Tlacotalpan

About Tlacotalpan

Tlacotalpan is a river town on the banks of the Papaloapan in southern Veracruz, once a busy inland port that shipped goods toward the Gulf. Its streets of single-story houses, each fronted by columned arcades and painted in bright blues, pinks, and yellows, form one of the most harmonious colonial townscapes in Mexico. The historic town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

Plaza Zaragoza, with its palms and bandstand, is the center of town life, flanked by the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Candlemas and the San Cristóbal Parish. The Agustín Lara House Museum honors the celebrated songwriter, who is closely associated with Tlacotalpan, and the Salvador Ferrando Museum displays paintings and household objects from the nineteenth century. The restored Netzahualcóyotl Theater still hosts performances, and the small San Miguelito Church sits a few streets away. For a taste of local character, the Blanca Nieves Cantina is an old-fashioned bar, and the Mini Zoológico de Pío Barrán Barteli is a quirky private menagerie. Along the riverfront, boat rides glide past the town and the wide Papaloapan.

Tlacotalpan suits photographers and travelers who enjoy quiet towns and traditional music, as son jarocho remains alive here. Early February brings the Candelaria festival, with a river procession and crowds. Heat and humidity are constant much of the year.