March 2012

Located 30 miles to the north of the city of Veracruz, Chachalacas Beach is one of the most popular destinations throughout the region due to its fine sand and moderate waves, which are ideal for activities such as surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, hang-gliding, four-wheeling, among others.

This site, near the city of Cardel, is famous due to its amazing sand dunes (mounts formed by the quirk of nature) found on the beach. These unique formations, so high that they look like craters, make Chachalacas look like a desert, but with a great oasis on the background.

The Dunes Zone extends 1,235 acres and is the ideal place for all kinds of extreme sports. Here you can experience a free fall of several feet on the slopes, or enjoy the area’s peacefulness and mildness along with nature’s sounds.

This coastline in the state of Veracruz is also the mouth of the Actopan River, where one can admire its beautiful landscape on boat rides along its path, and enjoy the river’s animal and plant species as well, such as crocodiles.

The tourist industry in Chachalacas Beach is also characterized by the warmth of the local people and by the delicious Veracruz cuisine, offering dishes such sea breams prepared with garlic, fried or with chipotle sauce; or shrimp prepared with the traditional recipes.

Archeology

Just 15 minutes away from Chachalacas, we can find the amazing Cempoala Archeological Site, a settlement mainly from the Totonac culture, and home to incredible river rock buildings, such as the Main Temple, the Sun’s Temple or Great Pyramid, Montezuma’s Palace, among others.

The vegetation of this pre-Hispanic walled site stands out due to its brimming palm trees and gardens that captivate visitors. The museum of this sacred site provides visitors a tour of its fascinating history.