Car Hire Villahermosa - Mini guide to Villahermosa

Villahermosa, the capital of Tabasco, is located in a rich, fertile region of Mexico which was once the centre of the Olmec Civilization, the first ever civilization in Mesoamerica. The city’s wealth is today founded on the rich petroleum fields below Mexico's Gulf waters.

The pedestrianised Zona Remodelada (Refurbished Zone), known locally as 'La Zona', has several points of interest. On the northern end, Parque Juarez is a good place to visit in the evenings when crowds gather to watch street entertainers. A stunning combination of nature and archaeology, Museo de La Venta is one of Villahermosa's main attractions. It houses native fauna, such as jaguars and crocodiles, as well as ancient Olmec monuments.

Alternatively, the Tabasco History Museum is one of the most charming buildings in the city. The Culture Museum is also worth a visit to see the carved gourds from Jalpa de Mendez. Additionally, the museum features a variety of Tabascan costumes, such as those worn by the Pocho dancers in Tenosique and those of the Caballito Blanco dance.

You can enjoy music and get a scenic view of the Grijalva River from the Plaza de Armas (main square). Just east of the plaza is Puente Solidaridad, a bridge which offers excellent views of the sunset. Parque Tabasco, a 108-hectare park with a lovely lagoon and extensive gardens, is a relaxing place to visit.

Villahermosa is also well known as a good base from which to explore the hugely famous, fascinating Palenque ruins. Alternatively, Yumka Park is 14.4kms outside the city centre, and is a cross between a safari park and an ecological studies centre, covering an area of over 6.5 square kilometres. Visitors can take a brief guided tour of the Tabasco jungle on foot before boarding a train that chugs past giraffes, elephants, rhinos and more.

Highway 180 connects Campeche to Villahermosa in seven hours by car. The drive between Villahermosa and Chetumal is 560kms, and a stopover is recommended in Xpujil, 99kms west of Chetumal. Buses run from Mexico City, taking 11 hours. From Cancun, the bus ride is about 12 hours. You can get to Villahermosa by air from Mexico City, Cancun, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Oaxaca, Tuxtla and Veracruz. The airport is about 14kms east of Villahermosa.