The Rio Grande Valley (informally called The Valley) is a region in Deep South Texas, which includes Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties. To the east this region is bordered by the Gulf Coast of Texas. To the south it is bordered by the Rio Grande River and the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico. To the north and west it is bordered by the Texas counties of Kenedy, Brooks, Jim Hogg, and Zapata.
The region is known for its warm weather, exotic birds, citrus orchards and large volume of palm trees. The warm weather attracts large number of retirees from the Northern United States and Canada during the winter months. Its abundance of great shopping opportunities attracts Mexican nationals throughout the year. Beach lovers and sports fishermen are drawn to South Padre Island, Port Isabel, and Port Mansfield on the Gulf Coast. Bird-watchers can watch a wide variety of exotic birds throughout the region.
Located in the southernmost tip of Texas, the Rio Grande Valley is a distinct region from other parts of the state. With the exception of Willacy, all counties in this region border Mexico. For this reason, many traditions from Mexico have been mixed with American customs.
The region upholds several stereotypes that outsiders identify with Texas. For example, the further you go towards Starr County, the more rural and conservative the culture there is. Although, as you move eastern towards Cameron County, the area becomes more tropical and greener.
The Rio Grande Valley is not a valley, but actually a delta or floodplain. Cameron and Willacy counties are part of the Gulf Coast geographic region of Texas, whereas Hidalgo and Starr counties are part of the South Texas Plains region. The terrain is mostly flat, although there are some hills in the western part of the region in Starr county and sandy terrain near the coast.
Everyone knows Texas is big. However, you can't truly appreciate its size until you take a Texas road trip. Texas is about north-south and about 800 miles east-west depending on your route. A 10-hour drive from the Rio Grande Valley will take you to Mexico City, Mexico or to Dallas, Texas. Although the region is only four of Texas' 254 counties, the Valley is comparable in size to the U.S. state of Connecticut.
Also called the "Texas Tropics", the Rio Grande Valley is known for its hot weather. Winters are usually warm and comfortable. It is rarely cold, and the infrequent winter cold snaps do not last long. Summers are usually very hot. Contrary to what many say, cities near the coast rarely have days that go above weather. This is only a common feature in Hidalgo and Starr county. The humidity does add to the hot temperature feel, making indices go up to .
Although hot weather is common in this region, the weather here tends to vary depending on location. Cities closer to the ocean such as Brownsville and South Padre Island tend to see much more rainfall than cities further inland such as McAllen or Rio Grande City. For this reason, the counties of Cameron and Willacy feature greener vegetation and higher annual rainfall totals. South Padre Island and Brownsville are also known for successfully growing coconut palm trees.
The first Spanish settlers arrived in the Rio Grande Valley in the 1740s. Jose de Escandon was commissioned by the Spanish government to establish settlements in the area. At that time, the region was part of the Spanish colony of Nuevo Santander. After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821 the Rio Grande Valley was part of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. In 1836 Texas won its independence from Mexico, and the Rio Grande Valley was disputed territory between Mexico and Texas. Texas claimed that the border with Mexico was at the Rio Grande River, whereas Mexico claimed that the border was at the Nueces River about 200 miles (320 km) to the north. The dispute was finally resolved in 1848 at the end of the Mexican–American War. The first battles of the Mexican–American War were fought in the Rio Grande Valley in the Brownsville area.
Many Mexican–American families in Rio Grande Valley can trace their ancestry to the first Spanish settlers that arrived in the 1740s. As a result, a frequent expression they like to say is "we didn't jump the border, the border jumped us."
During Spanish and Mexican times the region was mostly ranch land. Large numbers of Anglos (English-speaking Americans) immigrated to the region in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Those settlers were large scale farmers who established citrus farming in the region. Since the 1980s the Rio Grande Valley has witnessed an explosive population growth that continues to this day. Agriculture continues to be important to the economy, but trade with Mexico and tourism are becoming increasingly important as well.
The two major languages you will find in the Valley are Spanish and English. If you are fluent in either of these languages you will get along just fine. 80% to 90% of the Valley's population is Mexican-American. Also, there are usually many Mexican visitors in the Valley, so it is not uncommon to meet people who speak little to no English. A knowledge of Spanish is helpful, but not necessary.
You will find that most Valley natives are bilingual and can quickly switch from English to Spanish, sometimes in the same sentence. Since this is a border area there is a blending of American and Mexican cultures in this region. Its quite common to encounter people speaking 'Spanglish.'
There are three regional airports operating in the Rio Grande Valley.
Brownsville/South Padre Island Airport 📍 (IATA: BRO), 700 Emilia Earhart Dr, +1 956 542-4373. It is served by the following airlines:
McAllen-Miller International Airport 📍 (IATA: MFE), 2500 S Bicentennial Blvd, +1 956 681-1500. It is served by the following airlines:
Valley International Airport 📍 (IATA: HRL), 3002 Heritage Way in Harlingen, +1 956 430-8600. It is served by the following airlines:
There is no passenger rail service to this region. The nearest Amtrak station is in San Antonio, which is about 240 miles north of the Rio Grande Valley.
When traveling south of this region towards Mexico, it is strongly advised to carry a passport and other important identification with you. There are several checkpoints where Mexican police will search your vehicle for weapons and drugs. Police will also search for unwanted fruits and vegetables that are illegal in their state. Failure to comply with the law may result in a fine.
Most personnel will most likely not speak English so it is also advised that foreign travelers learn simply answers to questions such as Where are you from? or Do you have drugs or firearms? Officers will visibly carry large weapons with them, a practice not present in the U.S. Although it may seem threatening, they are simply doing their job and there is no reason to worry.
There are no commercial boat lines that make port this region. If you own a boat, you can arrive via the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, through Brazos Santiago Pass to South Padre Island or Port Isabel, and through Mansfield Pass to Port Mansfield. However, if you plan to arrive through Mansfield Pass, you should check in advance to learn if it will accommodate your boat's draft and the availability of dock space at Port Mansfield. Port Isabel and South Padre Island offer ample marina facilities and docks, even for large boats. The Port of Harlingen primarily serves tugs and barges while the Port of Brownsville primarily serves ships and commercial fishing boats.
The most convenient way to get around the region is by car. If you do not arrive by car, there are car rental agencies next the three regional airports in the area.
If you are not traveling by plane, these are the major interstates and highways that connect most cities in this region:
The whole region is interconnected, so finding a route between other cities will be relatively easy.
These are the main bus lines providing services throughout cities in the Rio Grande Valley:
There are only two main terminal centers in operation in the Rio Grande Valley. One is in the central part of the region, while the other is in the eastern side of the region, near the coast.
Since most big cities in this region are far apart, walking and cycling are not the best options to get across the area. If you wish to explore the area by bicycle, it is best to do it within one city only, since it tends to be more bicycle-friendly. This includes the Downtown area, wildlife refuges and other trails dedicated to the city.
The city of Brownsville has been designated the "Bicycling Capital of the Rio Grande Valley" for integrating its many trails through its commercial and forest areas.
A BikeShare Program by Zagster is available for renting a bicycle. The program has six bike stations around Brownsville, including several in the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Other locations include La Plaza Terminal, CityPlaza, Linear Park, Washington Park, Dean Porter Park and the Belden Connect. Edinburg has five stations near the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Harlingen has two stations: one in McVeley Park and one at the other university campus. Membership for the program costs $35 per year, $15 per month and $2 an hour.
A"bike-hike-paddle" trail is being developed to connect each city in the county. It is anticipated that resacas (or floodplains) will be used for this plan as well.
The warm, tropical climate has made the region a hub for migratory birds. There are excellent reserves and wildlife refuges scattered throughout many areas of the Rio Grande Valley where you can observe parrots, egrets, spoonbills and a hundred other species as well. Many tourists have referred the area as a "must see" for bird enthusiasts.
Laguna Madre is a bay formed between the mainland shore of Texas and the long, narrow North Padre and South Padre Islands. The island runs much of the length of the Texas coast and has few outlets to the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing is outstanding with favorite fish being Sea Trout, Red and Black Drum and Flounder. Being a shallow bay, most of the bay boats you will see have tunnel hulls, and motors that can lift (usually a jack-plate). There is also excellent offshore fishing. You will find numerous captains/guides that charter both small or large groups people for deep sea fishing. Highly productive snapper banks are 30-60 miles out and other locations yield trophy quality big fish from the deep blue waters. Several small coastal towns are favorite locations for fisherman. One of the best known is Port Mansfield which is about 40 miles north of Harlingen. It is also a great place for windsurfing or kiteboarding. Because the bay is relatively shallow throughout most of its course, it is an outstanding location to learn these water sports. South Padre Island has two rental locations and several easy ways to reach the launch sites. The wind blows out of the south-east at about 10-30 mph most days of the year and, because of its southern latitude the weather is warm, even in winter. Surfing and kiting is also possible on the Gulf side of South Padre Island but the surf waves are not as big as those found in the waters of the east and west coasts.
While the Gulf of Mexico often has a "murky layer" there are artificial reef areas set aside specifically for scuba (these have several features sunk for divers to experience) and in the upper layers of water where the visibility tends to be above average.
Discussions and explorations of re-opening Delta Lake for recreational use are underway (north of Edcouch-Elsa, and the Monte Alto area).
There are many eating options across the Rio Grande Valley area. Local dining stands are sometimes small, with hamburgers and traditional tacos around (a normal order is 6 small format tacos).
In Brownsville, the La Southmost neighborhood has earned a national reputation for the quality and diversity of its tacos. From machacado con huevo (salt beef in scrambled egg) at Sylvia's for breakfast, to pit-grilled cow's head barbacoa at Vera's for lunch (weekends only), to the fried-potato tacos dorados at Taco El Compadre for dinner, you could spend days eating through just this small area.
On South Padre Island, Blackbeards has been serving up half pound burgers, shrimp and even steaks for more than 30 years. The back room is the original restaurant seating area. There are many places to eat at the island, from Beachside to Bayside; many places on the bay are excellent spots for sunset watching.
Many people enjoy a beverage while watching the sun set. Pelicans Wharf is one such spot, as is 202, and Louie's Backyard.
The food options extend to both sides of the border: just be sure to bring your passport. Garcias, Arturos, La Mansion, La Fogata, and many other high service food options are just across the border, or for the adventurous, several Calle de Taco options are out there.
Many of the great local places have grown out of walk up stands- to full service places and even adding on rooms for special events like weddings and such. One is Trevino's in Edinburg (north of the Courthouse on Business 281).
La Jaiba Shrimp House has several locations around the Edinburg area. There are also several places on North 10th in McAllen as you approach the Trenton cross street.
Drink plenty of water as this is a very hot climate. Dehydration will make your trip a bad one.
Violent crime rates tend to be lower in the valley when compared to the U.S. national average. However, other crimes such as theft and auto theft tend to be higher. It is advised to take precautions to protect your car especially if you drive a model that is a frequent target of theft.