​

DAY 1

This morning our group will assemble in the Rio Grande Valley Area and will be shuttled to Reynosa´s airport to catch our flight. Upon arrival, we´ll go to the lovely little village of Mandinga, where delicious seafood is served in every restaurant! After lunch, we´´ll be going to our centrally located hotel, right across from the zocalo. You may want to visit the local Aquarium (The best in Latin America) or take a stroll along the pier, conveniently close to our hotel, where dozens of stands will offer a nice selection of handicrafts and souvenirs.

Overnight in Veracruz.

 

DAY 2

After breakfast, we´ll be driven south of our location to visit a cigar factory and will be told about the process to craft them. Later, our tour will continue to visit Salto de Eyipantla, an amazing 164-feet high waterfall! Then, on to Lake Catemaco for our boat ride: monkeys, birds, butterflies, and lots of impressive natural landscapes will delight us all at the natural reserve of Nanciyaga!

Overnight in Veracruz.

 

DAY 3

Tlacotalpan is our destination today! Declared by Unesco as a World Heritage Site in 1998 primarily for its architecture and colonial-era layout. This town was established in 1550 on what originally was an island on the Papaloapan River and it has been nicknamed the “pearl of the Papaloapan”. It was an important port, one of the few interior ports in Latin America. Today, its main economic support is fishing and tourism!

Overnight in Veracruz.

 

DAY 4

Today, our route will lead us to one of the towns where coffee is the most important crop and offers outstanding quality: Coatepec. The featured tour here will show us everything about coffee, from its planting, harvesting, roasting, and, of course, tasting! By the way, Appellation of Origin has been granted to the coffee grown in this area, meaning that it has a specific quality and characteristics that are essentially due to the geographical environment in which it is produced.

After our included lunch, we´ll pay a visit to an extraordinary place to know the archaeological background of this state: The Museum of Anthropology, managed by the Universidad Veracruzana.

Then, our driver will take us back to the city of Veracruz and, if you feel like it, a trolley ride might be a good way to end the day!

Overnight in Coatepec.

 

DAY 5

A very interesting drive to enjoy as we head to the northern area of this state. Our goal is to reach the birth place of the world´s second most expensive spice: vanilla. Before reaching the town of Papantla, the landscape will offer views along the Gulf of Mexico and many fields are to be spotted: sugar cane, papaya, lime, orange, tangerine, grapefruit, banana, and several others! Upon arrival, we´ll proceed for lunch to an extraordinary restaurant: Nakú. After checking in, we´ll take a walking tour to know some of the particular artistic work by Teodoro Cano, a native to Papantla that was taken by Diego Rivera as his protégé! Also, exquisite mural paintings by another local artist (Pepe Martínez) will be pointed out.

Overnight in Papantla.

 

DAY 6

After enjoying breakfast (included), our destination is a vanilla plantation where our host will be José Luis Decuir, a very passionate man that has been in the vanilla business for decades. You won´t believe the vast information that he has put together for us to learn a little bit about this fragrant spice! After lunch, we´ll be heading back to the Gulf of Mexico´s shoreline for a leisurely overnight at the beach; en route, we´ll stop for you to try some fresh-made coconut candy or to sip on very cold milk right out of the coconut!

Overnight in Costa Esmeralda.

 

DAY 7

We will be enjoying a very interesting experience while touring “ciénegas del Fuerte”: incredibly well-preserved wetlands and constitute any biologist´s dream. A ride on a rowboat will bring us closer to the exuberant flora and fauna in the area. Then, we´ll be on to Veracruz City, but we´ll make sure to stop for you at the original place where Veracruz was settled in 1525: La Antigua.

Overnight in Veracruz.

 

DAY 8

Once we are through with breakfast, we will be shuttled to fly back to Reynosa. Back to the Rio Grande Valley afterward, with fond memories of a great and well-paced tour!

 

NOT INCLUDED: admissions to attractions or museums (other than the ones clearly described as included in the above paragraph), tips to waiters at any meal. Tips for maids at hotels. Gratuities to tour guide are not included. We strongly recommend setting aside a minimum of $6-8 dollars per person, per day, for your tour guide. Your guide is a professional in his field and he will always be on call to take care of you in every aspect you indicate him. Gratuities to bus driver are not included either.

​

NOTE: The cost of the Mexican Immigration Permit to travel into Mexico (charged by Mexican authorities and obtainable at the air or land port of entry), beyond the 20 mile allowed distance, is about $38 USD, and it is not included in the tour price!