Balancán: Tabasco's Adventure Hub – Lagoons, Wildlife, and Ancient Ruins

An ideal destination for travel and adventure tourism is Balancán, in Tabasco state—it has great natural resources, extensive wildlife, important archaeological sites and it’s surrounded by small rivers and lagoons. This “Place of jaguars and snakes” is 173 kilometers Villahermosa southeast, bordering at north with Campeche state and at south with Guatemala. It’s on Usumacinta River limits.

 

Its warm-humid climate is ideal to start the adventure and travel through its 48 lagoons and eight streams. It promises to be a unique and unforgettable trip.

 

Exploring the municipality is knowing the history that marked its territory. It’s said that it belonged to Acalán’s ancient Chontal Mayan lordship, but Mayans built the population and religious centers of Moral or Reforma, El Arenal, Santa Helena, Tierra Blanca, Pomoná, Tiradero, El Cuyo del Nava, the high land and various tombs.

 

Historical monuments are in the pier’s Brigada Usumacinta square, such as José Eusebio and Luis Felipe Domínguez Suárez’ several bronze busts. On the main access, via Emiliano Zapata, is that of Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta, whose boulevard bears his name.

 

When walking through the central park, you can see Gothic style Iglesia de San Marcos (Church of San Marcos), with a two-section portal and a top. The interior is a single nave with a side door, stained glass in walls and arches in its niches.

 

Further on is the José Gómez Panaco museum, which protects and exhibits Mayan culture pieces. Nearby is the City Hall, inaugurated in 1976 on once was Salomé Marín Virgilio school.

 

A must for walking is Malecón El Popalillo, where you can enjoy the breeze and lagoon’s beautiful landscape. Balancán’s gastronomy consists of a rich variety of corn tamales, beans, chaya and strained dough; chanchamitos, socucos, totopostes, tostaditas de pozol and penchuques; as well as boiled chicken and turkey in stew.