Heading to Mexico in 2025, however Cancun, Tulum, and the like don’t exactly float your boat?
Maybe delving just a little deeper into Mexican tradition and experiencing actual life exterior the confines of an all-inclusive resort is what you have been craving:
One of Mexico’s trendiest locations for 2025, the Gulf state of Tamaulipas gives simply that, with limitless miles of golden sands lapped by azure seas, huge nature preserves, and, after all, its justifiable share of historic cities that look virtually frozen in time.
In 2024, Tamaulipas skilled report development, having hosted 14 million vacationers general, and it is time we glance into a few of the most important explanation why:
![Bridge Spanning A River In Tamaulipas, Mexico](https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Magical-Towns-Golden-Sand-Beaches-This-Underrated-Mexico-Destination-Is-More-Popular-Than-Ever-In-2025.jpg)
Gorgeous Sandy Beaches
The state might not have Quintana Roo’s or Baja California’s well-established luxurious resort scene, nevertheless it’s dwelling to Ciudad Madero, a laid-back coastal metropolis that guarantees a more authentic Mexican seaside expertise:
Less gringos, extra home guests, and decrease costs.
It is greatest identified for its lengthy, huge Playa Miramar, a postcard-ready beach on the Gulf of Mexico, accountable for drawing in over 3.1 of Tamaulipas’ 14 million vacationers in 2024:
![Picturesque Gulf Beach In St Petersburg, Florida, United States](https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Picturesque-Gulf-Beach-In-St-Petersburg-Florida-United-States.jpg.webp)
Lined with boutique accommodations and eating places, it introduced the state US$102 million in income alone.
Not removed from a bustling Playa Miramar, Laguna del Carpintero is a peaceable different and an inland lagoon the place you possibly can go paddle boarding and birdwatching, whereas Playa Costa Azul is an equally widespread swimming spot with smaller crowds, operating for a whopping 37 miles.
Historic Towns Galore
Other than seashores, Tamaulipas boasts a excessive focus of colonial-era gems which have largely preserved their Old World appeal:
![A street in Tampico, Tamaulipas. Mexico](https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/a-street-in-Tampico-Tamaulipas.-Mexico-1.jpg.webp)
Think a bustling Tampico, a historic port metropolis dominated by a twin-towered cathedral, the place tourism is up by over 160%.
One of Mexico’s best-loved Magical Towns––a distinction bestowed upon traditionally important settlements by the Ministry of Tourism––the picture-perfect Tula can also be trending with vacationers, having welcomed 639,000 of them, up 83%.
Laying declare to Tamaulipas’ Dunas Doradas (Golden Dunes), Altamira is the third fastest-rising vacation spot in Tamaulipas (346,000 guests), adopted by the colourful border metropolis of Matamoros (296,000), generally visited by Texans for its Mercado Juarez.
A State Packed With Natural Wonders
![Natural Spring In Tamaulipas, Mexico](https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Natural-Spring-In-Tamaulipas-Mexico.jpg.webp)
The nature of Tamaulipas is not characterised solely by its sandy shoreline and abandoned seashores:
Biosfera El Cielo is an ecological haven for quite a lot of wildlife and unique plant species, and it is a UNESCO-protected tenting and climbing hotspot.
Some of the primary actions within the space embrace rafting down Tampaon River’s Class III rapids, (for $115), exploring the Ciudad Valles countryside, with stops in a standard hacienda and pure swimming pools ($63.73), and visiting the landmark Tamil waterfall on a wood canoe ($71.63).
If you are feeling notably adventurous, you possibly can spend an entire day climbing the entire extent of the biosphere, and it’s 15.8 miles out and again, ranging from the Gómez Farías settlement:
![El Cielo Biosphere Reserve In Tamaulipas, Mexico](https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/El-Cielo-Biosphere-Reserve-In-Tamaulipas-Mexico.jpg)
Overall, this can take you 9 hours to finish.
How Safe Is Tamaulipas To Visit?
It’s time we handle the elephant within the room:
Tamaulipas is formally thought-about by U.S. authorities a no-go zone for Americans as a consequence of an elevated danger of crime and kidnapping all through the state, as seen on the official Mexico Travel Advisory.
While it is true the state is not as protected as tourist-favorite Quintana Roo, foreigners proceed visiting for its charming cities and pure wonders, and most of them get by simply high-quality by being wise, and this contains not road-tripping in backroads and gang-dominated territory.
![Playa Miramar In Ciudad Madero, Mexico](https://www.traveloffpath.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Playa-Miramar-In-Ciudad-Madero-Mexico.jpg.webp)
If you are visiting Tamaulipas in spite of the warning, we strongly encourage you to stay to the tourist-designated areas, and when planning a multi-destination journey across the state, give desire to respected tour suppliers versus driving by your self.
Not all elements of the state are crucial, with U.S. authorities mentioning Altamira, Ciudad Madero, and Tampico as a lot safer as a consequence of their ‘larger’ regulation enforcement capability whereas advising towards all pointless journey to the border area from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the publish.