Things to do in Catemaco
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Fractal Naturaleza
A great place to check out souvenirs made by local Tuxtla artisans is Fractal Naturaleza, a store that does its best to support local art and textiles.
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'El Poder del Tigre' Botánicos y Ciencias Ocultas
If you want to visit a local brujo, there's 'El Poder del Tigre' Botánicos y Ciencias Ocultas. The brujo might pull up in his Ford Explorer and tell you to check out his website, or he might be available to see you.
Witchcraft traditions in this part of Veracruz go back centuries - mixing ancient indigenous beliefs, Spanish medieval traditions and voodoo practices from West Africa. Many of these brujos multi-task as medicine men or women (using both traditional herbs and modern pharmaceuticals), shrinks and black magicians (casting evil spells on enemies of their clients).
On the first Friday in March each year, hundreds of brujos (shamans), witches and healers from all…
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Tourist Restaurants
The lake provides the specialties here: tegogolo (a snail, reputed to be an aphrodisiac, eaten with chili, tomato, onion and lime) sold by street vendors and chipalchole (shrimp or crab-claw soup). Many tourist-aimed restaurants line the malecón. Explore the city's viscera, and you'll find interesting local eateries.
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Isla de los Changos
You can take boat tours to several islands within the lake. Isla de los Changos shelters red-cheeked monkeys, originally from Thailand. They belong to the University of Veracruz, which acquired them for research. Lancheros, disturbingly, feed the monkeys for the sake of close-up photography.
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Ecoparque
Ecoparque is a small, rustic jungle-themed spa, offering mud massage and temascal (steam baths), among other things. The spa also sells arnica soap and other crunchy items. Treatments are cheaper if you come with a group of people.
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Catemacoturs
On the malecón,Catemacoturs is a palapa hut that rents beat-down adventure gear: low-end mountain bikes, sit-on-top kayaks and pedal-boats. It also offers tours to waterfalls and the coast.
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La Panga
This bar-restaurant, literally floating on the lake with its own boardwalk, is an unbeatable place to lean back, sip cerveza and grab a bite to eat while the sun disappears beyond the lake and the rolling hills.
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Playa Espagoya
East of town are a few modest gray-sand beaches where you can take a dip in cloudy water. Following Av Hidalgo a kilometer east of town the road tees, and you'll hit the less crowded Playa Espagoya.
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Tropicana
Vast waterfront restaurant serving fish, marsicos and meat. It goes all out with iconic colorful Mexican decorations, but still is a cool place to grab a bite.
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Los Caballos
A block east of the zócalo, candle-lit tables, Trova, and Christmas lights create an ambience soaked with Latin romance. There's live music on weekends.
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Cocina Económica Yoly
Watch Yoly hand-make your fat memela (gigantic corn tortilla filled with goodies). Just off the zócalo, this local dive has fresh, inexpensive food.
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Restaurante Palapa Gorel
The hawker trying to entice you inside is annoying, but this lakeside palapa is constantly popular and has live music on weekends. Best to skip the food.
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Isla Tenaspi
You can take boat tours to several islands within the lake. On the largest, Isla Tenaspi, Olmec sculptures have been discovered.
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Laguna Catemaco
Ringed by volcanic hills, Laguna Catemaco, which is actually a lake and not a lagoon, is 16km long.
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