Catemaco, Veracruz, Mexico
As of the 2005 census, approximately 24,000 inhabitants enjoy
Catemaco city plus another 22,000 who are spread around the
county in hundreds of small communities.
Ethnic composition is primarily mestizo, with only an
insignificant number of native language speakers (500+/-) and
even less non Mexicans, including a few gringos.
About 40 hotels with about 700 rooms are ready to house
visitors in a variety of accommodations. Other large parts of
Catemaco county are almost inaccessible, and their touristic
infrastructure, except for some recently constructed ecological
huts, is missing.
Catemaco city plus another 22,000 who are spread around the
county in hundreds of small communities.
Ethnic composition is primarily mestizo, with only an
insignificant number of native language speakers (500+/-) and
even less non Mexicans, including a few gringos.
About 40 hotels with about 700 rooms are ready to house
visitors in a variety of accommodations. Other large parts of
Catemaco county are almost inaccessible, and their touristic
infrastructure, except for some recently constructed ecological
huts, is missing.
The Catemaco municipio is both a city and a county in the heart of the volcanic mountains of the Sierra
de Los Tuxtlas along the Gulf of Mexico in southern Veracruz state, Mexico, about 100 miles south of
Veracruz City.
The city of Catemaco nestles against Laguna Catemaco at an altitude of 1,115 feet. The county's 275
square miles occupy the flanks of the two tallest volcanoes in the Sierra Los Tuxtlas, San Martin Tuxtla
(5750 feet, est.) and Santa Marta.
The name of the municipio derives from local native languages possibly meaning "place of burned
houses", "Quetzalcoatl's steam bath" or other disputed translations.
de Los Tuxtlas along the Gulf of Mexico in southern Veracruz state, Mexico, about 100 miles south of
Veracruz City.
The city of Catemaco nestles against Laguna Catemaco at an altitude of 1,115 feet. The county's 275
square miles occupy the flanks of the two tallest volcanoes in the Sierra Los Tuxtlas, San Martin Tuxtla
(5750 feet, est.) and Santa Marta.
The name of the municipio derives from local native languages possibly meaning "place of burned
houses", "Quetzalcoatl's steam bath" or other disputed translations.
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A small Virgin statue of supposed miraculous origin housed in
an impressive basilica annually attracts 10´s of thousands of
pilgrims seeking the Virgin's miracles.
Macaque monkeys from Thailand, which university researcher
left on an island in Laguna Catemaco in the 1970's, have
become Catemaco's second most popular attraction. More than
70 small boats, attended by strange men hawking "Lancha,
Lancha" along the Malecón, barrel tourists across the Laguna
to visit islands inhabited by left over monkeys.
an impressive basilica annually attracts 10´s of thousands of
pilgrims seeking the Virgin's miracles.
Macaque monkeys from Thailand, which university researcher
left on an island in Laguna Catemaco in the 1970's, have
become Catemaco's second most popular attraction. More than
70 small boats, attended by strange men hawking "Lancha,
Lancha" along the Malecón, barrel tourists across the Laguna
to visit islands inhabited by left over monkeys.
Numerous natural attractions surround Catemaco, ranging
from the voluptuous Eyipantla waterfall, tropical rain forest
enclaves, the Olmec museum in Santiago Tuxtla, ecological
Nanciyaga, orchid farms, marvelous coastal rock formations,
hidden rivers, iguana sanctuaries, abandoned pre-hispanic
structures and top of volcano vistas.
Like anywhere in Mexico, the week before Easter (Semana
Santa), the Mexican national vacation month of August, and
the end of year Christmas vacations are not good times to
visit Catemaco without advance reservations.
from the voluptuous Eyipantla waterfall, tropical rain forest
enclaves, the Olmec museum in Santiago Tuxtla, ecological
Nanciyaga, orchid farms, marvelous coastal rock formations,
hidden rivers, iguana sanctuaries, abandoned pre-hispanic
structures and top of volcano vistas.
Like anywhere in Mexico, the week before Easter (Semana
Santa), the Mexican national vacation month of August, and
the end of year Christmas vacations are not good times to
visit Catemaco without advance reservations.
A remarkable promoter, Brujo Mayor Gonzalo Aguirre Pech
(Chief witch/witchdoctor), held a witchcraft convention in
Catemaco in the 1970´s, featuring a black mass, row boat
races, anthropological discourses and the presence of local
warlocks, witch doctors, shamans and like ilk.
Since then, the town´s Mexican and international reputation has
soared as a haven for mysticism and witchcraft. The
convention is repeated beginning every first Thursday in March.
(Chief witch/witchdoctor), held a witchcraft convention in
Catemaco in the 1970´s, featuring a black mass, row boat
races, anthropological discourses and the presence of local
warlocks, witch doctors, shamans and like ilk.
Since then, the town´s Mexican and international reputation has
soared as a haven for mysticism and witchcraft. The
convention is repeated beginning every first Thursday in March.
Bad weather is rare for more than a few days and is primarily
concentrated in the October to January corridor. Although
Catemaco is subtropical, winters produce some remarkably
chilly days.
Aside from Laguna Catemaco, the county also hosts Laguna
Sontecomapan, a substantial Gulf of Mexico lagoon. Numerous
other lakes abound and dozens of small rivers, riddled with
rapids and waterfalls, crisscross the landscape. Catemaco´s
water ways are known to thousands of fish tank owners
worldwide for some of their unique aquarium size fishes and
international epicureans drool over Catemaco's native snails
and fish dishes.
A civilization influenced by the Teotihuacan empire has been
documented in Los Tuxtlas, with a settlement of perhaps
35,000 near Catemaco between 200 and 1000 AD.
The first hispanic mention of "Acatemaco" occurred in 1580.
Officially Catemaco was founded in 1774 and received "villa "
status in 1823 with a population of 1100.
Politically, Catemaco is part of the Veracruz region "Los
Tuxtlas", including the municipios of San Andrés Tuxtla,
Santiago Tuxtla and Hueyapan de Ocampo, and it is also part of
federal and state election districts headquartered in San
Andrés Tuxtla.
Catemaco enjoys a rich mix of tourism, cattle ranching, fishery
and agriculture. Nevertheless, statistically the municipio ranks
as one of the poorer counties of Veracruz.
Links:
Photos of Catemaco
tuxtlas.com - Catemaco non-touristic details
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