Has anyone been to Coatepec, Veracruz?

Yes it is pretty. The central area has been fixed up for Mexican tourists. I have visited all the places you mention, but only briefly. Would recommend all except Fortin as places to stay. Cheaper? Wasn't there long enough to say, but check out my Veracruz state and city trip report 3 of April 04 this year for a little info re costs, and a hotel recommendation in Cordoba. It is a cooler area than the coast but a rainy/drizzly area. I want to return to the area when I have more time for it. So, if you go, please let us know what you find! Good luck.

I don't know if longford caught this one, but there's an article about Veracruz in the Chicago Sun-Times by Howard Wolinsky that came out this morning about his trip to Veracruz last fall.

He also took a lot of really nice photos which are listed on my web site www.johntoddjr.com</a> in the Photographs Section. In one of the later sections he has some photos he took the day he went to Coatepec which will give you an idea of what it looks like.

Hope this helps.

John

Sergio, you twice refer to Coatepec as a city. Really, it is more town-sized. That said, it's quite a charming place, although a little relentless about selling their coffee. I went there as a day trip from Jalapa. Be sure to visit the town of Xico when you're in the area.

Thank you gitana and everyone else who responded. I would like to visit that area, don't know when yet, but it is in my plans. Gitana, I will check your report. Thanks again.

John, I'm in Mexico City for a few days and didn't see the Chicago Sun-Times story until you mentioned it here. I hear only good things about Coatepec, but have yet to visit; so many possibilities, so little time.

Yes, the trip to Cordoba is worth it. Thanks to Longford for the excellent suggestion of taking a bus directly to the city from Benito Juarez Intl in DF, I really had a wonderful stay there and look forward to seeing it again someday.

I briefly visited Fortin, it was fantastic, I highly recc. you take a walk on the abandoned RR grade along the Barranca de Metlac, so peaceful and serene, I was the only one around on the east side of the canyon.

I stayed at one of the hotels listed in the LP guide, it cost me about 260 pesos a night, wasn't to bad of a price. Only four blocks from the center of town.

Have fun! I am soooo envious.....

MY wife and I and another couple spent a few days in Coatepec less than a month ago. All the posters are correct. It's a fairly small town (you can walk to almost everything in the centro and if you do need a taxi, they're inexpensive. The city takes great pride in maintaining its old buildings (through restoration and frequent painting of the exteriors ) and keeping the streets clean. Though we intended to visit several places in Xalapa (especially the anthropology museum) we chose to stay in Coatepec (and take taxis into Xalapa) because Xalapa is getting to be too large, crowded, and noisy. And Coatepec is tranquil and charming. (As an aside to #3, we visited Xico and were not at all impressed with the town, though the countryside--vegetation, waterfalls, etc.--is quite nice.)

Prices: In the Veracruz area (at least the parts of the state we visited), food, drink, and transportation are quite reasonably priced. And there are several VERY GOOD restaurants in Coatepec. Lodging, however, is really no cheaper than elsewhere in central Mexico. Don't know, however, about "budget travel" lodging because we stay in mid-range hotels (and sometimes splurge on "moderately upscale" places).

Weather: The guidebooks all say that the Xalapa area can be rainy/drizzly much of the time, but not when we were there: sunny and very pleasant. But it was at least 10-15° F cooler than the coastal lowlands (i.e. Veracruz city) and that was most welcome.

Some recently people told me that Coatepec and the area around it has a kind of flavor like San Miguel Allende before it got developed.

John

NOV: 2005: We traveled to Fortin by AU bus from Veracruz,, the bus stopped in Cordoba first where we decided to get off and look around a bit, then caught a local class bus on to Fortin. Fortin and Cordoba actually have grown together, although you wouldn’t know it if you travel on the autopista.. The bus stops at end of town (fortin) and everybody has to get off.. (we passed the ADO station about 3 blocks before this point) .. Ws a short walk to el centro from here.. (about 6 blocks or so)..

Fortin is a pretty little town, buoganvilla growing everywhere as is many other flowers full of flowers, colorful homes and with a small town feeling to it.. good for a short visit if your in the area.. The zocalo is small, there is a real pretty municipal building sitting dead center in park,, and a octagon shaped building sitting across from it,, some tourist info in this building.. To the south end and across the street is a small church,, nothing real fancy about it.. On the perimeter streets are a few small restaurants and a bit of a mercado type setting on corner of AVE #1.. again nothing to get excited about.. this pretty well makes up square..few basiceating options around the zocalo.. most seem to be located on next two blocks heading towards where old train station used to be. If you like a little fresh air and some easy hiking... take a walk on along the Camino Royal.. this is the original road built between Veracruz and Mexico City, go to the west end of Fortin and walk along the winding road as it drops down into the ravine.. easy walking and very scenic.. you'll find the small, but pretty park at the bottom in the Metlac Ravine.. There is a nice little break area with a swimming pool, snacks and refreshments.. or grab a seat and watch the river stream by.. very pleasant spot to spend a hot afternoon. If your traveling the autopista between Cordoba and Orizaba you will undoubtedly notice this large ravine when you pass over the bridge which stretches across it.. the ravine is about 1000 feet wide and 400 feet deep.. full of lush green plants and trees. a waterfall cascading down the side of it. One can also take a hike on the abandoned railroad tracks that run around the edge of the ravine it, but we had to skip this part for lack of time...

Several small hotels in this area starting at $10.00 a night to $ 30.00 .. We stayed in Hotel Pasada del Sol (Ave. 2 Poniente y Calle 4) which was about 4 blocks N/W from el centro.. $ 15.00.. clean with plenty of hot water.. Didn’t seem like a lot to choose from restaurant wise, but we did find one really nice spot with good prices.. "Restaurante Colorines" and I highly recommend it.. There are also several torta shops and other options.. most seemed to be situated 1-2 blocks north of zocalo... They roll up the sidewalks early here so don’t expect too much and you won’t be disappointed.. I would guess most people head to neighboring Cordoba to look for a little more excitement.


pics of Fortin and Metlac Ravine