Coatepec

You can easily explore downtown Coatepec—characterized by vibrantly colored colonial buildings and a wealth of excellent cafés—in just one day. Highlights include the neo-Gothic Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Church, the striking San Jerónimo Church, and the Coffee Museum, where you can learn about the region’s coffee-producing heritage. Alternatively, maximize your time in the region by combining a visit to Coatepec with stops in other pueblos mágicos such as Xico during full-day excursions from Veracruz City.

• Wake up and smell—or sample—the coffee in Coatepec, which produces both the Bola de Oro and La Vereda varieties.

• For the best views over Coatepec, hike to the Cerro de las Culebras viewpoint early in the morning.

• Coatepec may not be fully accessible for wheelchair users, due to uneven sidewalks and cobbled streets.

Coatepec is situated just 9.3 miles (15 kilometers) south of Xalapa, within easy day-trip distance for travelers in the region—take a second-class bus bound for Coatepec from Xalapa’s Mercado de los Sauces. Alternatively, reach Coatepec in just two hours from Veracruz City or opt for a tour which includes round-trip transportation.

Coatepec shares the same hot and humid climate of much of Veracruz, as well as the summer rainy season. Visit during the comparatively cooler, drier months of November through April; or visit in September to celebrate the patron saint of Coatepec—San Jerónimo—in style, with live dance, music, and great regional food.

Mexico is one of the world’s top coffee producers, with most Mexican coffee coming from the southern states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, Puebla, and Veracruz. After visiting Coatepec, pay a visit to Pluma Hidalgo in Oaxaca or Tapachula, Chiapas. For a truly Mexican coffee experience, order a café de olla, which is brewed with piloncillo (raw cane sugar) and cinnamon.