Attractions in Tampico, Mexico: What to do and where to go

Historic Center

The historic center of the city is undoubtedly the most interesting attraction in Tampico. When you walk through its streets, you will be able to experience the style of those years, with its many examples of Art Nouveau, influenced by European art movements from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Spend a whole day visiting these landmarks, The Cathedral of Tampico, the old Post Office, City Hall, and the Cultural Center. Taste the delicacies of their typical cuisine such as their famous 'tortas de la barda', a sub made with ham, beans, and cheese; shrimp empanadas, or scrumptious chilpan tamales from the street stands found all along the downtown area.

Plaza de la Libertad (Liberty Square)

The best way to start your day and to enjoy it to the fullest is to visit Plaza de la Libertad, in the heart of Tampico. There are many impressive buildings all around the square such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Best Western Gran Hotel Sevilla, both with a circular design. There is a marvelous wrought iron gazebo in the center of the square, where the local orchestra performs for the people who gather there every weekend.

Plaza de Armas (The Armory)

Take a trip down memory lane and visit the Plaza de Armas, with its majestic arches and beautiful balconies, it's a delightful experience. Facing the plaza are other important buildings such as City Hall, the Social Welfare Ministry and the Inglaterra hotel with its traditional facade and incredible minimalist decoration.

Edificio de la Aduana (Customs building)

North of the Panuco River lies the Maritime Customs house, an English red brick building, an invaluable treasure for Tampico and Mexico. The Customs house was officially opened in 1827 and began to gain relevance in 1850 during the economic boom of the town. The current building was inaugurated on October 16th, 1902 by former president Porfirio Diaz, and bears a strong British influence. It was built with custom made cast iron details from France, with amazing wooden windows and doors brought from Louisiana.

Cathedral of Tampico

The Cathedral of Tampico is also known as the Immaculate Conception Chapel, featuring a neo-classic architecture bearing Corinthian columns in its facade. You will also white marble altar with a delicate figure of Mary, mother of Jesus as the Immaculate Conception, a German monumental organ donated by a wealthy family from the area, and a marvelous granite hall with gammadion crosses.

Metropolitan Park

Lakeside Laguna del Carpintero, you will find a fantastic park with an extension of gardens where you can spend a nice afternoon. Lay back and relax under an umbrella while the little ones run around and play on playground. Go over the bridge and admire the view, or charter a boat to go for a ride in the lake, or get on a trolley and tour the historic center.

Metropolitan Arts and Entertainment Venue or METRO

This is a famous venue is intended to promote culture and it is a meeting place for students, teachers and art and culture fans. It is a modern complex, located on the shores of Laguna del Carpintero, and houses the Metropolitan Theater, an art gallery, an alternative theater venue, and the Huastecan Culture Museum. It also features a cafe and a lounge bar opened at nights.

Huasteca Culture Museum

Located at the METRO, this museum exhibits the most relevant information about a nomad people established in Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi. On display, they have hundreds of artifacts such as statues, clothing items, pottery, paintings, and an interesting collection of archaeological objects from this Pre-Columbian culture. Learn how the Huastecans would extract crude oil that they used as a dye to paint as well as other interesting facts about this people's way of life.

"Las Flores" Pyramid

This pyramid stands as evidence of the existence of the Huastecan Indians who used to inhabit the Panuco River basin between 600 and 1200 A.D. You can see the main erection of what was once an important settlement of more than 40 buildings in Pre-Hispanic times. This is a circular pyramid built in levels, one platform on top of the other. It was built of soil, clay, pottery pieces, and seashells from the region and plastered with lime and clay mortar.

Laguna del Carpintero (Carpenter's Lagoon)

Laguna del Carpintero, or Carpenter's Lagoon in English, is located 15 minutes from the downtown area. It features fish farms and plant nurseries. You can charter a boat to take you to see the diverse wildlife such as the turtles, iguanas, flocks of seabirds, and the alligators that live there. This lake was visited by the late Steve Irwin, the Australian wildlife expert nicknamed 'The Crocodile Hunter' from the Discovery Channel, who said this lake was a model example of how humans can live harmoniously with the wildlife in their environment.

Miramar Beach

This is without a doubt, one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Tampico. This beach has golden powdery sand and beautiful scenery and you can do several water sports. Delight yourself watching dolphin pods swimming in these waters and the many international ships which anchor at the mouth of the river. Try the catch of the day as well as other typical dishes at any of the stands along the beach.

Ocean Promenade

El Malecon or Las Escolleras is located south of Miramar Beach. It features a large monument a memorial to the sailors who died in the Mexican battle ships during World War II.

As you walk along the promenade, you can see playful dolphins approaching the shore or many street vendors selling coconut tortillas called duquesas, or handicrafts from the region.

Eco-Tourism

Among the many attractions found in Tampico, there is also eco- tourism. Experience alternative ways to travel, such as agritourism, horseback riding, or mountaineering, or explore the cave systems, go whitewater rafting, or simply enjoy the wildlife.