Jalpa de Méndez, Mexico
Jalpa de Méndez is a town of 15,695 people in Tabasco, Mexico, founded in 1550.
Why visit Jalpa de Méndez
Townapedia lists 11 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 2 places to eat and 2 places to stay in and around town.
Weather in Jalpa de Méndez
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Jalpa de Méndez
Jalpa de Méndez is a city in Jalpa de Méndez Municipality located in the north of the Mexican state of Tabasco, Mexico. It is considered part of the Chontal Maya region of the state, known for its production of decorated dried gourds traditionally used for drinking chocolate and cured meats. Although there is some oil production and tourism, its main economic activity is agriculture, producing cacao, coconut and livestock.
From the Wikipedia article Jalpa de Méndez (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks11
Monumento a Gregorio Méndez
Monument and historic site
Monumento al coronel Gregorio Méndez Magaña
Monumento a las Madres
Monument and historic site
primera constitución, Jalpa de Méndez
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes2
La Palapa del Biologo
Restaurant · Regional, Butifarras · 0.9 km
Av 27 de Febrero S/N
08:00-17:00
Where to stay2
El Santuario
Motel and hotel · 2.3 km
Domicilio conocido, Pueblo Santuario,Macuspana
History
The name Jalpa comes from the Nahuatl phrase Shal-pan which means place over sand or on the edge of sand.
The settlement was one of many small villages that arose during the Mayan period. Hernán Cortés passed through the area on his way to what is now Honduras. Spanish families began to live in village, then called Xalpa, starting in 1550. The settlement became important during the colonial period and was named capital of the Chontalpa Region. The town was the seat of government for twelve other communities by 1665.
The settlement of Comalcalco was created in 1827 in an area controlled by Jalpa and in 1834, this area separated to form what are now the municipalities of Comalcalco and Paraíso. The modern municipality was established in 1837 by state congress, but the town was not named the seat until 1852. The official name for the municipality of Jalpa was decreed in 1882.
In 1887, the name was changed to Jalpa de Méndez to honor Gregorio Méndez Magaña, who fought against the French between 1863 and 1864. Jalpa was declared a city in 1955.
From the History section of Jalpa de Méndez on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship5
Shopping4
Gas and EV charging1
Schools, colleges and libraries1
Biblioteca Coronel Gregorio Méndez Magaña
Library
Calle Plaza Hidalgo, Jalpa de Méndez
Healthcare3
Map of Jalpa de Méndez
32 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport (VSA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 33 km away.
- Nicolás Bravo 3 km southwest, about 3 min by car
- Soyataco 4 km north, about 4 min by car
- Pueblo Viejo 4 km northwest, about 4 min by car
- Nacajuca 5 km east, about 5 min by car
- Jalupa 5 km south, about 5 min by car
- Gregorio Méndez 5 km northwest, about 5 min by car
- Tierras Peleadas (Tierras Amigas) 4 km southeast, about 4 min by car
- Guaytalpa 5 km northeast, about 5 min by car
- Tapotzingo 6 km northeast, about 6 min by car
- Villahermosa 25 km southeast, about 25 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Jalpa de Méndez.Parque principal, Alfonsobouchot, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jalpa de Méndez.Templo de Santa Ana 2, Alfonsobouchot, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jalpa de Méndez.Templo de Santa Ana, Alfonsobouchot, CC BY-SA 3.0
Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.