Xalapa, Coatepec and Xico Day Trip from Veracruz

Your day trip from Veracruz starts with van pickup from your hotel, followed by the 1.5-hour drive to Xalapa.

Just before you reach the city, stop at the Lencero Museum (aka Museo de Lencero or Ex-Hacienda de Lencero), a Spanish Colonial home that first belonged to Juan Lencero, a soldier of Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés. Three hundred years later, in the mid-1800s, the home was bought by General Antonio López de Santa Anna, a former president of Mexico.

Take a short tour of the home, admiring the period furniture and the tranquil gardens and lake. Then head into Xalapa for a tour of the city’s main attractions with your guide. The capital — both politically and culturally — of the state of Veracruz, Xalapa is home to churches, museums, several green parks and many universities.

Highlights include Xalapa Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitana), a Baroque- and Gothic-style church where the remains of St Rafael Guízar y Valencia lie; Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno), the seat of the state government; the area surrounding the University of Veracruz (Universidad Veracruzana), the state’s main university; and the Paseo de los Lagos, a circuit of walking paths between lakes and leafy trees.

Back in the van, make the 20-minute drive to neighboring Coatepec, a city known for its coffee production — at 4,100 feet (1,250 meters) above sea level, Coatepec has an ideal climate for growing coffee beans. The city’s other claim to fame is its designation as Pueblo Mágico, or Magic Town, a program led by Mexico’s tourism department to highlight towns that provide a ‘magical’ experience, meaning they possess culturally and historically significant characteristics.

Check out the 18th-century San Jerónimo Church (Iglesia de San Jerónimo), one of Coatepec’s main sights, and shop for crafts at the market, if you wish. Your guide will give you some tips on where to find the best local food, and then you can take a break to enjoy lunch (own expense).

Finally, make the 15-minute drive to your last city of the day, Xico, 9,200 feet (2,800 meters) above sea level and surrounded by green mountains. Admire the colonial houses; visit sites like Mary Magdalene’s Parish Church (Parroquia de Maria Magdalena) and the Dress Museum; and try some of Xico’s famous mole, a spicy Mexican sauce.

On your way back to Veracruz, drive through the Texolo area and visit a coffee plantation. Your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel.