Explore Catemaco & the Los Tuxtlas Region

Day 1: Travel to the Los Tuxtlas Region
Your local bilingual trip guide will pick you up at your hotel or wherever you are staying in the city of Veracruz. Your journey starts as you travel south on Hwy 180 through small towns, green rolling hills, and at times, with great views of the ocean waves breaking on the semi-deserted beaches along the Gulf of México. Your first stop will be to see the explosive waterfall called, Salto de Eyipantla. This location was selected by film director, Mel Gibson to be used in the movie, Apocalypto. Next stop will be the lakeside town of Catemaco and to check in at your local hotel. Later that afternoon, your guide will take you on a walking tour of the town. The evening is free to relax and explore on your own. (L,D)

Day 2: A Day of Adventure & Exploration - Choose from Three Fun Trips

Trip Option #1: Jungle Hike & River/Lake Kayak Trip
Your day of adventure starts with a scenic road trip to the far side of Lake Catemaco to the small village of La Juarez. Bring your water bottle as everyone will hike into the dense green forest jungle to explore this area. Afterwards, your tour guide will take you to a small river to play in its cool crystal clear waters and have a picnic lunch. This is also the starting point where you will begin a one hour kayak trip down this slow-moving river which flows into Lake Catemaco and continues a short distance until you reach a local village where the trip ends. There you will be met by your ground transportation and after stsowing the kayaks, travel back to Catemaco. The evening is free to explore, shop, relax, or participate in a *Temazcal Ceremony (additional fee). (B,L,D)

Trip Option #2: Jungle Hike & Swim Under 3 Hidden Tropical Waterfalls
Your day of adventure starts with a scenic road trip partway around the lake and up into the green volcanic hills to the small village of Lopez Mateos which is hidden in the dense jungle. A local resident will take you on a short hike into the jungle and explain about the many trees and plants you will see along the way. Later, you will travel a very short distance to a private ranch where you will walking trails cut into the jungle forest which leads down to 3 beautiful waterfalls with crystal clear pools below. The day is yours to swim and enjoy the tranquility of this hidden oasis. You may want to let the power of one of the waterfalls massage your body. Later, your group will return to Catemaco to explore, shop, relax, or participate in a *Temazcal Ceremony (additional fee). (B,L,D)

Trip Option #3: Lake Catemaco Boat Ride & Visit a Tropical Reserve
This is the most "relaxed" trip of your 3 choices for today. Feel the refreshing warm tropical breeze on your face as you explore the area by boat. The captain wil explain some of the history of this region as well as show you monkeys and tropical birds found in their natural habitat. You will stop to visit Nanciyaga, a private jungle reserve where a local park guide will lead your group on an easy walking tour through this tropical reserve. Lunch will be at the restaurant there which has a beautiful view of the lake. Everyone will travel back to Catemaco by boat and have the afternoon and evening free to explore, shop, relax, or participate in a *Temazcal Ceremony (additional fee). (B,L,D)

Day 3: Explore the Gulf of Mexico Shoreline / A Day at the Beach
After breakfast and checking out of the hotel, today you will travel overland to the sandy and rocky Gulf of México coastline. Your destination will be the small seaside pueblo of Montepio. Here you will have the opportunity to relax, swim, and explore this beautiful area. This is laidback tropical life at its best! There are palapa-style restaurants right on the beach. Kick off your shoes, and wiggle your toes in the warm sand as you sip a cold drink while watching the gentle surf lap up onto the beach. There may be a few hammocks hanging under the shade of the straw palapas enticing you for a little afternoon siesta. Sometimes the local folks have boats ready to give you a tour of the coastline. We recommend it! It is a fun ride to see a huge sea cave once used by pirates, visit an island engulfed with hundreds of tropical birds, and enjoy the tropical scenery of the many sandy beaches as well as the impressive tall rocky cliffs. Occasionally, horseback rides and exciting banana boat rides may be available as well. (Note: These are all additional fees which can be negotiated with the local people). In the late afternoon, your tour guide will bring you back to the city of Veracruz and to your hotel. (B)

This is an ancient ritual that includes an igloo-shaped hut which becomes a sauna and a special cleansing mud covering your body. It will definitely be an experience you will want to tell your friends about back home!

« back to tour details