Orizaba Mexico Iron Palace Cable Car and Volcano Views

Why visit Orizaba

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 city center

Palacio de Hierro

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.

Cathedral of San Miguel Arcángel

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.

Palacio Municipal

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.

La Alameda

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.

Rivers, gardens and views

Riverwalk and Eco Parque Río

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.

Cerro del Borrego

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.

BIORI Botanical Garden

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.

Poliforum Mier y Pesado

This large cultural complex combines museum exhibitions, a digital library, places to eat and park-like grounds.

Waterfalls and mountains nearby

Los 500 Escalones and Cascada del Elefante

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.

Pico de Orizaba

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.

Río Blanco Canyon and Metlac Bridge

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.

Food and local flavors

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.

Where to stay

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.

Best time to visit

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.

Getting there and getting around

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.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Begin at the Iron Palace, walk to the cathedral and Parque Castillo, then see the Palacio Municipal and La Alameda.

Second day

Take the cable car up Cerro del Borrego in the morning, then follow the riverwalk and visit the botanical garden.

Third day

Drive out to the 500 Escalones and the waterfall, then stop at the Metlac bridge or the Río Blanco canyon on the way back.

Practical tips

• Check your government's current travel advisory before you go.
• Bring a rain jacket, since afternoon showers are common in this mountain valley.
• Plan outdoor sights for the morning, when the sky is usually clearer.
• Wear comfortable shoes for hills, riverwalks and the long staircase to the waterfall.
• Opening hours for museums and the cable car can change, so confirm locally.