Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Orizaba is a mountain city in central Veracruz, set about 1,200 meters above sea level between Mexico City and the Gulf coast. Rivers cut through town, parks and 18th century churches fill the center, and the snow capped cone of Pico de Orizaba, Mexico's highest mountain, rises to the north.
Palacio de Hierro
Cathedral of San Miguel Arcángel
Palacio Municipal
Riverwalk and Eco Parque Río
+4 more places
Orizaba grew up on the old trade route between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz, and later became an industrial city of textile mills and breweries.
What makes it appealing is the mix of grand architecture, walkable parks and mountain scenery without the crowds of better known colonial towns. The volcano that gives the city its name dominates the horizon whenever clouds lift, and good viewpoints are never far away.
The Iron Palace is the city's best known building. An Art Nouveau structure attributed to Gustave Eiffel, it was shipped in pieces from Belgium and assembled between 1891 and 1894 on the Plaza de Armas.
The Palacio de Hierro was assembled in Orizaba from parts shipped from Belgium between 1891 and 1894. Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Next to the Iron Palace stands the cathedral, a neoclassical monument with chapels and a tower built in different periods and a Swiss clock that stands out on the tower. Francisco I. Madero Street leads up to it from the pedestrian section, and Parque Castillo spreads out in front.
The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel stands beside Parque Castillo. Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The present city hall dates from 1905 and began life as a public school. Its main draw is a mural by José Clemente Orozco, one of Mexico's great muralists.
The Palacio Municipal dates from 1905 and holds a mural by José Clemente Orozco. Photo: Wikijustbecause, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
The central park is dedicated to Francisco Gabilondo Soler, known as Cri-Cri, the writer and singer of children's songs who was born in the city. It is a shady place for a coffee break between sights.
A riverwalk follows the Río Orizaba through the middle of the city. Behind city hall, it runs north for about two kilometers past bridges and a linear zoo with wild and domesticated animals along the path.
A riverwalk follows the Río Orizaba through the middle of the city. Photo: Álvaro de la Paz Franco, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
A cable car climbs Cerro del Borrego for wide views over the valley and, when the sky is clear, of Pico de Orizaba. A hiking trail reaches the same summit in about an hour.
A cable car carries visitors to the top of Cerro del Borrego. Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The botanical garden has a range of plants, outdoor art and a whole building devoted to orchids. It is a calm stop for nature lovers and a good wet weather option.
The botanical garden of Orizaba includes a building devoted to growing orchids. Photo: Isaacvp, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
This large cultural complex combines museum exhibitions, a digital library, places to eat and park-like grounds.
A long staircase of almost 500 steps leads toward the Cascada del Elefante, a waterfall about 34 meters high. It is a traditional outing for local families.
The Cascada del Elefante is reached by a long staircase known as the 500 Escalones. Photo: Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Also called Citlaltépetl, the volcano is the highest mountain in Mexico at 5,636 meters and the third highest in North America. It lies on the border of Veracruz and Puebla and is dormant, with its last eruption in the 19th century.
The upper Río Blanco watershed was made a national park in 1938, and the river has carved a canyon with rapids and waterfalls. On the highway toward Córdoba, the Metlac bridge crosses a canyon about 115 meters deep.
The Metlac bridge spans a canyon on the highway between Orizaba and Córdoba. Photo: Enrique Carpio Fotógrafo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The hills around Orizaba are coffee country. Veracruz is Mexico's second largest coffee producer, and the mountain areas near Orizaba grow beans that also flavor local candies and baked goods, so order a cup of coffee at a cafe in the center.
For a snack, try pambacitos, the small pambazos that Veracruz serves at social gatherings: bread dipped in guajillo sauce and fried. The central markets, including Mercado Cerritos and Mercado Melchor Ocampo, are the best places to eat cheaply.
Popular dishes to try in Orizaba
Centro is the best base for most visitors. The Iron Palace, cathedral, Parque Castillo and the river are all within walking distance, along with restaurants and the bus terminals, which helps if you arrive without a car.
Oriente 6 is the long avenue where many restaurants and hotels have their addresses, and it suits travelers who want a larger, more conventional hotel with parking.
Where to stay in Orizaba
Orizaba has a pleasant subtropical highland climate, though it is often cloudy and rainy. The winter months are drier and give the most reliable conditions for walking and for seeing the volcano, while the rest of the year brings more showers and cloud.
The mountain is easiest to see on a clear morning, so build your first day around that. For festivals and concerts, check the municipal events calendar before you go, since dates change from year to year.
Orizaba has no commercial airport, so most visitors fly into Veracruz, about three hours away by road, or into Mexico City, around four hours away on the highway. Rental cars are available in Veracruz, and the roads are generally well kept.
Major bus companies, including ADO, ADO GL and UNO, serve the city and offer different comfort levels. Córdoba, a sister city, is about 20 kilometers to the east. In the center, walking is enough, and taxis cover longer trips.
Begin at the Iron Palace, walk to the cathedral and Parque Castillo, then see the Palacio Municipal and La Alameda.
Take the cable car up Cerro del Borrego in the morning, then follow the riverwalk and visit the botanical garden.
Drive out to the 500 Escalones and the waterfall, then stop at the Metlac bridge or the Río Blanco canyon on the way back.
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