dolphins. It's wise to wear insect repellent as mosquitoes love this climate and environment. See also: Health and Safety in Mexico.

Museo Regional de Antrpologia - (Regional Anthropology Museum) - is a three storey building containing regional artifacts. It's best to view them from the top down, as they have been put in chronological order that way. There's a lift to the top floor. The top floor explores some of Mesoamerica's first civilizations going back to the Stone Age, through to the Aztec period. Down a level you can explore the Mayas and Olmecs; the ground floor exhibits some large Olmec heads and more recent finds.

Yumka

Yumka is an ecological attraction, a cross between safari park and ecological studies centre. Being around 9 miles outside of the city centre, there are regular minibuses which will take you there for a small fee from the La Venta Park-Museo (see above). The Yumka park is quite an experience. The park itself is big: covering over 4 square miles; following a brief guided tour of the Tabasco jungle on foot, everyone boards a train that glides past giraffes, elephants rhinos and such like. After a stop at the restaurant and gift shop, everyone boards a boat for a tour of the lagoon where hippos and bird watching are the key attractions.

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Getting There & Around

Getting There

By Air - You can get to Villahermosa by plane from Mexico City, Cancun, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Oaxaca, Tuxtla Gutierrez and Veracruz; not all services from/to the smaller cities operate daily. From/to the US there are connections to Houston and San Antonio, although services are not daily - check latest schedules for details. 

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for Airlines

By Bus - Regular buses run from Mexico City and all main cities in the region. Some buses go past Villahermosa but don't stop there - check. As a guide, It takes about 11 hours to/from Mexico City; about 12 hours to/from Cancun and about 8 hours to/from Veracruz.

Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for National Buses

By Car - Villahermosa is highly accessible by road on Highway 180/180D. For journey times, see them by Bus above, and subtract a little time as you will travel a little faster by car.

See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico's Toll Roads on Mexperience.

Getting Around

From the Airport - The airport is about 9 miles east of Villahermosa. Taxis are available; buy your tickets at the booth inside the terminal building. If you want to rent a car, agencies have desks inside the main airport terminal building. Booking in advance is likely to save you money (see below).

Local Buses - Local buses and mini-buses (combis) are available locally for about 1/3 of the cost of a taxi around town.

Taxis - Local taxis are widely available. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage and be able to negotiate a better price! Another good reason to Learn Spanish!

Rent a Car - You may want to rent a car to see the surrounding attractions as well as travel to the spectacular archaeological site of Palenque and other archaeological sites in the area.

See the Mexperience Travel Center for Car Rental in Villahermosa.

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Local Events Calendar

No local events currently listed.

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Practical Information

Telephone: Connect to the Communications in Mexico Page on Mexperience for full information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialling codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines can be found in the downtown area of Villahermosa. During business hours, they and the Casas de Cambio will buy traveller's cheques and cash from you as well. Read about currency exchange in Mexperience's Money Section.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical cover and/or travel assistance cover when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes are commonplace in Mexico - new ones open and old ones close all the time - but you won't have to look too hard to find one downtown and in the main tourist areas.

Local Tourist Office: Connect to the Mexperience Travel Center for details of the nearest Tourist Information office.

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Accommodation

• Find a Hotel in Villahermosa

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Restaurants

We have no specific restaurant recommendations at this time.

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When Night Falls

Locally Hosted Parties - Check with yours and other Local hotels about public parties they may be hosting during your stay. Hosted parties usually include dinner, dancing, a show and / or live regional music and dancing plus all drinks for a fixed fee and are always excellent value for money! Ask at your hotel to find out what is happening locally.

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What to Buy in Villahermosa

No items currently listed

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Local Climate

Drenching, hot, humid, sticky... this is jungle weather. Wear light and breathe-able clothing, avoid synthetic materials (e.g. polyester) in favor of natural (e.g. cotton) material; wear sunscreen and protect young children's skin especially, wear a hat to protect your head and face from the intensely hot sun and take insect repellent with you - the mosquitoes love this climate too!

Live Weather Report:

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