Miramar

If you travel to Mexico's Gulf Coast, sooner or later you'll end up on the long, pale sandy shore of Miramar. A vacation in Miramar means wide beaches, fresh fish, and a taste of everyday life in a growing region between Tampico, Ciudad Madero, and Altamira – far from the big tourist crowds.

Between Oil Port and Beachfront Promenade

Miramar has grown together with its neighboring cities into a continuous metropolitan area in southern Tamaulipas. The region was shaped by petroleum: oil has been extracted and processed here since the early 20th century, and the big refinery in Ciudad Madero and the industrial port of Altamira remain major employers to this day. Miramar feels correspondingly young and dynamic: new housing developments, shopping centers, and hotels have sprung up along the coastal road in recent decades, while Tampico's old town, with its French-style iron balconies, is just a short drive away.

Playa Miramar and Sights in Miramar

The main attraction is the roughly 6-mile-long beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Wide, flat, and covered in fine sand, it's ideal for long walks and for families, and on weekends for volleyball, horseback riding, and banana boat rides. To the south, the jetties at the mouth of the Río Pánuco mark the end of the beach; from there you can watch freighters steam into the port. Along the waterfront road you'll find a row of palapas, simple beach eateries, and newer resorts. Worthwhile side trips lead to the historic center of Tampico, with the Plaza de Armas, the cathedral, and the Museo de la Cultura Huasteca, which showcases the art and daily life of the Huastec people. Nature lovers will find herons, pelicans, and the occasional crocodile in the lagoons and mangroves of the hinterland, for example at Laguna del Carpintero in Tampico.

Eating in Miramar: Crabs and Huasteca Cuisine

The cuisine of the region is defined by the sea and by the Huasteca. Famous are the jaibas, blue crabs, served stuffed, in soup, or in a spicy sauce. Add to that shrimp cocktails, grilled fish, and ceviche. A local specialty is the torta de la barda from Tampico, a generously stuffed roll with meat, cheese, avocado, and beans that was originally sold at a harbor wall. If you visit the restaurants in Miramar, you'll find everything from beach snack stands to air-conditioned seafood restaurants; in the morning, tamales and zacahuil, a giant Huasteca tamale, are typical breakfast dishes.

Beach Life and Going Out

On weekends the coastal road turns into one long promenade. Families from Tampico and Madero bring coolers, vendors work the sand selling mangoes on a stick, elotes, and raspados, and the palapas play cumbia or huapango. In the evening, life shifts to the restaurants and bars along Avenida Álvaro Obregón and to the shopping centers on the main highway. If you're after peace and quiet, come during the week: then the beach belongs almost entirely to strollers, anglers, and the pelicans gliding just above the waves.

Getting Around, Safety, and Best Time to Visit

Tampico's airport is only a short ride away and is served mainly by flights from Mexico City and Monterrey. Long-distance buses connect the metropolitan area with the rest of the country, and locally you get around by colectivo, city bus, or taxi. Tamaulipas is among the states covered by travel advisories because of organized crime; the situation in the greater Tampico area is calmer than in the border region, but it's still advisable to avoid overland travel at night and to check current travel advisories from your government. The best time to visit is between October and April, when temperatures are pleasant. Summers are hot and muggy, and there is a risk of hurricanes from June to October. During Semana Santa, the beach fills with visitors from all over the northeast – and the atmosphere is that of a street festival.