Back Roads of Veracruz ￨ Rain Forest Region Tour - 8 Days
Explore Tropical Rain Forests, Rural Seaside Villages, Lakes, Waterfalls & Wildlife
8 Day Guided México Exploration Tour
(includes day of arrival & departure)
$2595 per person + air
Single Supplement +$410
The Spanish word, tranquilo (tranquility) is often used to express the feeling our travel guests experience on this exploration trip.
We invite you to join us on this guided adventure vacation alongside the Gulf of México and in the rain forest jungles and lakes found in this rural region of southern Veracruz in México.
This trip will give you plenty of time to observe the slowpaced lifestyle of the local people as well as to experience some fun outdoor adventures like hiking, boating, swimming, and horseback trail riding.
Here in southern Veracruz, hundreds of spieces of tropical birds dominate the air and trees, including the colorful and very noisy macaws. We'll also feel like true adventurers as we "hunt" to locate spider & howler monkeys living on islands in one of the freshwater lakes.
Escape from the world for a few days!
Some of the places we will visit may not have cell and internet service. Yep. This gulf coast rain forested region definitely qualifies as one of the Back Roads of México regions.
We look forward to you joining us on this off-the-beaten path tour into the rural Back Roads of Southern Veracruz.
• Hike in a Jungle Rain Forest
• Discover Monkeys in the Wild
• Hidden Pirate Cave
• Standup Paddleboarding or Kayaking
• View Hundreds of Tropical Birds
• Swim in Pools below Waterfalls
• Lunch at a Local Family’s Home
• Visit a Shaman
• Horseback Trail Ride
• Mangrove Estuary Boat Tour
• See Cigars Rolled by Hand
*2024 Tour Dates
Feb 17-Feb24 (Sa-Sa)
May 11-May 18 (Sa-Sa)
Sep 7-Sep 14 (Sa-Sa)
**2024 Prices
$2695 per person - double
Single +$430
* Includes day of arrival & departure.
** Prices in USD. Air not included in tour price
DAY 1: Welcome to Veracruz!
Arrive to the port city of Veracruz and check in at our hotel in the city center. If time permits after arriving, why not do a little exploring on your own. There will be many restaurants near the hotel for lunch and/or dinner.
DAY 2: Fish Market & Ocean Boat Ride (B,L,D)
Meet our tour guide for breakfast at the hotel's restaurant. He will give us an orientation about what to expect in the coming days and answer any of our questions.
Then it will be time for us to check out and travel several hours south to a region called, Costa de Oro. It is located along the Gulf of México coast in rural southern Veracruz.
Along the way, we'll stop in the riverside town of Alvarado to explore their local fish market. Our guide will show us the many kinds of ocean and river fish which were freshly caught that morning.
Continuing south, we will arrive at the tiny rural seaside village called Arroyo de Lisa. It is there we can kick off our shoes and enjoy a barefoot lunch in the sand at a palapa-style outdoor beach restaurant with the shimmering Gulf of México waters as our backdrop. Of course, seafood will be the specialty.
Later, we'll hop on a local boat only steps from our table to view this tropical paradise from the sea. During the ride, we'll be able to view magnificent rocky cliffs, a huge cave once used by pirates, an island rookery filled with hundreds and hundreds of tropical birds, and the mystical green-covered hills in the distance. It is then that you will be able to understand why Steven Spielberg considered using this backdrop for his Jurassic Park movies.
We will stay at a small family-run hotel for the next 2 nights near the ocean.
FYI – Remember - No reliable cell or internet service will be found here; only tranquility.
Day 3: Waterfalls, Paddleboarding & Beach Time (B,L,D)
After breakfast, it will be time to get wet. We'll drive down some small rural roads to reach a couple hidden waterfalls. The pools are cold but on a nice warm tropical day, it will feel oh so refreshing.
Later we'll meet up with a local instructor who will teach us about how to balance on a standup paddleboard (SUP). You also have the option of using a kayak instead of a standup paddleboard.
Then we'll embark on a clear slow moving tropical river for a relaxing time of paddling and floating.
Overnight at the same hotel.
DAY 4: Mangrove Boat Tour & Catemaco (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we'll check out and drive through the dense tropical rain forest where at times, you may be able to actually smell the highly oxygenated air created from the immense amount of plant life and trees.
Our first stop will be at a small town located next to a large lake which empties into the Gulf of México. There we'll head out in a small boat which will take us to see the gnarled mangrove trees found in the backwaters of this lake. Be on the lookout to view all the tropical birds. If we're lucky, we might see a flock of colorful parrots flying overhead.
Later, we'll continue our drive through the rural countryside to another bigger town called Catemaco. This town is nestled next to the 4th largest freshwater lake in all of México. After checking into a small local hotel, our guide will lead us on a walking tour of this lakeside town.
Overnight in Catemaco.
DAY 5: Jungle Hike (B,L)
The day of exploration begins after a leisurely breakfast with a scenic drive around this massive lake with stops along the way to view interesting sites.
Finally, we will arrive at a small village to meet our local "jungle guide." He will lead us on a tour of the tropical rainforest pointing out certain plants and trees to inform us of their medicinal benefits to people. Our host guide will translate because this local rain forest guide only speaks Spanish.
During our 2-3 hour hike, we'll have the option of wading and swimming in a clear cool pool found below one of the waterfalls we'll pass along the way.
After returning from the hike, we are invited to the home of either our local guide or one of the other villagers for a homemade lunch. Please note that the homes in this village are simple structures with dirt floors, chickens running around, and a woodburning stove. Nothing fancy.
After lunch, it will be time to head back to Catemaco and our hotel. Dinner will be on our own this evening.
Overnight in Catemaco.
DAY 6: Lake Catemaco & Horse Trail Ride (B,L)
This morning it will be time to go on a leisurely boat ride to view this tropical area from Lake Catemaco. A highlight will be to look for spider and howler monkeys which live on islands in the lake.
At one point in the boat ride, we will stop to visit a shaman who will perform a traditional spiritual cleansing on each person.
After lunch, we'll go on a horse trail ride up into the low green tropical hills which surround the lake.
Dinner will be on our own. Overnight in Catemaco.
DAY 7: Cigar Making & Farewell Dinner (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we'll check out and visit a cigar company. Here we will see how many local people are employed to cut, shape, and package the different kinds of cigars which are then ready for markets in México and abroad.
Then we'll head over to view the waterfall Mel Gibson used in the final scenes of his movie, Apocalypto. We call it, the Niagara Falls of Veracruz. We'll have a ringside view of the falls as we enjoy our lunch at an outdoor restaurant.
We will make one more stop before returning to the city of Veracruz to view one of the original giant Olmec Stone Heads which is showcased in a town square not far from where it was discovered.
Continuing on, we'll check into our hotel in the city of Veracruz.
To conclude our journey, we'll all meet-up one last time for a farewell dinner to celebrate our memorable tour.
DAY 8: End of Tour After Breakfast (B)
This is our official last day of this tour. If you are flying out today, arrangements can be made with a taxi for securing a transfer to the Veracruz Airport.
Of course if you like, you are welcome to stay longer in Veracruz. We will be happy to help you with your accommodation arrangements and design an extension trip for you.
Buen Viaje!
Itinerary schedule is subject to change.
Tour Price Includes:
• 8 days / 7 night guided tour
(includes day of arrival & departure)
• Small group tour size of up to 6 travelers
• Host guide plus local experts
• All ground transportation during tour days
• All activities as listed in the itinerary
• All entrance fees
• 7 nights of hotel lodgings
• 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners
• All tips for all your guides & driver
Excluded:
Airfare
Airport transfers
Additional activities & meals not listed above
Alcoholic drinks
Trip interruption insurance
Group activities listed are subject to change.
Activity Level: Moderate
Maximum Group Size: 6
Suggested Minimum Age: 12 years
Arrival & Departure Cities: Veracruz City / Veracruz City (VER)
Deposit: $350 USD per person
A Reminder -
There is no need to fret over how much to tip and of having the right amount of Mexican Pesos at the end of your tour.
Tips are already included in your trip price for all specialty guides as well as your main host guide and driver during.
If you would like to stay a few more days in this region either before or after your tour with us and would like some assistance in making those plans, contact us.
We can design an independent travel experience based on what you would like to see and do. We can help you to arrange local transportation, accommodations, and set you up with a local guide.
