Native Trails MyTrails 2026 305 Veracruz 30 Short hike at the Punta Roca Partida Duration: 01:00 h · Level: Medium Short walk near the Punta Roca Partida, the “cleft stone promontory,” directly on the Gulf of Mexico. The Roca Partida advances into the sea and is reminiscent of Gibraltar. The view of the sea, the volcano of San Martín in the background, and the elongated bays are fascinating. If you are lucky, the lighthouse keeper is present and allows us a short visit before we end the excursion on the beaches of the Playa Hermosa. 31 City walk through Tlacotalpan Duration: 02:30 h · Level: Easy Until 1998, Tlacotalpan was a tranquil town on the banks of the Papaloapan River. In that year, the UNESCO declared Tlacotalpan a World Heritage, ending almost 100 years of “hibernation.” In 1905, when the railroad reached Veracruz and Alvarado, the rich town of Tlacotalpan had lost its importance as a port and transport hub, but kept its townscape, which you can enjoy today. 32 Boat trip on the river Papaloapan Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy On your trip with a small motorboat you explore the “butterfly river” – Río Papaloapan. From here you have a wonderful view of the promenade of Tlacotalpan with its beautiful houses and villas. 33 Research station Los Tuxtlas biosphere reserve Duration: 02:30 h · Level: Medium The Los Tuxtlas biosphere reserve (155,122-hectares [383,301-acres]) marks the northern border of the neotropical rain forest. The geographic situation at the Gulf of Mexico with moist winds, several altitude levels, and wide slopes favors an impressive biological diversity: over 2,695 plant and 1,656 animal species live in the region of the volcanoes San Martín (1,720 m [5,643 ft.]) and Santa Marta. Visit the research station of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), which has been doing intensive studies in this ecosystem since 1967. 34 Boat trip in the Laguna Sontecomapan Duration: 04:00 h · Level: Medium The picturesque Laguna Sontecomapan is a place where the freshwater of the rivers from the Sierra and the saltwater of the Atlantic Ocean meet. The flora and fauna are therefore particularly rich in species. The shores are lined with different mangrove species, and you can even detect orchids during your boat trip to the mouth on the Gulf of Mexico. The wetlands offer habitats for countless migratory birds, freshwater and saltwater fish, howling monkeys, sea turtles, and green iguanas. 35 Visit to the Archaeological Zone Tres Zapotes Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy Visit the archaeological site of Tres Zapotes on the slopes of the Tuxtla mountains, considered one of the main sites to observe Olmec artifacts. Some sculptures show artistic influences from the Guatemalan highlands and other styles of the region. Among the most important discoveries of the site is a monumental stone head about 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) high that José Melgar found in 1862. Despite its size, the head, carved from a single basalt block, appears almost delicate in its perfect proportions. The remarkably realistic rendering shows African features. 36 City tour in Santiago Tuxtla Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy Go for a walk through the homely city of Santiago Tuxtla. Historical parts of the center surround the artistic Zócalo, which is very popular and which could not be any brighter. The biggest Olmec head is located here (Cabeza Olmeca No. 3), which is 3.4 m (11 ft.) high and weighs 38 tonnes. The smallest Olmec head is also located in Santiago Tuxtla – you can enjoy it in the Museo Regional Tuxtleco together with various Olmec and Toltec artifacts made from stone, jade and wood.
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