Due to its southernlocation in the United States that border the Gulf of Mexico, Texas is home to a number of great beaches, but many people forget about one beach on the southernmost point of the state, Boca Chica Beach.
While residents and visitors alike usually know about the desolate stretches of beach along the Padre Island National Seashore near Corpus Christiandthousands visitthe resort shores of South Padre Island each year, Boca Chica receives surprisingly few visitors each year.
Boca Chica Beach is about 23 miles east of Brownsville on Highway 4, which dead-ends at the Gulf of Mexico. Street-licensed vehicles can travel on the sand, but the refuge rules strictly forbid off-roading otherwise. The beach is openfrom sunrise to sunset and entrance is free, however, you cannot camp or otherwise stay overnight in the refuge.
Boca Chica Beach sits on asandy peninsula separated from Mexico by the Rio Grande River and detached from South Padre Island by the Brazos Santiago Pass. Technically part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge,which is managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the eight-mile beach at Boca Chica fronts tidal salt flats, mangrove marshes, and clay dunes calledlomas.
Aside from a few homes on stilts near the pass, which you can see from South Padre Island, and a jetty protruding into the Gulf of Mexico, you won't find any development at Boca Chica Beach. However, since it is the southernmostbeach in Texas, you will usually find clean, clear green water lapping against the sand.
The Kemp's ridley sea turtle, the most critically endangered sea turtle in the world, comes ashore to nest in spring and summer. Aplomado and peregrine falcons migrate through the area, and hawks, osprey, and other birds of prey frequent the shoreline. You should also keep an eye out for the Portuguese man o' war, a floating jellyfish-like creature that inflicts a painful sting and becomes particularly plentiful following storms.
What Boca Chica lacks in modern amenities, it makes up for with a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities, including surf fishing, swimming, surfing, snorkeling, kiteboarding, and birdwatching. However,the lack of facilities means you must bring all of your own gear for whichever activity you want to pursue, in addition to plenty of drinking water, food, sunscreen, insect repellent, a first-aid kit, and any other essentials for your own safety and comfort.
Most often, you'll only meet local residents atthis remote destination, butit can get more crowded than you might expect, particularly on weekends. Bring a sack to carry out your own garbage and any you find left behind by less conscientious visitors. Refuge rules prohibit alcoholic beverages and unleashed pets; in addition, visitors should refrain from feeding wildlife and collecting or otherwise disturbing thebeach.
Another interesting thing to do is travel down to the mouth of the Rio Grande, where you can see the border wall between the United States and Mexico, which continues out to see about 30 feet into the ocean. This is the southernmost point in Texas, which is almost as far south as the Florida Keys, the southernmost point on the continental U.S.
Thanks for letting us know!
See original here:
Visit Boca Chica Beach in Texas - TripSavvy
- at Boca Chica [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2020]
- Boca Chica Texas Monthly [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2020]
- Boca Chica State Park (Brownsville) - 2020 All You Need to ... [Last Updated On: July 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: July 5th, 2020]
- SpaceX Texas launch site Discussion and Updates - Thread 10 - NASASpaceflight.com [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- Tesla's Elon Musk Leads the Top 10 Billionaires in Weekly Gains Alongside Dan Gilber and Jeff Bezos - Tech Times [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- Texas tries nation's first virtual criminal trial - Sealy News [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- SpaceX hopes to 'hop' another Starship prototype this weekend - CNET [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2020]
- This Year, Our Familys Da de los Muertos Altar Will Memorialize Those Who Have Died From the Coronavirus - Texas Monthly [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Military, SpaceX studying rockets to move cargo around the world - FreightWaves [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Elon Musk Shares a View of Starship With Three Raptor Engines Installed - Universe Today [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- Blue Origin takes one small step toward being a competitor to SpaceX | TheHill - The Hill [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2020]
- This week's home entertainment: from We Are Who We Are to Belushi - The Guardian [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2020]
- This very good girl was awarded a medal at her retirement ceremony at NAS Key West - NavyTimes.com [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Meghan Markle is encouraging women to get involved with politics but she had to step back from royal life fo - Business Insider India [Last Updated On: November 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: November 24th, 2020]
- Former Chihuahua governor fears assassination if returned to Mexico - WJTV [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- Resources: Talking to your kids about the US Capitol riot - WWLP.com [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- Brothers from South Texas admit to smuggling $300K worth of marijuana - KGBT-TV [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- Heres how to spot the rare conjunction of Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn in the sky tonight - KRQE News 13 [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- Acting head of CBP says a new migrant caravan is bound for the U.S. from Honduras - WJTV [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- Tijuana healthcare workers told COVID-19 vaccine is on the way - WSYR [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- SpaceX kicks off busy year with launch of Turkish relay station - CBS News [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- New Texan Elon Musk is now the richest person in the world, passing Amazon's Jeff Bezos - Houston Chronicle [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- NASA's Europa Clipper has been liberated from the Space Launch System | TheHill - The Hill [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- In final days of presidency, Trump to visit border wall in South Texas - CW33 NewsFix [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- SpaceX Will Launch Its First 2021 Mission This Week, With Many Milestones to Come - Observer [Last Updated On: January 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2021]
- SpaceX Starship SN9 test-fires ahead of next high-altitude flight - CNET [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- SpaceX Starship launch LIVE stream: How to watch online SN9 on its first major test flight - Daily Express [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- SpaceX Starship launch: What time is the launch of the Starship SN9 in Boca Chica? - Daily Express [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- The Pentagon may send thousands of troops to help run COVID-19 vaccination sites that FEMA is setting up natio - Business Insider India [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2021]
- Where Can You Go In An EV With 1000 Miles Of Range, Like The Aptera? (Part 2) - CleanTechnica [Last Updated On: January 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 31st, 2021]
- Firehawk Aerospace wants to 3-D print rocket engines and is moving to Dallas to join the space race - The Dallas Morning News [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2021]
- WATCH: SpaceX Starship Test Flight in Texas Lifts Off with Success, Crash Lands on Pad - SpaceCoastDaily.com [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2021]
- SpaceXs 2nd Starship test flight ends with another kaboom - NEWS10 ABC [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2021]
- SpaceX test rocket crashes on landing pad in South Texas - Border Report [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2021]
- FAA Investigates Explosive Landing of SpaceX's Mars Starship Prototype | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com - The... [Last Updated On: February 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 4th, 2021]
- Brownsville cafe extends hours to provide warmth, electricity for those in need - KGBT-TV [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- SpaceXs Starship SN10 Ready For Liftoff With FAA Probes Out of the Way - Observer [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Boca Chica Loop Texas Parks & Wildlife Department [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Boca Chica (Texas) - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: February 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 22nd, 2021]
- Apple's latest computers are being targeted by a new type of malware - and 30,000 machines are already infecte - Business Insider India [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2021]
- For the first time, we have an audio recording from the surface of Mars - take a listen - Business Insider India [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2021]
- Thousands of fish dead after freeze, fishermen concerned about economic impact - KGBT-TV [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2021]
- The California Exodus: How Texas Is Becoming the New Hollywood - Study Breaks [Last Updated On: February 28th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 28th, 2021]
- Which Texas Beach is calling you?Research is part of the fun - RADIO.COM [Last Updated On: March 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: March 20th, 2021]
- On Elon Musk, Starbase, and Innovationism | by Joshua Adams | Mar, 2021 | Medium - Medium [Last Updated On: March 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: March 20th, 2021]
- Space City Weather's Eric Berger: Your flight to Mars will start in Texas. SpaceX has the ticket. - Houston Chronicle [Last Updated On: March 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: March 20th, 2021]
- Elon Musk says Starship SN11 almost ready to fly - The Independent [Last Updated On: March 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: March 20th, 2021]
- Is Elon Musk Seeking a Return to the Days of the Company Town? - InsideHook [Last Updated On: April 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: April 4th, 2021]
- Photos show pieces of SpaceX's SN11 scattered across area after failed landing - KRGV [Last Updated On: April 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: April 4th, 2021]
- Elon Musk takes Texas city by surprise by tweeting hes going to donate $30 million to boost the area - Business Insider [Last Updated On: April 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: April 4th, 2021]
- Elon Musk donating $30M to schools, city near his new Texas 'Starbase' | TheHill - The Hill [Last Updated On: April 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: April 4th, 2021]
- Elon Musk's open call: Move to Texas and work for me - Fox Business [Last Updated On: April 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: April 4th, 2021]
- Elon Musk hiring "several thousand" people to work at SpaceX Starbase in Texas - TechRepublic [Last Updated On: April 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: April 4th, 2021]
- How Elon Musks Starbase plans are influencing the Texas housing market - Inman [Last Updated On: April 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: April 19th, 2021]
- SpaceX Drive for Profit Led to Road Crash Death, Family Says - Bloomberg [Last Updated On: April 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: April 19th, 2021]
- SpaceX Starship: What actually is Elon Musks spacecraft that will take people to the Moon and colonise Mars - The Independent [Last Updated On: April 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2021]
- SpaceX is preparing to test-fly a new Starship after the last 4 exploded - Business Insider [Last Updated On: April 21st, 2021] [Originally Added On: April 21st, 2021]
- Welcome to Mars! Bill Nye and Robert Zubrin hail new Red Planet visitors. - Space.com [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2021]
- AAA Texas: Colonial Pipeline shutdown will have little impact to state gas supply, urges people not to panic - KGBT-TV [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2021]
- Heart disease now top cause of death in women worldwide - Evening Standard [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2021]
- Elon Musk Is Turning Boca Chica Into a Space-Travel Hub. Not Everyone Is Starstruck. - Texas Monthly [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2021]
- Daily digest: Calls to cancel the 2021 Olympics grow louder, a wobbly tower in China, and more - The Architect's Newspaper [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2021]
- Elon Musk's Starbase: 6 Things We Know About Boca Chica Beach, Texas and the SpaceX Site - InvestorPlace [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2021]
- Elon Musk living in a prefab house that sells for just $50k | TheHill - The Hill [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2021]
- Rocket Report: Super Heavy rolls to launch site, Funk will get to fly - Ars Technica [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2021]
- A humble billionaire? Elon Musk has all he needs in tiny home next to SpaceX - Austonia [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2021]
- SpaceX is getting close to launching Starship SN20 on its massive Super Heavy booster this month - Poc Network [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2021]
- SpaceX Is Launching a Rocket the Size of the Statue of Liberty - Observer [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2021]
- Get your adrenaline pumping with these South Padre Island adventures - CultureMap Houston [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2021]
- Science News Roundup: U.S. warns SpaceX its new Texas launch site tower not yet approved; Teenager to fly with Bezos in inaugural space tourism flight... [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2021]
- GOP Eyes Latinos In South Texas In Effort To Regain Congress 710am KURV - kurv [Last Updated On: July 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 23rd, 2021]
- Zoom: Advisor to NewSpace industry predicts great things for Brownsville and RGV - Rio Grande Guardian [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2021]
- A squished tarantula and being followed by a Tesla: How we got the story on SpaceX and Blue Origin - Houston Chronicle [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2021]
- These Foldable Houses Cost $50k and Go Up in a Day - Singularity Hub [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2021]
- Marine that has walked entire State of California, Arizona, and New Mexico now in Texas to bring awareness to Deported Veterans - WFMZ Allentown [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2021]
- As SpaceX races to expand launch site, concern grows for wildlife habitats in South Texas - Courthouse News Service [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2021]
- Hotels near capacity as several hundred SpaceX employees arrive in Brownsville in preparation for orbital launch - KGBT-TV [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2021]
- The billionaires' space race is just the beginning | TheHill - The Hill [Last Updated On: August 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 2nd, 2021]
- Electrocution? All part of the service, sir! - The Register [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2021]
- Black Hat security conference returns to Las Vegas complete with hacks to quiet the hotel guest from hell - The Register [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2021]