An industrial oil giant by the Gulf, yet 30 minutes inland lies brick Mayan pyramids echoing with howler monkeys and cacao trees heavy with chocolate pods — Tabasco's best-kept secret.
The port is a restricted PEMEX oil facility — you must take a shuttle or tour bus from the gangway to the security gate before catching a taxi or excursion vehicle.
💡 Pro move: No independent walking is possible inside the port perimeter. Pre-booked ship excursions are the simplest option; independent taxis work well for Paraíso and Comalcalco.
Ships berth at Dos Bocas's industrial multi-use terminal — a high-security PEMEX oil facility where free roaming is not permitted.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Ponant & expedition lines | Terminal de Usos Múltiples (TUM), Puerto Dos Bocas📍 | Docked |
| Most cruise lines | TUM pier — shuttle to secure gate exit required📍 | Docked |
Dos Bocas's real rewards are inland — ancient Mayan brick cities, working cacao haciendas, and the colossal Olmec heads of Villahermosa.
The only major Mayan city built entirely of fired clay bricks instead of stone — a direct result of the river delta's lack of limestone. Pyramids rise from jungle while howler monkeys bark overhead.
Find Comalcalco tours →Tabasco is the birthplace of chocolate. Hacienda La Luz or Hacienda Jesús María walk you from cacao pod to finished bar, with tastings at every step.
Find cacao hacienda tours →World-class outdoor museum housing the colossal stone heads of the Olmecs — Mesoamerica's mother culture. Set in jungle parkland beside a lake, combined with a zoo.
Find Villahermosa tours →One of North America's largest biosphere reserves. Motorized canoes thread through mangrove channels where you spot crocodiles, rare birds, and howler monkeys.
Find wetlands boat tours →The nearest local beach — rustic palapas, cold beer, and fresh seafood. Gulf coast sand is darker than the Caribbean, but the fried fish and oysters are exceptional.
Find beach transfers →Independent walking is limited to Paraíso town center after clearing the port security gate by taxi.
Taxi to Paraíso's Parque Central, walk to the colorful Parroquia de San Marcos Evangelista, browse fruit vendors, and grab a cold pozol (cacao-corn drink) from a street cart. Cheap and authentically Mexican.
📍 Open in MapsThe lagoon dock area is lined with open-air marisquerías — ideal for a walk and a plate of pejelagarto or smoked oysters. Rustic, local, and delicious.
📍 Open in Maps