Veracruz coffee route: a driving guide through the land of coffee
Veracruzan Coffee Route: An Aromatic Journey through the Mountains
Veracruz is much more than sea and son jarocho. In the green mountains that run through its interior lies one of the most aromatic and enchanting routes in Mexico: the Coffee Route. This trip offers spectacular landscapes, added to a deep connection with the history, culture and flavor that has marked generations. If you are thinking of a different experience, we tell you how to enjoy the Coffee Route in depth and travel it in a rental car from Hertz Mexico.
Brief history of coffee in Mexico
Before talking about the route, it is worth asking: how did coffee come to Mexico? This plant, originally from Africa, was introduced by the Spanish in the 18th century. Although there are different versions, it is believed that coffee first arrived in the port of Veracruz from the Antilles. Thanks to its warm, humid climate and volcanic soils, the mountainous region of Veracruz became an ideal place for its cultivation.
Thus was born the land of coffee: an area that today includes municipalities such as Coatepec, Xico, Teocelo, Huatusco and Cordoba, among others. Over the years, these regions have developed not only a solid coffee economy, but also a culture and way of life around this millenary beverage.
The dangerous coffee route: a historic legacy
Not everything has been easy in the history of Veracruz coffee. In times past, transporting coffee from the mountains to the port of Veracruz involved traveling the dangerous coffee route. This route crossed jungles, rivers and steep roads, where the weather and assaults were constant threats. Many of these trails were traveled by muleteers and mules loaded with sacks of grain, in an epic that today is remembered with respect.
Today, these same paths have been transformed into safe and picturesque roads, ideal for traveling by car.
What is the Coffee Route?
The Coffee Route is a tourist route that connects different coffee-producing municipalities in Veracruz, especially in the central zone of the state. Here you can visit old haciendas, coffee farms in Mexico, coffee museums, viewpoints and magical towns full of history.
This trip allows you to learn about the complete coffee process: from planting, harvesting and drying, to grinding and tasting. It also offers activities such as hiking in the mountains, visits to waterfalls, cupping workshops, and socializing with local producers.
Guide to travel the Coffee Route by car
If you wish to explore the Coffee Route, renting a car is the best option, since it will allow you to move freely, make stops in the towns and farms that interest you the most and enjoy the landscape at your own pace. The following is a practical guide:
Starting point: Xalapa
The capital of Veracruz is the best place to start your adventure. You can rent a car in Veracruz and then drive approximately 1.5 hours to Xalapa.
Day 1: Coatepec
Located just 15 minutes from Xalapa, Coatepec is a charming Pueblo Magico considered the heart of Veracruz coffee growing. Here you can visit a coffee farm to learn about the process of growing, harvesting and roasting coffee, as well as participate in guided tastings. You can also tour its historic center, full of colonial houses, and enjoy a delicious breakfast with artisan bread and freshly ground coffee in a traditional coffee shop.
Day 2: Xico
Just 10 minutes from Coatepec is Xico, another Pueblo Mágico full of tradition, history and natural beauty. This charming place is famous for its exquisite gastronomy, especially the traditional mole xiqueño. Among its unmissable activities are a visit to the majestic Texolo Waterfall, ideal for hiking and photography, as well as tours of artisan coffee farms and clay and local handicraft workshops.
Day 3: Teocelo and Cosautlán
These picturesque municipalities, less visited by conventional tourism but deeply rooted in coffee culture, offer a more authentic and intimate experience. Here you will be able to visit communities that live exclusively from the cultivation of coffee, tour their mountainous landscapes and participate in artisan roasting workshops, where you will learn all about the process of transforming the bean. In addition, you will have the opportunity to buy coffee directly from the producer, supporting fair trade and enjoying a unique, local flavor.
Day 4: Huatusco
If you have extra time on your tour, we recommend driving approximately two hours to Huatusco, one of the municipalities with the greatest coffee tradition and production in all of Veracruz. In addition to enjoying the aroma of coffee, you can explore nearby nature reserves such as the imposing Pico de Orizaba, as well as visit historic haciendas that are open to the public.
Day 5: Córdoba
Your last stop on the Ruta del Café can be Córdoba, famous for its history as the city of the 30 knights. This charming city has colonial architecture with a modern feel. Here you can visit the Coffee Museum, tour its historic center and cathedral and enjoy an espresso in a specialty coffee shop. From Cordoba, you are only an hour and a half from Veracruz.
Why do the Coffee Route?
Because beyond tasting a good coffee, you will live a unique sensory, historical and natural experience. You will get to know coffee plantations in Mexico that struggle to maintain traditional techniques, protect the environment and offer a quality product. In addition, you will support sustainable tourism and communities that strive every day to keep the legacy of coffee alive.
The Veracruz Coffee Route is a wonderful journey that combines nature, culture, gastronomy and history. Dare to discover with Hertz Mexico the land of coffee from behind the wheel, making stops in centenary farms, magical towns and mountainous landscapes that seem like something out of a dream.