About Minatitlán, Veracruz, Mexico

The city of Minatitlan is part of a major industrial area and has the largest Pemex refinery in Mexico and Latin America. This city is located in the south of  the Mexican state of Veracruz, on the banks of the Coatzacoalcos River. This river is ideal for boat rides to admire the sunset and enjoy the scenery of the boats laden with fruits and cattle. The Coatzacoalcos River is the main natural attraction of the city, where the manatee sanctuary is set, with eight families of these aquatic mammals.

In the downtown area of this quiet city, you can see the city hall, the main church, and busts of different characters, including Don Migel Hidalgo y Costilla and Francisco Javier Mina, founder of the city. Lomas de Tacojalpan, another attraction in Minatitlan, is an archaeological vestige of the Olmec culture consisting of mounds, which housed pyramids and temples, and hosted ball games. This area is full of plants and exotic flowers, and from here you can see the Manatee Hill and Lagoon. You cannot miss the spectacle of the arrival of migratory birds flying from Canada and the United States to this lagoon. To be in contact with nature, you will find El Manatí Natural Water Park in the area of Jagüey, featuring a floating pier to practice water sports as kayaking; and La Montaña Protected Natural Park with trails to walk through the trees.

The traditions in Minatitlan include the carnival before the Lent, with folk dances, fireworks, cockfights, and horse races; the Oil Expropriation on March 18 with dances, rides, and sports events; and religious parties such as La Candelaria on February 2 and the traditional festival of San Juan Bautista on June 24, with a fair and dances.

***The official currency of Mexico is the Mexican Peso (MXN).