Tourism Information

Tamaulipas, Mexico

Tourism Information

On the flat coastline of the Gulf of Mexico in the northern region lies the proud state of Tamaulipas, which has 420 km (260 mi) of beaches, including, Playa Bagdad, Soto la Marina, Barra del Tordo and the state’s most visited beach destinations, La Carbonera and Miramar.

For an ecotourism outing, El Cielo Biosphere Reserve covers 144,530 hectares (356,989 acres), making it the ideal place to go camping, hiking, mountain bike riding, or to simply observe the diverse flora and fauna.

The cities have managed to preserve a rural feel, even in the state capital Ciudad Victoria, which is an important commercial center. The industrial port of Altamira has a quiet coastline, while San Fernando and Hacienda Las Palmas have one of the most important hunting ranches in the nation. Along the Rio Bravo, you’ll find Matamoros, a bustling port with fascinating architecture; Reynoso, a modern city with much commercial activity; and neocolonial Nuevo Laredo.

In the southern region of Tamaulipas, you can visit Tampico, an attractive beach destination. There you can see the Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion, which has Byzantine-style mosaics. Playa Miramar hosts several fishing tournaments throughout the year, including the Torneo de Pesca Playero and the Torneo de Pesca Convivencia Familiar. At the Carpintero Lagoon, the Competencia Internacional de Motonautica takes place, as well as other boat races, such as sailing competitions. There’s also a fishing tournament there.

In Tamaulipas you can enjoy a wide variety of local cuisine. During your visit, be sure to try the jaibas a la Frank (a crab dish), fried huachinango (red snapper), the gorditas de doña Tota and the famed carne a la tampiqueña (a grilled beef dish). To make the experience complete, be sure to check out the so-called polkeadas (a polka fiesta) and huapango, regional music and dance.