//
City in the Mexican state of Tabasco
Photo: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Comalcalco is a small city in the Gulf coast area of Tabasco, Mexico. It is a very old Maya community known as the westernmost city-state of the Yucatán Maya civilization. The archaeological site is the town's biggest draw, but a nearby biosphere reserve provides plenty of nature-watching opportunities and Comalcalco can be a great base from which to explore nearby scenic colonial churches in outlying villages.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Temple to chocolate in all its tasty forms. Learn about how cacao was first cultivated in this area more than 2,000 years ago, how it became an important culinary and trade good during the Maya civilization, and how it continues to be the world's most loved flavor of food and drink. Various tours are offered as well as classes and workshops for those who just can never learn enough about chocolate.
Beautiful site but many signs are faded and others are Spanish only, so hiring one of the site guardians as a guide is a good idea because they'll be able to explain the history as well as local Maya folklore. English speaking guides are not always available, so Spanish skills help. Bring mosquito spray and sunscreen (after all, this is a tropical jungle area and the afternoon sun is usually brutal).
Brazilian steakhouse with skewers of various grilled meats and two enormous salad bars. Full bar available, reservations recommended.
Casual bar and grill with light pasta, wings, fries, etc. and a variety of beer and michelada. Live bands on weekends. Often crowded with poor ventilation.
Brazilian churrasceria with limited selection of meats. Service can be hit or miss.
Casual low-key taco place. Good, affordable eats.
Japanese restaurant with good ambience, tasty sushi, and slow service.
Travel + Leisure magazine called Cocina Chontal "one of the best restaurants in the world". It earns that praise with its very traditional cooking methods and authentic regional cuisine. All cooking is done over an open wood fire. Hammocks in the garden, outside the large open air dining pavilion.
Basic but servicable hotel, rooms are sparsely furnished in Ikea-looking dorm room cheap chic. Nice garden area outside.
Basic rooms, no TV, swimming pool on-site.
The town's traditional marketplace sells fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, regional cheeses, and every kind of household product imaginable, from goat care items to truck mud flaps. Fans of street food will find the region's most authentic dishes being served up in home-cooked fashion.
By car
It's about a 1-hour drive from Villahermosa to Comalcalco. From Villahermosa, go west on federal highway MEX-180 for about 25 km, then turn right on Reforma - Dos Bocas.
By bus
Buses between Comalcalco and Villahermosa operate every 20 minutes from very early morning to early evening. These buses are operated by Autotransportes Comalli Plus.
The town is small enough that you can easily walk to most places, but there are some interesting places to see in nearby villages and in the eco reserve north of town.
Read in the guideChoose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Villahermosa · International · VSA
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Comalcalco and Mexico.
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
InspirationExplore the best places to visit in November across autumn foliage, mild desert warmth, southern spring blooms, and off-peak travel bargains.
6 min read
ItinerariesPlan your Isla Holbox trip with our complete Mexico guide. Explore sand streets, Punta Cocos bioluminescence, whale sharks, beach clubs, and ferries.
8 min read
Travel tipsIs it safe to travel to Mexico right now? Compare safety in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Mexico City, and Oaxaca with official travel advisories and local tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.