VERACRUZ
The Totonac Route

  • The Totonac Route

Tour Details

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Enter this seldom-visited region of northeastern Veracruz for a cultural, archeological and natural adventure with a small group of travelers and Travelian’s expert guides!

Feel welcomed and embraced by the Totonac People ~ known as the people with three hearts: one for life, one for love, and one for happiness. Once you meet these sharing, creative, and proud people you will feel their ancient wisdom and honest affection.

The region has been relatively difficult to enter until recently when a new superhighway was completed. Now one can travel directly and safely from San Miguel de Allende to our first destination, Poza Rica.

Enter jungles, mountains, vanilla plantations, and beautiful beaches! Enjoy local Totonac cuisine and delicious fresh fish from the nearby coast. Tour a vanilla plantation on the way to the Costa Esmeralda and enjoy a relaxing beach resort. Visit the expansive archeological site of El Tajin with our knowledgeable private guide. Appreciate the coastal sites of Quiahuitztlan, and Cempoala and expand your knowledge of the ancient Totonac Empire.  

Visit MAX (Xalapa’s Anthropological Museum, the 2nd largest in Mexico) for an insightful private guided tour.  

Stay in comfort at carefully selected modern hotels, and ride in safety in our Ford Transit van. Join Travelian for this unique and enlightening tour with our friendly expert guides!


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Itinerary - 8 Days


DAY 1 - TRAVEL DAY TO COATEPEC
7:00 am departure from St. Paul's Church (Cardo #6) ~ a box breakfast will be provided en route. Stop in Cantona, for a visit of the archeological site and Lunch. Depart for Coatepec. Arrive at our hotel. Check in, get settled. Leave for dinner*.

DAY 2 - XALAPA ANTHROPOLOGY MUSEUM (MAX) PRIVATE GUIDED TOUR
8:00 Breakfast at hotel. Depart for the MAX (Anthropological Museum of Xalapa) for a private guided tour and visit its resourceful gift/book store. Depart for Lunch at a nearby Restaurant. Free time to wander on own or go on a one hour guided tour of Xalapa's historic center. Return to hotel. Meet in hotel lobby to go to dinner*.

DAY 3 - COFFEE MUSEUM AND EXPLORE COATEPEC
8:00 Breakfast at our hotel. Depart for a guided tour of the Museum of Coffee in Coatepec, and later have lunch at the museum. Return to our hotel, relax or explore Coatepec on your own. Meet in hotel lobby to go to dinner*.

DAY 4 - ACTOPAN COAST ~ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES OF CEMPOALA AND QUIAHUITZTLAN
6:30-7:00 Breakfast at hotel. Early check out and depart to visit Antigua, then visit Cempoala Archeological site. Depart for Cardel to enjoy lunch* at a local restaurant. Depart for Monte Gordo. Stop to visit Quiahuiztlan Archeological site. Arrive at our hotel, check in relax. Meet at the restaurant of our hotel for dinner*

DAY 5 - FREE DAY TO ENJOY THE BEACH OR POOLS OF HOTEL
Meet in the lobby of our hotel to depart for dinner*.

DAY 6 - TOUR TO VANILLA PLANTATION – TRAVEL TO POZA RICA
8:00 Breakfast at hotel. Check out of hotel and depart for a guided tour of a vanilla plantation. Drive to Papantla for Lunch, a walking tour of downtown Papantla. Depart for our hotel in Poza Rica. Meet in the lobby of our hotel for drinks and enjoy dinner* at our hotel restaurant.

DAY 7 - EL TAJIN ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE ~ CENTER OF TOTONAC INDIGENOUS ARTS
6:00 Breakfast at hotel. Early departure for and private tour of El Tajin Archeological site. Experience traditional Voladores flight. Depart for traditional Totonac lunch. Depart for Indigenous Center and visit its diverse arts and crafts locations. Depart for hotel to relax. Dinner* at hotel.

DAY 8 - TRAVEL DAY VIA PACHUCA
7:30 Breakfast at hotel. 9:00 AM check out and drive to Pachuca. Stop at Mineral del Monte for Lunch* Depart for San Miguel de Allende arriving around 7:00 PM.

* Meals marked with an asterisk are not included in the trip's fee.
This itinerary is subject to changes without prior notification.

 
 

WHAT TO TAKE

 
     
  Official ID your current Passport, Mexican residency ID (copies are fine)
  Original INAPAM ID (if you have one)
  Water Bottle
  Binoculars
  Camera
  Bathing suit
  Flashlight
  Hat
  Sunglasses
  Umbrella and rain gear
  Hiking sticks
  Insect repellent
  Day pack
  Light-weight walking/hiking shoes
  A fleece garment can be useful in case of chilly mornings
  Pack your binoculars, toiletries and travel documents in your day pack, a supply of
resealable plastic storage bags can be handy for storing food items from the breakfast,
to be used as mid-morning snacks
  Be sure to bring your own kleenex and small change for bathroom fees
  Money belt
  Personal prescription drugs
  First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder
 

Tour Map

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Tour Cost

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$

  Price per person, double occupancy.
For a single-room, add:
 

$

     
 
INCLUDES:
  Accommodation (7 nights) in Boutique Hotels
  Breakfast daily
  Lunch on the 3rd day
  Private sightseeing, including all entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary
  Comfortable private transportation with driver
  Tips for maids, waiters, bell boys, and drivers
  Travelian tour leaders
  Small group experience: 10 travelers maximum
 
 

Physical Demand

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    LEVEL 2
    Includes Level 1 plus: Walking or hiking modest uphill/downhill in town or on improved (paved or gravel) trails for a period of up to four hours at a time. Or walking in urban settings with stair-climbs.

Click here for a description of all activity levels.
 

Featured Photo

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  The Olmec colossal heads portray mature men with fleshy cheeks, flat noses, and slightly crossed eyes; their physical characteristics correspond to a type that is still common among the inhabitants of Tabasco and Veracruz.

 
 

 

Further info.line

 
.   Travel Physical Demands
.   Reservations
.   Payment Options
.   Cancellations
.   Trip Insurance