Mexico Guide
Chiapas and Tabasco
Tabasco
The state of Tabasco, crossed by numerous slow-moving tropical rivers on their way to the Gulf, is at last making determined efforts to attract tourists. Once the homeland of the ancient Olmec, Maya and Zoque cultures, the state boasts dozens of archeological sites. Few of these pre-Columbian cities have been excavated, though Comalcalco, a Maya site north of Villahermosa, and the most important Olmec site at La Venta, northwest of the capital, have been expertly restored and are certainly worth visiting. The Zoque site of Malpasito, in the remote Sierra Huimanguillo, is easily the state's most attractive ancient city, though perhaps most difficult to reach.