Catemaco is a county and city in Veracruz State, Mexico. The ecotourism is really big in the region around here. Lakes, rivers, waterfalls, Gulf of Mexico, mangroves, birdwatching, all abound and ready for you to enjoy. Take a boat trip on Lake Catemaco or the Laguna de Sontecomapan. Check out the beaches of the gulf with coves and small bays awaiting your discovery.

Get in

Catemaco is located on Highway 180, also known as The Gulf Coast Highway, about 2 1/2 - 3 hours south of Veracruz city.

Get around

You can grab one of the taxis which seem to be all around. In the day there are some of the typical mexican busses.

  • <listing name="Bike rental" alt="" directions="" address="At the waterfront (called Malecon)" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">You can rent a bike for some hours and ride around a little. The streets are not too bad for that.</listing>
  • See

  • Guapango. Especially at the weekend you can see this typical traditional dance at the zocalo. A guitar is been played, someone sings and two people are dancing on a wooden platform. It is very rythmic and well-known in Catemaco.

  • Salto de Eyipantla. est of Catemaco. The big waterfall nearby the city is worth a visit. Take a taxi to get there.

  • Banos. ll over the place. No joke, Catemacos toilets seem to be a bit famous. And, indeed, the bigger, colorful ones are worth a visit.

    Do

  • See more of Catemaco" url="http://www.catemaco.info. Catemaco.info is a wonderful website about Catemaco with hundreds of photos and complete descriptions of all its touristic features.

  • Lancha tour. irectly at the waterfront. Take a boat (spanish: "lancha") tour over the Laguna de Catemaco and see monkeys or use a relaxing face mask (for which you have to pay for, too). They offer one-person and group prices, whereby the group won't see all places.

  • Ecobiosfera. M 10 from Catemaco to Sontecomapan. 294) 9497-308. elixaguilar@ecobiosfera.com. ttp://www.ecobiosfera.com. Do one of the tours in the great rain forest nearby. There are different kinds of tours, some require heavy preparation, some are just in a 4x4. For example, you can take a bird watch tour or make a half-day walking tour in Sontecomapan. They also offer some longer-lasting activities. For example they offer courses for identification of special tropical birds. To make sure that you'll really come, you have to pay a deposit half of the price.

  • Reserva Ecologica Nanciyaga. 294) 943-0199. nformes@nanciyaga.com. ttp://www.nanciyaga.com/. Here, in the jungle, you can take some nice activites: Do a walking tour over a hanging bridge which crosses a fresh water spring. You also can make some natural mud masks and spiritual cleanings. In the restaurant the typical food out of the Tuxtla region is served. And, if you don't decide to stay in one of their cabins, you can make a tour with some kayaks and watch the nearby nature.

  • Plane flight. Do a plane flight over the volcanoes and the region of Catemaco. Ask in the Hotel Catemaco for more details. It costs a little more but is worth it.

    Eat

    Try one of the '''Memela'''s which are famous in Catemaco. Those really big tortillas are made like a Quesita. Only that they are bigger and filled with ham and beans instead of cheese. And they are really big.

  • La Ola Restraunt. n the Malecone. akeside, Malecone central. 43 0010. am-9pm. La Ola, one of Catemaco_Ls mainstay restraunts for over 45 years. Located on the shore of Lake Catemaco you can enjoy your meal with views of the Los Tuxtlas Mountains.

  • La Casita. The La Casita restaurants by Alex Ochoa are with out hesitation the best the area has to offer. One is on Calle Matamoros and the other in Dos de Abril near Monte Pio. There are many, perhaps hundreds of restaurants in the vicinity....but none to compare with the clean, well managed La Casitas.

    Sleep

    Since Catemaco is not that big you can find many of those hotels located at the zocalo. Both bus stations are in walking distance.

    Budget

  • Hotel Acuario. irectly next to the clock at the zocalo. 294) 943-0418. Small, neat hotel with nice pricing.
  • Hotel Las Brisas. ear the zocalo. 294) 943-0057. Here was done some refurbishment. Good for the traveller with less money.

    Mid-range

  • Hotel Catemaco. owntown across from the park. 52 (294) 943 02 03. ttp://www.hotelcatemaco.net/tarifas/. Nice hotel with restraunt. You can sit outside on the sidewalk and watch the world go by.
  • Hotel Playa Cristal. n the Malecone. bout 2 blocks off HWY 180. ttp://www.hotelplayacristal.com/. Very nice hotel, clean and well maintained. Restraunte, pool, view of the lake.
  • Hotel Los Arcos. atemaco centro. ttp://www.arcoshotel.com.mx/. Nice hotel in a good location.
  • Villas Tepetapan & RV Park. alle Tepetapan. blocks off Highway 180. 43 2064. ttp://www.gaudis.com. oon. 1 bedroom furnished casitas and apartments. Rv park with full hook-ups. Located on the Rio Grande de Catemaco, quiet neighborhood. Swimming pool, laundry facilities, wireless internet and staffed 24/7

    Splurge

  • La Finca. n Highway 180. utside of town about 1 km.. 52 (294) 947 97 00. ttp://www.lafinca.com.mx/. Beautiful grounds and swimming pool area. Very expensive.

    Contact

    You can find small internet cafes located near the Zocalo. Also available are stores for long distance calls.

    Get out

    There are two bus stations which connect Catemaco to bigger mexican cities. One a little in the east, one in the west.

    In the west you can find a station for the rural taxis. The rural taxis connect the wider area of Catemaco for cheap prices. You should take one, and make sure that you'll sit in the back part of the taxi. Some of the many destinations are:

  • Sontecomapan - In Sontecomapan is a nice lagoon and some boat service on it.
  • Montepio - Montepio lies directly at the beach of the Gulf of Mexico. Be aware of the following facts if you go to Montepio, though. There is no Supermarket, Internet or ATM available.
  • If you take one of the cheap taxis or connecting buses, you can get to places nearby. For example:

  • San Andres Tuxtla - A nice, real mexican city with less tourism.