Travel Guide VILLAHERMOSA Contents

DISCOVER VILLAHERMOSA 01

VILLAHERMOSA PROFILE 03

VILLAHERMOSA ATTRACTIONS 04

VILLAHERMOSA DINING 11

VILLAHERMOSA SHOPPING 14

VILLAHERMOSA NIGHTLIFE 16

THINGS TO DO IN VILLAHERMOSA 17 DISCOVER VILLAHERMOSA

Villahermosa is a located in southeastern , on the southernmost tip of the Gulf Coast. It has tropical weather and it is surrounded by flowing rivers, incredibly beautiful nature preserves and ecological reserves, as well as important lake systems and thundering waterfalls, all of which provide 30% of the freshwater reserves in the country.

Cobble-stone streets framed by majestic buildings blend into the skyline of this city whose roots date back to the Olmec and Mayan civilizations, which flourished by the and the lush jungle. Villahermosa, meaning “beautiful city” is a blend of modern and old with modern, new buildings, as well as several historic homes that reflect the wealth experienced in the past from the cocoa and oil industries that developed in the area. MEETINGS AND EVENTS IN VILLAHERMOSA ’s capital is a booming city with thriving industries like oil, cattle and agriculture, so it attracts hundreds of national and international visitors who come through the city’s international airport or the network of federal and state highways. Because so many people travel to Villahermosa on business, the city offers excellent venues for meetings and events, such as Tabasco 2000 Convention Center and Parque Tabasco, which can accommodate trade fairs, big exhibits and large conferences and feature the latest technology. The city also has a growing hospitality industry, with a great variety of hotels, from small inns to business hotels belonging to international hotel chains.

1 NATURAL PARADISE

Villahermosa is a great starting point for adventure tourism. Tabasco is gateway to lush jungles, large savannas, mangroves, lagoons, rivers and swamps that are teeming with life. The city’s surrounding towns hold interesting ecosystems that thrive at the edge of the Grijalva and Usumacinta rivers. In this area, you can visit the swamps at the Biosphere Reserve Pantanos de Centla, explore the Cocona Caves, or spend a day in the Yumka Nature Preserve.

2 VILLAHERMOSA PROFILE

Known for its wealthy oil industry and business hotels

Strong in agriculture and cattle farming

Home to the Olmec civilization

With vast wilderness areas and beautiful eco-parks

Home to , the only open-air museum in Latin America

Famous for its chocolate industry

With delicious local cuisine

Important business destination

Great for adventure tourism

3 VILLAHERMOSA ATTRACTIONS

Villahermosa offers tourists a wide variety of attractions, including zoos, history museums, ecological parks, interactive museums and urban parks. TOMAS GARRIDO CANABAL PARK This is one of Villahermosa’s main attractions and bears the name of its founder since 1930. It was built to house the state’s cattle and trade fair. The park was remodeled and opened to the public in 1985 with a new architectural design inspired by Pre-Hispanic and colonial elements.

The park is located on the edge of the lake, Laguna de las Ilusiones and features museums, a large zoo, beautiful fountains, an entertainment venue, a playground and meeting rooms for conferences.

4 CENTLA SWAMPS

This natural paradise was designated a biosphere reserve in 1992 because of its rich flora and fauna. It is home to over 450 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and amphibians (some endangered), as well as more than 500 types of plants grouped in lowland forests, mangroves, pastures, tropical rainforests and the like. The area is over 741,316 acres which comprise the Grijalva, San Pedro and Usumacinta rivers. The Usumacinta River is the largest river in the country and it is considered the most important wetland in Mesoamerica. REGIONAL MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY CARLOS PELLICER CAMARA

The late poet Carlos Pellicer Camara reorganized the collection that was in the old Museum of Tabasco in 1952, adding his works and numerous donations, and opened it to the public as the new Archeological Museum of Tabasco. This museum, which is currently named The Regional Museum of Anthropology, displays an amazing collection of archeological artifacts from the Mayan, Olmec, Mixtec and Zapotec cultures, such as the colossal monoliths of La Venta, basalt sculptures, necklaces, jade funerary masks and pieces of pottery and ceramics.

5 LA VENTA PARK AND MUSEUM The impressive building that houses this museum is located at the Tomas Garrido Canabal Park. It is the ultimate place to learn about the Olmec culture and to see the remains of this great civilization uncovered at the La Venta archeological site, like the famous Colossal Heads weighing between 6 and 25 tons, the stone mosaics, the stone slabs, the sculptures, such as the one called “The Monkey looking to Heaven” and the altars that mark the threshold to the underworld. The park also hosts a complete zoo with over 600 species, as well as different tropical plants.

LAGUNA DE LAS ILUSIONES Laguna de las Ilusiones (Illusion Lagoon) was designated a conservation area in 1995. It is home to crocodiles and different species of birds, as well as a couple of sculptures such as “Mujer Ceiba” which stands on the floor of the lagoon. This area comprises a lush rainforest, as well as houses and mansions that you can see from the Adolfo Ruiz Cortines Boulevard or Universidad Avenue.

6 THE ELEVATED MUSEUM OF VILLAHERMOSA (MUSEVI) Located by the Tomas Garrido Canabal Park and the Laguna de las Ilusiones, this museum displays works by local artists. It was built over a bridge to commemorate the bicentennial of the Independence of Mexico.

ZONA LUZ Zona Luz resembles the center of an old colonial town with cobble-stone pedestrian streets and large trees that provide wonderful shade over the many benches. This area is home to beautiful colonial buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

CATHEDRAL OF OUR LORD OF TABASCO This is the main Catholic church in Villahermosa and it was built on a site formerly occupied by the Church of Our Lord of Esquipulas, erected in 1776 and destroyed between 1928 and 1934. The construction of the cathedral began in 1963. It has a Baroque facade and a dome, columns and beautiful capitals. The two towers standout tall and majestic from all other buildings in the area.

7 NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

This museum is also part of the majestic Tomas Garrido Canabal Park. It shows the geological evolution of the planet, as well as man’s activity and his journey through the earth. It exhibits different marine and terrestrial ecosystems in the region and replicas of dinosaurs that inhabited the earth millions of years ago. The Natural History Museum also offers temporary exhibitions, children’s workshops, lectures and other cultural events.

YUMKA NATURE PRESERVE

This conservation area is located 15 minutes from Villahermosa. It is one of the main attractions and allows visitors to interact with the Tabasco ecosystem. It features 250 acres of land where you can find a forest, a savanna and a lake, each with its distinct flora and fauna.

It also has an orchid garden with amazing species, a manatee center, a colorful aviary, a herpetarium with several snakes from the region, a hippo breeding center, a habitat for Bengal tigers, as well dozens of parrots and colorful toucans flying free all around the park.

8 VILLA TAPIJULAPA This picturesque town is located in the Tabasco highlands. It is a charming place with cobbled streets, whitewashed houses with red tiles and a slow-paced way of life. It was founded by the Zoque Indians, whose customs and traditions still prevail to this day, especially in the festivals, the cuisine and handcrafts made of rattan. The town is famous for its Holy Week festivities, such as an event called “Fishing Blind Sardines”.

COCONA CAVES Cocona Caves are a group of caverns with natural light effects and capricious limestone rock formations. Tourists can visit eight chambers which are open to the public and the caves are surrounded by a lush forest inhabited by bats, raccoons, squirrels, opossums and birds.

9 TABASCO HISTORY MUSEUM (CASA DE LOS AZULEJOS) The museum is located in one of the most beautiful homes in Villahermosa, called “The House of Tiles”. It has a collection that includes chests, paintings, altarpieces, weapons, photographs, coins and medals, as well as artifacts from the Pre-Hispanic and Independent eras. It was built between 1890 and 1915 and it features a beautiful facade made of pieces from Catalan ceramics with fine details. The building’s architecture blends Gothic and Moorish styles that give it an eclectic touch. On the top of the building there are 6 sculptures, one of which depicts Mercury, the Roman god of commerce. CONCEPCION TEMPLE Ever since the image of the Immaculate Conception was brought from by Captain Francisco de Interiano in 1799, several attempts were made to build a temple to honor this image of the virgin. In the beginning, they built a small temple with a simple thatched roof, which later turned into a brick and mortar building, but it was destroyed twice. After two reconstructions, in 1945 they finally built this new church, which features a Gothic Revival style facade and ornaments. TABASCO 2000 PLANETARIUM This is a modern building made of concrete, aluminum and glass, created to display works of art, science and technology. It has a star projector that reproduces the sky at any time of year, and an Omnimax dome-shaped screen that is 75ft. in diameter. It also offers interesting science exhibits and a solar clock.

10 VILLAHERMOSA DINING

Villahermosa and its surrounding areas produce a wide variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs like banana, mango, dragon fruit, cashews, chinin (a kind of avocado) and cocoa beans that give the local cuisine a special zest. Tabasco cuisine is a blend of indigenous and Spanish food. Villahermosa also produces the best cattle in the Southeast and its rivers and lakes provide fresh fish and seafood. FRESHWATER FISH A delicacy in Tabasco cuisine is the famous “pejelagarto” or alligator gar, an endemic freshwater fish with an elongated snout-like lizard mouth and long, sharp teeth that is used in some savory dishes like grilled alligator gar, chirmole, salads, empanadas and tamales. Other delicacies include smoked oysters and piguas (giant river prawn).

11 SWEETS AND DESSERTS

There are several desserts and sweets in Tabasco which include fruit preserves, such as sweet coyol (the fruit of the coyol palm), coconut, papaya, pumpkin and “nance”, a native yellow fruit, as well as “merengon” (a type of merengue) and the milk caramel “dulce de leche”, the best way to end a great dining experience.

COCOA

Because Tabasco is the #1 producer of cocoa beans in the country, you should not leave without tasting the local confections. You can buy it dark or with sugar, depending on your taste. There are a couple of plantations in the region where cocoa beans are grown, harvested and processed to get cocoa butter, cocoa powder, confectionery and candy.

12 DRINKS

The most popular drinks in Tabasco are cocoa pozol, and pozol with chilled coconut water, great for hot days. It is made with cocoa, corn and lots of ice and served with or without sugar. Another popular drink is “polvillo”, made with roasted cocoa and corn, sprinkled with cinnamon, cornmeal and rice flour.

GREEN AND RIPE PLANTAINS

Plantains are used in several dishes and they can be eaten green or ripe. You must try the stuffed plantains with cheese and ground beef, the salty banana chips and the famous fried plantains that you can add to any meal.

CLASSIC BREAKFAST AND SUPPER STAPLES

Tamales are very popular in Tabasco cuisine. There are chipilin tamales made with a pungent herb that grows locally, strained dough tamales and chanchamitos which are made of ground corn and vegetable shortening and stuffed with chicken or pork in a red chili sauce. They are usually served with fried beans.

13 VILLAHERMOSA SHOPPING

There are many options for shopping in Villahermosa, from small stalls selling handicrafts and regional sweets, to modern shopping malls with designer stores and multiplex movie theaters.

PLAZA ALTABRISA

With more than 220 shops, this is the largest mall in the city. It is located on the Carlos Pellicer Camara Express Way and features all sorts of shops, boutiques, shoe stores, toy stores, jewelry shops, cinemas, restaurants and fancy department stores.

14 HANDICRAFTS There are several places in town where you can buy beautiful handicrafts, such as wood figurines, pottery, embroidered clothing, objects made with palm leaves, stone figurines and saddlery. Among the most sought after items you can find here are women’s costumes from Tabasco, which are embroidered cotton blouses and flowered skirts, along with chocolate and typical sweets made of coconut, banana and nance.

Many stores offer items produced in Villahermosa and the surrounding villages, but the best places to buy handcrafts are Artesanias Tabasquenas, Mis Blancas Mariposas and La Venta Park and Museum, as well as in the Zona Luz.

15 VILLAHERMOSA NIGHTLIFE

The nightlife in Villahermosa is rich and varied, there is something for everyone. You can find from laid-back bars that play Trova music for those who want to drink and chat with soft background music, to clubs that play electronic music for people who like dancing all night. Some nightclubs feature dance music and the latest laser and sound equipment, while others offer live bands that play salsa, merengue and other Latin rhythms. VERBENAS POPULARES

Los miércoles, viernes, sábados y domingos, la ciudad se engalana con divertidas verbenas que garantizan una agradable velada, como los miércoles románticos en la Plaza de los Tríos, los conciertos de mariachi en el Parque J. Claro García, el zapateado en el Parque La Corredigora, los sábados recreativos en el Parque Juárez, el danzón en la Plaza Bicentenario, y tardes de música en la Plaza de Armas.

16 THINGS TO DO IN VILLAHERMOSA

Go to the museums and parks, including the Tomas Garrido Canabal Park, La Venta Park and Museum and the Natural History Museum

See the famous Olmec Heads, a legacy of the ancient Olmec people

Visit the Centla Swamps and see the local plant and animal wildlife

Go to Yumka Park and see the three existing ecosystems (savanna, jungle and lake)

Explore the Cocona Caves

Walk the streets of Villa de Tapijulapa

Take a tour of the cocoa plantations and see how cocoa beans are grown and processed to make chocolate

Enjoy the local cuisine. Try the “pejelagarto” or alligator gar, the chipilin tamales and pozol

Take a walk in downtown Villahermosa and the Zona Luz

Buy lovely handicrafts at the many shops

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