SURROUNDING AREAS, TOURING AND NOTABLE PLACES

 

The Cacao Tour ? Departing from Villahermosa, take the state highway 25 km (15 mi) north to Nacajuca, where you can visit the Plaza Artesanal. There, artisans make embroidered goods and palm leaf and rattan products. During your stay you also can visit the Centro de Reproduccion de Tortugas, a center that protects endangered turtle species. Next, continue along the same highway for 10 km (6 mi) to reach Jalpa de Mendez, where you can check out the stone façade of the Templo de San Francisco de Asis. You also can explore the Pomposu Juliva wetlands, where you can observe various bird species or enjoy water sports at the nearby lagoons. Continuing along the state highway, head 12 km (7 mi) north to reach Comalcalco, which is where the cacao tour begins with a visit to Hacienda de la Luz. There you?ll see beautiful colonial constructions, spacious gardens and 26 hectares (64 acres) of cacao fields. At this place you can learn about the chocolate-making process and enjoy some freshly made samples. Here you also can visit the archaeological zone of Comalcalco and its on-site museum, where you can learn about the culture of the site?s pre-Hispanic inhabitants. Northwest of the ruins, at Km 3.5 on the Comalcalco-Paraiso Highway, you?ll find the Finca Cholula, which has 12 hectares (29 acres) of cacao fields, more than 84 bird species, howler monkeys and lush jungle vegetation. On the estate you?ll find the Chontal Chocolate Factory.