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Catemaco is a county and city in Veracruz State, Mexico.

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Catemaco City & County 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 municipio´s name possibly derives from the Nahuatl language meaning "place of burned houses", or perhaps from the city's alleged founder, Juan Catemaxca.

Tourism: Aside from its disappearing fauna and flora, Catemaco is best known in the region as the home of La Virgen del Carmen (a local apparition of the catholic "Our Lady of Mount Carmel"). This small statue, visitable in the basilica and also in a shrine along Catemaco´s Malecon (boardwalk) 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 Malecon, barrel tourists across the Laguna to visit islands stocked with these monkeys.

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 every first Thursday/Friday in March.

About 30 hotels with about 700 rooms are ready to house visitors in mostly 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.

Numerous other 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 waterfalls, iguana sanctuaries, abandoned pre-hispanic structures and top of volcano vistas.

Seasons: 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. 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.

Geography: The city of Catemaco nestles against Laguna Catemaco at 340 meter altitude (1,115 feet). The county's 275 square miles (710 km2) occupy the flanks of the two tallest volcanoes in the Sierra Los Tuxtlas, San Martin Tuxtla (1737 m) and Santa Marta. Laguna Catemaco apparently was created when volcanic outflow from the last eruptions of the San Martin Tuxtla volcano disrupted the outflow of water to the gulf and created a shallow lake. At present the outflow is dammed to provide a source for hydroelectric energy.

Population: As of the 2000 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 Indian language speakers (500+/-) and even less non- Mexicans, including a few gringos.

Hydrology: 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.

Biosfera Los Tuxtlas: This federal Mexican nature reserve, created in 1998, occupies most of Catemaco county and the surrounding municipios. Laguna Catemaco and the city of Catemaco are not part of the biosphere.

Political: Catemaco is part of the Veracruz political region "Los Tuxtlas", including the municipios of San Andres Tuxtla and Santiago Tuxtla, and it is also part of federal and state election districts headquartered in San Andres.

History: Drill cores from surrounding lakes date agricultural activity in the Catemaco and the Tuxtlas area to 7000 years ago. Olmecs are alleged to have initiated Mesoamerican civilization in the Tuxtlas region, beginning perhaps 1600 BC. A civilization influenced by the Teotihuacan empire has also been documented in Los Tuxtlas, with a settlement of perhaps 50,000 near Catemaco between 200 and 1000 AD. Officially Catemaco was founded in 1774 and received "villa " status in 1823 with a population of 1100.

Fauna & Flora Despite recent environmental destruction, Catemaco and Los Tuxtlas still retain a significant number of endemic species, possibly saved by isolated environment and climactic variety. In addition more than 550 bird species, zillions of butterflies and some of the most remarkable insects and bats of the world inhabit the Catemaco landscape. The presence of the Los Tuxtlas biological research station has made Catemaco a reference point for 100´s of scientific studies of anything that appears green, crawls or flies in Los Tuxtlas, making it one of the world´s best studied regions.

Economy: 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.

More in depth but not touristic information for Catemaco: tuxtlas.com - Catemaco.

Bienvenidos to Catemaco

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[edit] Get around

[edit][add listing] See

Los Tuxtlas

used to be a volcanic island on the coastal dunes of Veracruz, enclosed by two major rivers and the Gulf of Mexico. Now a small land bridge connects this mystic land to the towering Sierra Madre.

The Municipio Catemaco

is both a city and a county and the geographic and spiritual heart of Los Tuxtlas and also its touristic capital.

Laguna Catemaco

has often been described as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Surrounded by the foothills of both Volcano San Martin Tuxla and the Sierra Santa Marta, its vistas at times will leave you breathless.

Laguna Sontecomapan

separates the two major volcanoes and invites visitors to explore endangered mangroves, isolated beaches and excellent seafood.

Basilica de la Virgen del Carmen Catemaco This pride of Catemaco is less than 50 years old, but her history connects her to hermits living on Mount Carmel, Israel before Christ.

catemaco.info guide

[edit][add listing] Do

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[edit][add listing] Eat

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[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Get out

Nanciyaga 6 km from Catemaco World famous ecological preserve and cinnamon roll bakery, featuring guided walks, shamans, mud baths & crocodiles.

tuxtlas.com - review official website

Salto de Eyipantla 13 km from Catemaco It is not Niagara but still VERY impressive. Look for views of the water falls in Mel Gibson's film, Apocalypto.

catemaco.info guide

Cola de Caballo Waterfall 25 km from Catemaco If you ever dreamt of swimming in one of those water holes that movies are made about, this is your chance.

catemaco.info guide

El Teterete 8 km from Catemaco Visit the snakes of Los Tuxtlas, explore the La Hoya cave, eat a lake food lunch and enjoy the scenery.

catemaco.info guide

Laguna Sontecomapan 20 km from Catemaco Get a closeup of a mangrove forest and the hundreds of bird species hiding here, or hop onto a water taxi to La Barra beach.

tuxtlas.com guide

Estacion Biologica Tropical Los Tuxtlas 32 km from Catemaco This is what Catemaco used to be 100 years ago. Virgin jungle and extensive wildlife.

tuxtlas.com review

Orchidario La Selva 16 km southwest of Catemaco This is for those heading further south of Catemaco. Alleged to be one of the best Orchid Farms in Mexico. No laboratory plants here. Orchids are grown from seed. Amazing variety.

catemaco.info guide

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