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Travel & Transport

The season's field trips: the Progreso bridge run, South Padre days, casino buses, and the practical business of getting you, your rig, or your car to the Valley and back.

Includes: Nuevo Progreso Shopping Tours · South Padre Island Day Trips · Shuttle Services · Vehicle Shipping

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South Padre Island (4)Port Isabel (3)

Anglers Choice Guide Service (Capt. Gary Farmer)

Port Isabel · Fishing Charter/Guide

Private inshore bay fishing with Captain Gary Farmer out of Port Isabel. Up to six anglers for redfish, trout, flounder, and snook on the Laguna Madre.

Breakaway Cruises

South Padre Island · South Padre Island Day Trips

Dolphin-watch eco-cruises on the Laguna Madre, plus bay fishing and snorkeling trips, from a South Padre operator with 40-plus years on the water.

Dolphin Docks

Port Isabel · South Padre Island Day Trips

Dolphin watch and bay fishing trips from the base of the causeway in Port Isabel. 90-minute dolphin cruises and 4-hour bay fishing runs, open daily.

Graceful Strength Transportation

McAllen · Shuttle Services

Non-emergency medical transport across the Valley, wheelchair-accessible, for doctor visits, dialysis, and hospital transfers.

Osprey Cruises

Port Isabel · South Padre Island Day Trips

Family-run bay cruises out of Port Isabel since 1976, running year-round. Dolphin watches, sunset cruises, and bay or deep-sea fishing trips.

SPI Shuttle

South Padre Island · Shuttle Services

Licensed group airport shuttle from Harlingen (HRL) and Brownsville (BRO) to South Padre Island, Port Isabel, and Laguna Vista.

SPI Surf Shuttle

South Padre Island · Shuttle Services

Family-run door-to-door airport shuttle between Harlingen (HRL) or Brownsville (BRO) and South Padre Island, Port Isabel, and Laguna Vista.

The Original Dolphin Watch

South Padre Island · South Padre Island Day Trips

Bottlenose dolphin eco-tours on the Laguna Madre out of Sea Ranch Marina, running since 1988. A Winter Texan favorite; 90-minute trips, $18–$20.

Valley Transit Company

Harlingen · Shuttle Services

Airport shuttle and intercity bus service across the Valley, linking Harlingen's airport (HRL) to South Padre, Brownsville, and McAllen.

The Progreso Run

Walking across to Nuevo Progreso for dental work, pharmacies, lunch, and a haircut is a Winter Texan institution, and parks and tour operators run regular shuttles from all over the Valley. You park or step off on the U.S. side and walk the bridge.

You need a passport or passport card to re-enter the U.S., no exceptions. Keep receipts for anything you buy, know the customs rules on medications, and go with recommendations for dental or medical work rather than street-front signs. Weekdays are calmer than weekends.

Getting Here and Around

Flying, you have three airports: Harlingen and McAllen carry most Winter Texan traffic, Brownsville adds a third option for the Lower Valley. Mid-season visitors and fly-down snowbirds keep them busy from November through March.

If you winter in a park model or mobile home instead of driving an RV down, vehicle shipping and drive-away services cover the gap, and shuttle operators handle airport runs from the parks. Book both ends of the season early; everyone's schedule looks like yours.

Common Questions

Do I need a passport to visit Nuevo Progreso?

You need a passport book or passport card to walk back into the U.S., and border agents do check. The card is cheaper and fine for the land crossing.

Which airport should visitors fly into?

Harlingen for the Mid- and Lower Valley, McAllen for the Upper Valley park corridors, Brownsville as the third option. Compare fares across all three; connections and prices swing more than the drive time between them.

Can I get my car to Texas without driving it?

Yes. Vehicle shipping and drive-away services run between the northern states, Canada, and the Valley every season. Prices vary with distance and timing, so quote it early rather than in the October rush.