Northern Veracruz StateSights

Sights in Northern Veracruz State

  1. Quia­huiztlán

    You’d want to be buried here too: this pre-Hispanic cemetery is situated on verdant foothills with a sweeping vista of the coast and is guarded by a towering rocky outcrop, locally known as Cerro los Metates. The site has two pyramids, more than 70 tombs (each resembling a small temple) and some carved monuments. It’s a gorgeous, 25-minute walk to the part that overlooks the ocean. Plus, you can experience this sacred Totonac site in solitude and amid nature, unlike other, touristed ruins. If you want to arrive by a Hwy 180 bus, have the driver drop you at the Quiahuiztlán turnoff. From there it’s a pretty 3km walk uphill.

    reviewed

  2. Museo de la Amistad México-Cuba

    The Museo de la Amistad México-Cuba has a room filled with displays on José Martí and pictures of Che Guevara and Castro as well as other memorabilia. Fidel Castro stayed in this suburban house in 1956 while planning the infiltration of Cuba. On November 26 a private yacht loaded with 82 revolutionaries set sail from here to Cuba to start the uprising. To get to the museum, take a boat (M$3) across the river, walk several blocks south to Obregón, then turn right – the museum is at the western end of Obregón on the river.

    reviewed

  3. Playa Norte

    Tuxpan's beach Playa Norte, 12km east of town, is a wide strip stretching 20km north from the Río Tuxpan's mouth. It's still a chilled-out place to eat cheap seafood and take a break from the city. The hydro-electric plant in the backdrop takes away from the ambience, but the water and sand are fairly clean and - holidays and Sundays apart - it's usually empty.

    Local buses (around $8, 25 minutes) marked 'Playa' leave regularly from the south side of Blvd Reyes Heroles and drop you at the south end of the beach.

    reviewed

  4. El Tajín site

    The El Tajín site covers an area of about 10 sq km. To see everything, you’ll walk a few kilometers over a couple of hours. There’s little shade and it can get blazingly hot, so an early start is recommended. Most buildings and carvings here are labeled in English and Spanish, and some have information panels in German and French as well.

    reviewed

  5. Museo de la Ciudad Teodoro Cano

    The city’s brand-new little Museo de la Ciudad Teodoro Cano displays traditional clothing, Totonac artifacts, snippets about Papantla’s history, and paintings by artists, including Teodoro Cano. It’s a short but worthwhile stop.

    reviewed

  6. Casa de la Cultura

    The Casa de la Cultura hosts art classes and a display of local art work on the top floor. If you’re lucky, you’ll run into Maestro Teodoro Cano painting.

    reviewed