Are the Vercruz and Tobasco areas of Mexico heavily forested?

Question

What I mean is, is the forest there as thick as the Amazon basin or is it a lot 'easier' to travel across on foot? Is it 'proper' rain forest? I am thinking of travelling there to research the Olmec civilisation and just want to know what the general terrain is like.

Is it a popular tourist area or is it more 'off the map'?

Thanks.

Answer 1

you sound like a kid with an unrealistic idea...

Answer 2

I can speak to the Veracruz part of your question.  The state is long and narrow, along the Gulf coast.  Beach areas are very hot and humid, and within a mile of the beach heavily forested.  It is not heavy like the Amazon. Elevation begins to incerase very rapidly as you leave the beach, and within 30 miles of the beach you are in the mountains at about 4000 ft. elevation. As elevation increases, the terrainn changes from "jungle-like" to more "forest "like  with thinner vegetation.  A great deal of the land is developed, but there are also thousands of miles of undeveloped land.  Xalapa has a huge, very famous  museum of Archaeology with many artifacts from the Olmec civilisation.  The University of Veracruz in Xalapa also has an excellent school of archaeology specializing in the study of the ancient Mexican cultures.  There are modest numbers of tourists in Veracruz.  It is an area that draws a modest number of tourists for "eco-tourism" study and tours, and bird-watching tours.

Answer 3

The major Olmec site of La Venta is in a swampy area and partially covered by an oil refinery.  For that reason, most of the monuments where moved stone by stone to Parque-Museo La Venta in Villhermosa.  It's an outdoor park/archaeological museum and shouldn't be missed.  It's right on the main highway and easy to drive to.  If you fly into Villahermosa and rent a car, it's easy to drive to many of the main sites.

Click the second link to read about other attractions in Villahermosa.