Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan, Mexico: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The state of Veracruz occupies a long stretch of the Gulf of Mexico coast, between the warm coastal plain and the mountains of the Sierra Madre Oriental, where Pico de Orizaba, the highest mountain in the country, is located. It was there that the Spaniards arrived in 1519, and the city of Veracruz was for centuries the main port between Mexico and Europe.

Veracruz is a lively city, home to jarocho music, danzón and traditional cafés, with the San Juan de Ulúa fort at the port entrance and a long waterfront. Heading up into the mountains, about 100 km away, Xalapa, the state capital, is a university city with a mild climate and a large anthropology museum that houses colossal Olmec heads. Nearby, Coatepec is a colonial town surrounded by coffee plantations.

In the north of the state, near Papantla, the El Tajín archaeological zone, a UNESCO World Heritage site, preserves the Pyramid of the Niches, and in Papantla’s plaza the flyers spin suspended from a pole, a Totonac ritual also recognized by UNESCO. In the south, Tlacotalpan is a town on the banks of the Papaloapan River, with houses featuring arcades painted in bright colors, and is a UNESCO site.

This destination brings together 5 cities: Veracruz, Xalapa, Coatepec, Papantla, Tlacotalpan.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

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Where Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan is

Boundaries: INEGI / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional General Heriberto Jara (VER) · 11 km to Veracruz

Confirm before you buy. Veracruz airport (VER) is about 11 km from downtown, with flights from Mexico City and other cities. From Mexico City it’s about 400 km by road, with frequent buses.

Suggested arrival point: Veracruz

Veracruz · Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan Suggested arrival point

Veracruz

Veracruz is the oldest port city in Mexico, founded by the Spaniards in 1519 on the Gulf coast. It has the fort of San Juan de Ulúa at the entrance to the harbor, the Zócalo with the cathedral and arcaded portals full of music, and a seaside malecón. It is known for música jarochа, the danzón and its traditional cafés. To the south, Boca del Río has the beaches and seafood restaurants.

Veracruz · Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan Capital

Xalapa

Xalapa is the capital of the state of Veracruz, on a mountainside about 1,400 meters above sea level, roughly 100 km from the coast. It is a university and cultural city with a mild, humid climate, hilly streets and many parks. The Museo de Antropología de Xalapa houses one of the largest collections of Olmec sculptures in Mexico, including colossal heads. Nearby is Coatepec, a coffee town.

Veracruz · Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan

Coatepec

Coatepec is a colonial town about 10 km from Xalapa, in the Sierra de Veracruz, surrounded by high-altitude coffee plantations. It has houses with clay tile roofs and patios full of plants, a tree-lined plaza with the church of San Jerónimo and many cafés, as well as farms that show cultivation and roasting. Nearby is Xico, with the Texolo waterfall.

Veracruz · Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan

Papantla

Papantla is a Totonac town in northern Veracruz, in a region of green hills and vanilla plantations, about 10 km from the El Tajín archaeological zone. In the center is the plaza with the Church of the Assumption, where the Papantla flyers perform their ritual hanging from a tall pole. It is known for vanilla, cultivated in the region since before the arrival of the Spaniards.

Veracruz · Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan

Tlacotalpan

Tlacotalpan is a small colonial town on the banks of the Papaloapan River, about 100 km south of Veracruz, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. The wide streets are lined with houses with arcades and columns painted in bright colors, showing Caribbean influence. It is known for música jarocha and for the Candelaria festival in February, featuring a procession of the Virgin along the river.

The local experience

Things to do in Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan

Coatepec · Veracruz · Historic center

Coatepec Historic Center

Coatepec's colonial center, with the tree-shaded plaza, the church of San Jerónimo and red-tile houses with courtyards of plants and orchids.

Tlacotalpan · Veracruz · Historic center

Tlacotalpan Historic Center

Colonial center of Tlacotalpan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with wide streets, houses with arcades and columns painted in vivid colors, squares and churches on the banks of the Papaloapan River.

Veracruz · Veracruz · Fort and museum

San Juan de Ulúa Fortress

Fort on the island at the entrance to Veracruz harbor, begun in the 16th century, which defended the city from pirates and served as a prison, with coral stone walls and a museum.

Xalapa · Veracruz · Museum

Xalapa Museum of Anthropology

University museum (Universidad Veracruzana) with one of the largest archaeological collections in Mexico, featuring Olmec colossal heads and Totonac and Huastec sculptures in galleries and gardens.

See 6 more places in Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan

Papantla · Veracruz · Archaeological site

El Tajín Archaeological Zone

Pre-Hispanic city in central Veracruz, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with the Pyramid of the Niches, containing 365 niches, and about 20 ballgame courts.

Coatepec · Veracruz · Waterfall

Texolo Waterfall

Waterfall about 40 meters high in a gorge covered in forest near Xico, about 8 km from Coatepec, with a viewpoint and a suspension bridge.

Xalapa · Veracruz · Square and viewpoint

Parque Juárez

A plaza in central Xalapa, on a terrace with views over the valley and, on clear days, of Pico de Orizaba, next to the cathedral and the government palace.

Papantla · Veracruz · Cultural tradition

Papantla Flyers Ritual

Totonac ritual in which four men descend spinning upside down, attached by ropes, from the top of a pole while a fifth plays flute and drum at the top; a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

Veracruz · Veracruz · Square

Zócalo and Portales of Veracruz

Main square of Veracruz, with the cathedral, the municipal palace and arcaded portals full of cafés, where marimbas play and danzón is danced at night.

Veracruz · Veracruz · Aquarium

Veracruz Aquarium

Seaside aquarium in Veracruz with species from the Gulf of Mexico and Mexican rivers, a large reef tank and a shark tank.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From November to April there is less rain, but on the coast the nortes (cold fronts with strong wind) can arrive, especially from November to February. From May to October it is hotter and rainier; hurricanes can occur from June to November. In Xalapa and Coatepec the climate is cooler and humid year-round.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Five or six days: two for Veracruz, one for Xalapa and Coatepec, one or two for El Tajín and Papantla, and one for Tlacotalpan.

Which city to stay in

In Veracruz, the historic center near the Zócalo and the malecón has traditional hotels; Boca del Río to the south has beach hotels and restaurants. Xalapa has hotels downtown near Parque Juárez, and Coatepec has guesthouses in old mansions. For El Tajín, Papantla offers simple hotels in the center. Tlacotalpan has few guesthouses, located in old houses.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan

Is it worth visiting Veracruz?

Yes, for the history of the port, the music, the cafes and the food, and as a base for Xalapa, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan, three very different places.

What are the voladores of Papantla?

A Totonaca ritual in which four men descend spinning headfirst, tied by ropes, from the top of a pole while a fifth plays flute and drum at the top. It is UNESCO intangible heritage.

How do you go from Veracruz to El Tajín?

It’s about 250 km to the north, roughly four hours by car or bus to Papantla, and another 10 km to the ruins.

Is Tlacotalpan far from Veracruz?

About 100 km to the south, around one and a half hours by car.

What to eat in Veracruz?

Pescado a la veracruzana (fish Veracruz-style) with tomato, olives and capers; arroz a la tumbada; picadas and gordas; and the café con leche from Gran Café de la Parroquia.

Veracruz, El Tajín and Tlacotalpan

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip