French
DeutschCiudad Victoria is a city of 305,000 people (2010) in Tamaulipas, in the northeast of Mexico at the foot of the Sierra Madre Oriental. The city is in a transitional zone where the coastal plains give way to the mountains of the Sierra Madre Oriental, which provide recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.
Understand
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Ciudad Victoria is named after the first president of Mexico, Guadalupe Victoria.
In 1825 Ciudad Victoria became the state capital. It is home to higher education institutions such as the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas and the Technological Institute of Ciudad Victoria. General Pedro José Méndez International Airport is located on the outskirts of the city.
Get in
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By car
[edit | edit source]The city is 246 km (153 mi) from Monterrey, and 319 km (198 mi) from the US - Mexico border.
By bus
[edit | edit source]The city has a bus station and terminals of several companies with service from Tampico, Matamoros, Monterrey, San Luis Potosi, Tamazunchale, Ciudad Valles and other small cities in Tamaulipas, and northern Veracruz.
- 1 Central de Autobuses Ciudad Victoria (Bus Station), Calle F. Berriozabal, Dos Mil, toll-free: +800 713 1000. Older bus terminal that is poorly maintained but is an important hub for regional connections. Served by Transpais, Estrella Blanca and other companies. Many buses to destinations throughout the region. Few food and drink vendors. Restrooms cost M$6.
By plane
[edit | edit source]- 2 The Pedro J. Méndez Airport (CVM IATA), Carretera Soto La Marina - Ciudad Victoria Km. 18.5 (at the outskirts of the city). Flights from Mexico City (AICM) on Aeromexico, from Monterrey on Viva Aerobus, and from Mexico City (AIFA) on Mexicana.
Get around
[edit | edit source]There are 32 bus and mini-bus routes that circulate in the city and the surrounding areas.
Taxis are plentiful in the downtown area and generally safe, but using taxis from known sitios and those called by hotel or restaurant staff is a good safety precaution. Uber is available throughout the city as is inDrive, a similar rideshare application that is popular in this region. InDrive lets you bid prices for your ride and can be cheaper than Uber.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Anacahuita Botanical Gardens (Jardín Etnobotánico Anacahuita), Blvd. Fidel Velazquez s/n, Horacio Terán, ☏ +52 800 710 6532. Mon-Sat 08:00-16:00. This park showcases plants native to the state, covering each region in a separate area.
- 2 Tamatán Zoo (Zoológico de Tamatán), Calzada General Luis Caballero, ☏ +52 834 318 1492. Daily 10:00-17:00. Organized in 5 regions, it presents the different species in open spaces. Surrounded by a naturalistic environment, with vegetation, rocks and waterfalls.
- 3 Tamaulipas Natural History Museum (Museo de Historia Natural de Tamaulipas, TAMUX), ☏ +52 834 318 3600. Dedicated to scientific dissemination, nature, space and promoting culture in favour of biodiversity.
- Tamaulipas Cultural Centre: A cultural space that houses a public library, the Amalia G. de Castillo Ledon theatre, a cinema and several auditoriums for exhibitions and presentations of cultural and artistic activities such as dance, music presentations, sculpture, painting, literature and theatre.
- The Tamaulipas Regional Museum of History offers visitors a sample of the state's cultural heritage.
- Juarez Theatre: A theatre that houses the Institute of Historical Research under the administration of the Autonomous University of Tamaulipas. The building encloses a mural by the Tampico painter Alfonso Xavier Peña.
Do
[edit | edit source]- Tamaulipas International Festival: During October, the state of Tamaulipas celebrates the Tamaulipas International Festival in each of its municipalities. In this festival musical and cultural events are held, such as concerts, operas, and plays.
- Los Troncones Ecological Park: a tourist and ecological centre in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental, in the Ejido La Libertad. It is a recreational park surrounded by vegetation with a stream, waterfalls and flora and fauna. It is equipped with grills, gardens and children's games.
- Vicente Guerrero Damː the large reservoir is a popular place for Fishing where it has developed a reputation for its large-mouth bass
- Hiking and Mountain biking are popular in the nearby Sierra Madre Oriental mountains, just west of the city
Buy
[edit | edit source]- 1 Mercado Argüelles, Porfirio Diaz, Centro. Daily 08ː00 - 18ː30. Traditional Mexican marketplace with fresh produce, meats, seafood, vendors selling common household items, and a wide variety of vendors selling prepared foods including regional specialties of the northern Gulf Coast.
Eat
[edit | edit source]The gastronomy of Ciudad Victoria is composed of three main elements: meat, corn and seafood; in addition to grilled meat, dried meat and chorizo. One of the most typical foods of the city are the gorditas, these consist of small thick corn tortillas stuffed with shredded meat, nopales, scrambled eggs, and beans, among other ingredients. It also has many restaurants focused on typical Mexican food, the well-known "taquito."
Desserts of the region are made with walnut, sweet potato, cocadas with pineapple and walnut, among others. Crystallized fruits and gorditas are also sweetened with piloncillo.
- 1 Rincon Cachanilla, C. 16 Norberto Treviño Zapata 1312, San Francisco, ☏ +52 834 530 4195. Wed-Mon 08:00 - 18:00, closed Tue. Traditional Mexican restaurant serving affordable, home cooked dishes. Breakfast menu items served until 1pm. M$200.
- 2 Don Elias, Calle Benito Juárez 650, Centro, ☏ +52 834 315 5156. Mon-Sat 07:00 - 19:00, closed Sun. Rustic dining room with the feel of a log cabin. Cuisine is traditional Mexican dishes with some regional northeastern specialties. Good service and good drinks. Credit cards accepted. M$250.
- 3 Las Viandas, Blvd. Fidel Velazquez 1310 Nte, Residencial las Palmas, ☏ +52 834 316 7767. Mon-Sat 05:00 - 22:00, closed Sun. Popular restaurant with a bright, spacious dining room where traditional Mexican cuisine is served. Full breakfast menu available. Best lunch option is the comida corrida. M$200.
- 4 108 Cafe, Fco. Madero 237, Centro, ☏ +52 834 315 5768. Daily 09ː00 - 23ː00. One of the best options for vegetarian travelers though the menu isn't strictly vegetarianː there are some meat options. Casual, bright, clean atmosphere with an outdoor patio area where neighborhood cats chill nearby, ready to help you clean up crumbs dropped to the ground. Good coffee drinks. Occasional live music. M̩$200.
- 5 Don Jorge, Av. Tamaulipas 1100, Las Huertas, ☏ +52 834 316 0366. Mon-Sat 12ː30 - 02ː00, Sun 12ː30 - 18ː00. Upscale Mexican steakhouse where you choose your cut and weight and it is grilled to perfection. Definitely not a place for the veggie crowd. The ribeye is a house specialty. Good drinks, classy atmosphere. M̩$400.
Drink
[edit | edit source]- 1 Patio Refran, Anaya 643, Ascensión Gómez Mancilla, ☏ +52 834 147 3888. Wed-Sat 18:00 - 01:00, closed Sun-Tue. Craft brewery making various ales. The sampler gives you 4 ounce tastings of 4 different beers. Occasional seasonal beers available. Rooftop patio is a popular gathering and drinking spot with live music some nights and karaoke on other nights. Offers light food including tacos, quesadillas, fries, etc.
Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Hotel Panoramico, Republica Argentina s/n, ☏ +52 83 4312 5888. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 11:00. Moderate hotel with a central downtown hotel that does indeed have panoramic views of the city. Rooms are more functional than luxurious but are clean and have working A/C. Gym and swimming pool available. M$800.
- 2 Gran Hotel las Fuentes, Carretera Nacional km 227, Las Brisas (on MEX-85), ☏ +52 834 312 5811. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel with rooms that show a lot of wear and cry out for a makeover. Gym and swimming pool available. On-site restaurant and bar available. M$1400.
- 3 Hotel Everest, Calle Cristóbal Colón Nte. 126, Zona Centro, ☏ +52 834 318 7070. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 13:00. Moderate hotel with good service. Rooms are comfortable but a bit dated. On-site restaurant serves a full breakfast (included in rates). Does not accept pets. M$1350.
- 4 Victoria Inn Hotel Express, Ignacio Allende 814, Obrera, ☏ +52 834 318 4300. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Modern hotel with spacious, clean, comfortable rooms. Friendly staff. Secured on-site parking. On-site restaurant available. M$1150.
- 5 Hotel los Monteros, Hidalgo Ote. 962, ☏ +52 834 312 0300. Check-in: 15ː00, check-out: 12ː00. Traditional hotel with colonial style and a central downtown location. Rooms are spacious, very clean, and well furnished but like many older urban hotels, can be a bit noisy. Air-conditioned rooms available. No on-site restaurant but a good local restaurant is next door. Off-street parking available in a lot behind the hotel. . M$1000.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Ciudad Victoria |
| Monterrey ← Linares ← | N  S | → Quintero → Ciudad Valles |