Boca Chica Beach

Rio Grande Valley

LoginSave

Hugging the border just above where the Rio Grande empties into the gulf, Boca Chica is a rarely visited 10,680-acre wilderness very literally at the end of the road. SpaceX's proposed launch site nearby may change all that, and will certainly have some impact on access, but for now it's a peaceful slice of sand dunes away from the world.

The area is administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Facilities are non-existent, so take everything you'll need, but be aware that camping is not permitted.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

    Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

    16.97 MILES

    This 70-sq-mile federal preserve, northwest of Port Isabel, has recorded more bird species sightings (400 and counting) than any other national wildlife…

  • Sea Turtle, Inc

    Sea Turtle, Inc

    9.7 MILES

    No, you can't handle the sea turtles. But you can see rescued turtles and learn firsthand about the slow regrowth of critically endangered Kemp's ridley…

  • Sabal Palm Sanctuary

    Sabal Palm Sanctuary

    19.24 MILES

    The only palm tree native to Texas grows at this 557-acre sanctuary, operated by a foundation for the National Audubon Society. It sits in a bend of the…

  • Fort Brown

    Fort Brown

    22.14 MILES

    This former US army outpost, dating from 1846, is named for Jacob Brown, who died here that year fighting the Mexicans. Flooding forced an 1868 relocation…

  • Resaca de la Palma State Park

    Resaca de la Palma State Park

    26.11 MILES

    Part of the World Birding Center, this new 1200-acre park surrounds 4 miles of resaca (oxbow lakes), which are ideal for birds and their spotters. Trails…

  • Andy Bowie County Park

    Andy Bowie County Park

    9.99 MILES

    Across from (SPI) Convention Center, this pleasant beach park is surrounded by condo and hotel developments. It has a shaded picnic building with views…

View more attractions

Nearby Rio Grande Valley attractions

1. Isla Blanca County Park

5.44 MILES

Just south of the causeway, this county park is the most popular beach on SPI thanks to various concessions and facilities.

3. Port Isabel Historical Museum

6.49 MILES

Built (in 1899) sturdily of bricks to resist storms, the home of the history museum served at various times as the town’s railroad station, post office…

4. Treasures of the Gulf Museum

6.5 MILES

Sunken treasure! That's the focus of this fun museum, which displays artifacts from three Spanish galleons that went down nearby in 1554. It does a good…

5. Port Isabel Lighthouse

6.59 MILES

The Port Isabel Lighthouse was built (of brick) in 1852, and remained in use until 1905. A climb up its 70 somewhat-precarious steps yields great views of…

6. Palmito Ranch Battlefield

9.62 MILES

From May 12 to 13, 1865, this remote stretch of marshy prairie was the scene of the final land battle of the US Civil War, more than a month after the…

7. Sea Turtle, Inc

9.7 MILES

No, you can't handle the sea turtles. But you can see rescued turtles and learn firsthand about the slow regrowth of critically endangered Kemp's ridley…