Xalapa
A mélange of neo-Gothic and baroque, Xalapa’s cathedral lacks a second tower but still impresses with its scale and grandiosity. The architecture makes…
Must-see attractions in Veracruz
Xalapa
Atop a hill north of the city, this 40-hectare park is actually the heavily wooded cap of an extinct volcano. Spiraling to the top, the park’s paths are a…
Veracruz
Cerro de las Culebras (Snake Hill; Coatepec in the Náhuatl language) is easily accessible from the town center. The walk takes you up cobbled steps to a…
Veracruz
The State Art Museum is housed in a gorgeously restored colonial building attached to the side of the elaborate La Concordia church dating from 1679. The…
Veracruz
The small fishing village of La Barra, with its pleasant beach overlooking the Laguna Sontecomapan, can be reached by a lancha from Sontecomapan (M$650…
Veracruz City
Facing the waterfront on the malecón, this early 20th century building holds a lighthouse and navy offices guarded by a large statue of Venustiano…
Parque Alameda Gabilondo Soler
Veracruz
This leafy park doesn’t lack activity. Aside from the obligatory statues of dead heroes, you’ll find an outdoor gym, a bandstand, food carts, shoe-shiners…
Veracruz
Beyond the Plaza del Arroyo in the south of the site, flanked by pyramids on four sides, is the Plaza Menor (Lesser Plaza), part of El Tajín’s main…
Veracruz
This excellent, colorful museum is devoted to the centuries-old history of Xico's costumed dances that take pride of place during the town's celebrations…
Veracruz
Some 39km from Catemaco, this village has several palapas offering grilled fish and seafood, along with fresh coconut water, and there's a beach here with…
Veracruz
There are fine view's from the hill atop which towers this 1988 statue by Teodoro Cano portraying a volador musician playing his pipe and preparing for…
Veracruz
Stretching for miles, this black-sand beach is extremely popular with Mexican holidaymakers. On weekends and holidays it's packed with families picnicking…
Veracruz
All that's keeping up much of the ruined walls of this 16th-century stone building is a lattice of tree roots. Cortés is said to have stayed here and for…
Veracruz
Watch as the torcedores (cigarmakers) speedily hand roll and finish puros at this cigar factory, on the highway, a block or so from the bus station…
Veracruz
This museum has a modest collection of artifacts including a fine Aztec ball-court marker, some Olmec figurines, and a replica of the statue of El señor…
Veracruz
A 40-year labor of love by the late botanist Dr Contreras Juárez, this orchid garden features 5584 species of orchids from around the world, including…
Veracruz
For a pleasant nature walk aim for this waterfall about 5km north of central Coatepec. Follow Calle 5 de Mayo north to a bridge, continue north on Calle…
Veracruz
The ‘Enchanted Lagoon’ occupies a small volcanic crater 3.5km northeast of San Andrés in jungle-like terrain. A dirt road goes there, but no buses do…
Veracruz
This museum features old photos of Tlacotalpan, and those of tlacotalpeño Agustín Lara (1900–70) – a legendary musician, composer and Casanova – as well…
Veracruz
Cordoba's neoclassical municipal palace, built in 1905, is worth a quick look for its stairway covered by a historical mural created in 2010 by Jaime…
Veracruz
Smaller than your average Mexican city plaza, Parque Castillo is watched over by the 17th-century Catedral de San Miguel Arcángel and the neoclassical…
Xalapa
Veracruz' state government occupies a palatial neoclassical building. On its north and east facades, under the arcades, are superb murals depicting…
Veracruz
Dominating the main plaza, this stone monolith is known as the ‘Cobata Head,’ after the estate where it was found. Thought to be a very late Olmec…
Veracruz
Basically a room in a house, come here to view the Xico craft of making intricate and detailed figures from hojas de maiz (maize leaves): the dolls in…
Xalapa
For a quick exposé of Xalapan history, head to this museum in an old colonial house close to Parque Juárez. Exhibits (in Spanish) run the gamut from…
Veracruz
At the center of Coatepec’s lush green main square stands a glorieta (bandstand), which doubles as a cafe. Set back from the road on the eastern side is…
Veracruz
Lovers of the utterly bizarre should hotfoot it to the home of Don Pío Barrán. He keeps several enormous crocodiles and a range of artifacts, including a…
Veracruz City
A monument to one of Veracruz' most famous musical icons, this museum displays a range of Agustín Lara’s personal belongings, furniture and memorabilia in…
Xalapa
Xalapa has several contemporary art galleries and this one, in a renovated colonial building 1km east of the center, shows an interesting range of…
Veracruz
Tlacotalpan is well known for its locally made cedar furniture, including rocking chairs. Drop by this workshop in business since 1944 to see it being…
Veracruz
This 23-hectare reserve, which was created in 2009 with the planting of thousands of trees, is 2.5km from Laguna Encantada on the road to Ruíz Cortines…
Veracruz
Named after a Tlacotalpan artist, this is the best of Tlacotalpan's handful of mini-museums based within a charming old colonial mansion. Its exhibits are…
Veracruz City
This colonial-era warehouse has been beautifully converted into an exhibition space and sports a striking mural by Melchor Perado. Worthwhile temporary…
Veracruz
Do drop in to the on-site museum at the entrance to El Tajín (included in your ticket price) to see an excellent model of the site. It also displays a…
Veracruz
This compact whitewashed building is believed to be the oldest church in Mexico. Parts of it date back to 1525, but the church was expanded to its present…
Veracruz City
On the southeast side of the zócalo, this small arts center has rotating photographic and video exhibitions. It’s spread over three floors of a restored…
Juego de Pelota de Las Pinturas
Veracruz
The Juego de Pelota de las Pinturas (Ball Court of the Paintings), to one side of the Pirámide de los Nichos, is so called as it has two very impressively…
Basilica Menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Veracruz
This salmon pink neo-gothic beauty of a church was completed in 1853. If you think the exterior is pretty jazzy, wait until you go inside where the wall…
Veracruz
Step into the gorgeous French-style Teatro Netzahualcoyotl, built in 1891, and the caretaker will turn on the auditorium and stage lights so you can take…
Xalapa
A dense, jungle-like nature park where you’ll forget you’re in the city. It’s 1km from the center on Avenida Ávila Camacho. Joggers and walkers enjoy…
