Villahermosa

The capital city of Villahermosa epitomizes the development of Tabasco, where the airplane arrived before the automobile. Thanks to oil and the money it brought in, the once cramped and ugly neighborhoods—in the mosquito-ridden town of the 1970s—have largely been replaced by spacious boulevards, shady parks, and cultural centers. There are only a few sights here, but as the city has the nearest large airport to Palenque, you may find yourself here for the night.