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Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
Naolinco
Naolinco de Victoria
Go for one night, not a base: Naolinco is a 90-minute second-class bus from Xalapa, and the cemetery, plaza and leather shops fill an afternoon.
Naolinco is a small mountain town in Veracruz, about 9,500 people, one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos. Its draw is compact: a colonial centre, a cemetery full of statues, leather workshops, and waterfalls just outside town. It is a one-night stop or an easy day trip from Xalapa, not a place to build a week around.
- Country
- Mexico
- Local name
- Naolinco de Victoria
- Best months
- Oct–Apr
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (wettest months)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MXN
- Money
- Currency is the Mexican peso (MXN, $). Cards work in hotels, chains and many restaurants; markets, street food, small shops and colectivos are cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget M$400–700 excl. bed · Mid M$700–1,300 excl. bed · High M$1,300+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telcel has the widest coverage; AT&T and Movistar are cheaper in cities. SIMs sell at OXXO shops and phone stores; registration with an ID may be requested — check.
- Emergency
- All emergencies (police, fire, ambulance) 911 · Tourist and roadside assistance (Ángeles Verdes) 078
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 127 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; many older sockets have no earth pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15%; check the bill for an included 'servicio'.; Bars: MXN 10–20 per drink or 10%.; Petrol station attendants: MXN 10–20; more for windscreen and tyres.; Guides and drivers: 10% or MXN 200–400 a day.; Supermarket baggers (often older volunteers): MXN 5–10.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; garrafón (20-litre jugs) and filtered water in hotels.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin, not the toilet, in most places; public toilets charge MXN 5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee or atole | M$25–45 |
| Breakfast (chilaquiles or eggs) | M$80–150 |
| Set lunch or mole plate | M$150–250 |
| Beer | M$35–60 |
| Taxi in town | M$50–80 |
| Leather shoes or belt | M$300–1,200 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | M$200–400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VER · Veracruz (General Heriberto Jara)
- Nearest airport with commercial flights; bus to Xalapa, then a second-class bus or taxi to Naolinco.
- JAL · Xalapa (El Lencero)
- check whether any commercial service currently uses this field; do not plan around it.
Typical fares
- Xalapa → Naolinco, second-class bus
- about M$30, about 90 min
- Naolinco → Xalapa, taxi
- M$400–700 (check)
- Veracruz airport → Xalapa, bus
- about M$150–250 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is walkable in 10–15 minutes end to end. Taxis wait near the main plaza or your hotel can call one. Uber and other ride-hailing apps do not work in Naolinco.
See and do
Known for
- Pueblo Mágico status
- Naolinco Cemetery and its statues
- Leather shoes and crafts
- La Cantada on Day of the Dead
- Waterfalls at Parque Fidelidad Las Cascadas
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Xalapa | Second-class bus from Naolinco, about 90 min | About 1.5–2 h |
| Veracruz | Bus to Xalapa, then a first-class bus to Veracruz | About 3.5–4 h |
| Orizaba | Bus via Xalapa, then onward | About 3–4 h |
| Catemaco | Bus via Xalapa and Veracruz | About 5 h |
Sleep
- Centro (around Plaza de Armas)
- Walk to the plaza, church, cemetery and leather shops; the only area with real choice.
- North side / Miahuatlán road
- Hacienda-style cabanas with gardens; you need a car or taxi for the centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedees-KOOL-peh |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-syahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAN-toh KWES-tah |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HAY-tah |
| Where is the bus station? | ¿Dónde está la terminal de autobuses?DON-deh es-TAH la ter-mee-NAL deh ow-toh-BOO-ses |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorlah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake; a kiss on the right cheek among friends; avoid: Skipping 'buenos días' when entering a shop
- Punctuality: Be on time for tours and buses; avoid: Expecting social events to start on time
- Talking: Warm small talk, family, food, football; avoid: Jokes about cartels, the wall or migration
- Churches: Covered shoulders, quiet; avoid: Photos during mass
- Dining: Say 'provecho' to other diners when leaving; avoid: Rushing the waiter
Scams and watch-outs
- Uber and ride-hailing apps do not operate here; arrange taxis through your hotel.
- Many restaurants and shops take cash only; carry pesos and small notes.
- Second-class buses from Xalapa take about 90 minutes and stop often.
- The cemetery posts daily hours of 08:00–18:00; the Day of the Dead night events on 1 November are the exception.
- Mountain roads between Xalapa and Naolinco are winding; driving after dark is best avoided, and the wet season brings heavier rain.
Naolinco is a small, calm town and the centre is safe to walk by day. The real issues are winding mountain roads, cash-only businesses and limited late-night transport: keep taxi numbers and don't rely on apps.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Naolinco yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pueblo Mágico status
- Naolinco Cemetery and its statues
- Leather shoes and crafts
- La Cantada on Day of the Dead
- Waterfalls at Parque Fidelidad Las Cascadas
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Veracruz state tourism (Secretaría de Turismo y Cultura): www.veracruz.gob.mx/turismo/
- Visit Mexico — Pueblos Mágicos: www.visitmexico.com/
- Wikivoyage: Naolinco, revision 5080155 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5080155
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
NaolincoNaolinco de Victoria
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Naolinco; the US, UK and other consulates are in Mexico City, and some countries have honorary consulates in Veracruz (check).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/naolinco). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.