Multi-Sport Vacations
& Soft Eco-Adventure Trips
to Veracruz, Mexico
Professional Guides
With Over 25 Years of
Combined Experience
 
 
The Ultimate 12 Day Veracruz Action Adventure Trip
- Trip starts and ends in the city of Veracruz Mexico -

 

Attention: Action Adventure Seekers
This 12 day multi-sport trip will get your adrenalin
pumping as you start your Veracruz Mexico vacation
adventure above the clouds. At 14,500 feet,
you will be breathing hard as you
bike down a 7,000 foot vertical
descent on a rocky dirt road
from the base camp of Pico de Orizaba,
the 3rd tallest mountain in
North America. On other days,
you will find yourself                                                              
soaked to the skin 
as you experience
river rafting at it's
best, jump from
20' into a cold river,
be completely covered
in mud from head to toe and then baked in a sauna, crash over the ocean waves in the Gulf of Mexico on a "banana boat" ride, experience a natural massage under a jungle waterfall, eat great Mexican food, climb through the jungle, kayak down a river, watch monkeys in the trees, zipline . . .
 

 
Detailed Itinerary

   
 
 

Printable Itinerary

Day 1:
Arrive in the City of Veracruz
Our local trip guide will be waiting for you upon your arrival at the Veracruz Airport. You will travel an hour north to the small seaside town of Chachalacas and check in at Hotel La Pingui (Ping-goo-we). This 16 room hotel is run by a local Mexican family. Personalized service is the key as they also live there. The sign above their information desk reads, Su Casa en la Playa (Your House by the Beach). The rest of the day is free to explore the town. This hotel is located a short walk from the sandy beaches of the Gulf of México
Day 2:
ATV Ride over Sand Dunes
After breakfast, it's time t hit the beach and the nearby sand dunes on ATVs. The trip starts right from your hotel. You will be riding alongside the ocean waves as you zoom down the beach before heading up into a maze of tall sand dunes. No prior experience is necessary as you will quickly learn how to operate your 4-wheel ATV. Lunch will be served near a meandering stream at a local family's house. There will be time to jump in the stream, swim, and wash the sand and sweat off your body from the ATV ride. On a hot day, this really feels good. Next, more ATVing before you finally head back to the hotel. The evening is free to relax, go to the beach, and enjoy small town Mexican life. (B,L,D)
Day 3:
Whitewater River Rafting / Zipline Ride
This morning we will head to the river rafting capital of Veracruz found in the town of Jalcomulco. After lunch, we will embark on a fun whitewater river rafting trip (class 2-3 rapids) on the Rio Pescados. Today, we will also experience the feeling of "flying" over the river on a zipline ride. We will overnight again at Hotel La Pingui.
Day 4:
Huge outdoor Mexican Market
After breakfast, we pack up and move out towards the mountainous area of Veracruz. Our destination is the old cobbled-street town of Coscomatepec which sits at an elevation of 5000 feet. Depending on the time of the year, it could get a little chilly here so bring a jacket. Later in the day, we will have the opportunity to experience a huge outdoor market. Every Monday, Coscomatepec transforms into one huge outdoor “mega-mall” with 1000s of items being sold or bartered under a canopy of plastic tarps. Everything from shoes to produce to pigs are sold or bartered here. There will also be some great grilled foods for sampling. Most likely our group will be the only foreigners there so the locals will probably be watching us as much as we are observing them. Just on the outskirts of Coscomatepec, we will check in to the Grand View Hotel. This is a big hacienda-looking hotel where all 8 rooms have a private balcony with a great view of the surrounding countryside. The owner is a native Californian and along with his Mexican wife, will be your hosts for the next 3 nights. The evening is free to relax and get settled in. (B,L,D)
Day 5:
4-Wheel Drive up a Mountain/ Hike /Bike down 7000 vertical feet
Today, we will experience a 4-wheel drive trip up a rough unpaved road to the base camp of the 3rd tallest mountain in North America. Pico de Orizaba stands at 18,500 feet with a permanent glacier on top. The base camp for climbers is located at 14,500 feet. Your guide will lead you on a short high altitude hike up the trail. After a “field lunch,” you will have the option (extra fee) to bike down the road you just traveled up. Dual suspension mountain bikes will be provided. If you prefer, you can opt to ride down in the vehicle. Then it’s back to the Grand View Hotel for a hearty meal. (B,L,D)
Day 6:
Explore a Cave / Rappel down a Waterfall
Heading south, we will take some back roads to get to a gigantic cave known as Cueva de Totomachapa. With flashlights and head lamps, we will explore a portion of it and hear how this cave was used for ceremonial purposes. Then we will hike to see a spectacular waterfall. For a really close up view, we will rappel (wetsuit optional) next to this cold cascading waterfall. Later, we travel back to the Grand View Hotel. (B,L)
Day 7:
Visit a Massive Waterfall / Temazcal Ritual
This morning we say goodbye to our hosts and travel to the southern part of the state to the tropical lakeside town of Catemaco (Ka-tay-mah-ko). On the way, we will stop to see the massive waterfall Mel Gibson used in his movie, Apocalypto. We will check in at the Hotel Posada Koniapan located ½ block from the lake there. In the evening, we will take a boat ride to experience a Temazcal Ceremony. This is an ancient ritual that includes an igloo-shaped mud hut which becomes a sauna and a special cleansing mud which will cover your body. It will be an experience! (B)
Day 8:
Kayak a River / Swim under Jungle Waterfalls
After breakfast, we will head out by truck to a beautiful slow-moving meandering mountain stream for a one hour kayak trip which will take us into Lake Catemaco. We then continue our journey to a private reserve called, Cascadas Cristal. Along the way, we will get some magnificent views of the Gulf of México far below us. This private jungle hideaway has 3 waterfalls with 3 big pools of crystal clear water below to swim in. You will swear you are in Hawaii. We will spend the day hiking, exploring, and swimming in the cool mountain waters. On a warm tropical day, this is the place to be! Again, we will overnight in Catemaco. (B,L)
Day 9:
Boat Ride / Mangrove Trees / Tropical Gulf Coast / Beach Time
Today, we will head to another lake which flows into the ocean. There we will take a boat ride to view the backwaters where twisted roots of mangrove trees are found everywhere. Then we hit the road again and continue to the Gulf of México to explore some of the small towns there and to hang out and swim. Optional activities can include an ocean boat ride to see a huge cave carved by the waves and to take in the very scenic coastline. Later, we head back to Catemaco (B)
Day 10:
We leave Catemaco and head north past the city of Veracruz to the archeological ruins of Cempoala. These ruins were once the capital of the Totonac people with an estimated population of more than 25,000. Most of the structures date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Later we return to Hotel La Pingui in Chachalacas for one night. (B)
Day 11:
Snorkel over Coral Reefs / Veracruz City Tour / Farewell Dinner
Today we will travel into the city of Veracruz and take a dive boat out to snorkel over the beautiful coral reefs which are scattered everywhere off the coast of the port city. These reefs are a sanctioned national underwater park protected by the Mexican government. In the afternoon, we will go on a walking/driving tour of Veracruz and hear about its colorful history. The tour will include the Naval Museum, Fort San Juan de Ulua, the main central square, some of the other historical buildings and landmarks, and more. In the evening, we will celebrate our time together by having a final farewell dinner at a nice restaurant. We will overnight at Hotel Delfines,a comfortable hotel in the city. (B,L,D)
Day 12:
Travel Day Home
   

 

 

 
US $1979 per person /                       double occupancy Single Supplement: add US $275

 
 

 
Book a group of 10 or more people
 and get one FREE TRIP
 
Highlights:
ATV Sand Dunes & Beach Ride Whitewater River Rafting
Zipline Ride over a River
Experience a Mexican Market
4x4 Mountain Travel
Hike above 14,500' feet
Mountain Bike Descent
Jungle Hike
Explore a huge Cave
Rappel down a Waterfall
Temazcal Ceremony
Kayak down a River
Swim under Tropical Waterfalls
Gulf of México Beaches
Lake Boat Ride
Archeological Ruins
Snorkel over Coral Reefs
Veracruz Historical City Tour

 

  

 
2010 Trip Dates:
August 6 - 17
September 3 - 14
 
2011 Trip Dates:
February 25 – March 8
May 6 – 17
August 12 – 23
 
Duration:
12 Days / 11 Nights
 
Trip Size: Min. of 2 people
                 Max. of 14 people  
 
Age Restriction:
12 and older
 
Skill Level: You should be in good health and have a reasonably good level of general fitness. The down-hill mountain biking is the most challenging section of the whole trip. See the description on Day 5 for options you can choose from.  
 
Highlights:
ATV Sand Dunes & Beach Ride
Whitewater River Rafting
Zipline Ride over a River
Experience a Mexican Market
4x4 Mountain Travel
Hike above 14,500' feet Mountain Bike Descent
Jungle Hike
Explore a huge Cave
Rappel down a Waterfall
Temazcal Ceremony
Kayak down a River
Swim under Tropical Waterfalls
Gulf of México Beaches
Lake Boat Ride
Archeological Ruins
Snorkel over Coral Reefs
Veracruz Historical City Tour
 
Accomodations: All the hotels you will stay in on this trip are equivalent to a 3-4 star rated hotel. (Click on the hotels below to see photos of these properties.) 
Hotel La Pingui, Chachalacas
 
Grand View Hotel, Coscomatepec
 
Hotel Delfines, Veracruz
Hotel Posada Koniapan, Catemaco
 
 
Includes:
Bilingual local guide
Airport pickup in Veracruz
All ground transportation
All entrance fees
Tours per itinerary
10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
Bottled water each day
 
Not Included:
Airfares
Transportation from hotel to
airport on the last day
Meals not listed in itinerary
Drinks with meals
Travel insurance
Tips
 
All rates are per person and Based on double occupancy.
 
If a hotel listed in this trip is not available at the time of reservation, we will substitute it for a hotel of similar category.
 
For more information, see our
FAQ section on this website or contact our office.
 
TERMS & CONDITIONS
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