Xalapa
Capital De Veracruz / Museo De AntropologíA · Xalapa, Veracruz
The Veracruz state capital, a university town in cloud forest at 1,400 metres where it drizzles almost continuously - locals have a word for it, chipi-chipi, and it is why everything is green. Xalapa is the coffee capital of Mexico and behaves like one: cafes, students, bookshops, music. The jalapeno chile takes its name from the city. But the reason to come is the Museo de Antropologia, widely rated the second-best anthropology museum in Mexico after the capital's, and the holder of the largest collection of Olmec material in the world - including seven of the colossal basalt heads, portraits of rulers carved three thousand years ago and dragged eighty kilometres from the quarries. Set in terraces and gardens, it is a calm place to spend a half day even in the rain. The city is hilly, damp and slightly grey, and the old centre is steep, so bring layers and a rain jacket. Allow time for coffee towns nearby.
Museo de Antropología, Av. Xalapa, Xalapa, Veracruz, 91010, Mexico
⚠ THE PIN IS THE MUSEO DE ANTROPOLOGÍA, which is on Avenida Xalapa and NOT in the historic centre - take a taxi or bus. The museum keeps daytime hours and generally closes Mondays. The Jardín Botánico Clavijero keeps daytime hours. ⚠ THE MUSEUM HOLDS SEVEN OLMEC COLOSSAL HEADS AND THE LARGEST OLMEC COLLECTION IN THE WORLD - give it three hours, and see it BEFORE visiting El Tajín or any Gulf-coast site. ⚠ XALAPA IS CLOUD FOREST AT 1,400 METRES AND DRIZZLES MOST OF THE YEAR - the local name for it is chipi-chipi. Bring a rain jacket and warm layers whatever the month; visitors arriving from Veracruz city in beach clothes are cold within the hour. ⚠ VERACRUZ STATE CARRIES A TRAVEL ADVISORY - check current advice and do not travel highways after dark. ⚠ HOURS AND PRICES NOT VERIFIED FOR THIS FILE.