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Voykit pocket guide · Mexico
Xico
Give Xico one full day plus a night: Texolo falls in the morning, mole and coffee in the afternoon. Two nights if you want the July fiesta.
Xico is a Pueblo Mágico in the Veracruz coffee hills, 20 minutes by taxi from Xalapa. Cobbled streets, a 17th-century parish church, an 80 m waterfall 3 km south of the square, and a food scene built on mole and locally roasted coffee. It is small: the centre is walkable in an hour, so most travellers come for a day or a single night rather than a long stay.
- Country
- Mexico
- Best months
- Nov–Apr (dry, cooler)
- Avoid
- Sep–Oct (wettest), late Jul–early Aug if you want a quiet town
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
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$500–900 excl. bed · Mid M$900–1,600 excl. bed · High M$1,600+ 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
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Tourist assistance (SECTUR) 078 · Green Angels roadside help 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 at a local roaster | M$25–50 |
| Half kilo of locally roasted coffee to take home | M$150–300 |
| Mole plate at a traditional restaurant | M$150–250 |
| Bakery bread and pastries | M$20–60 |
| Taxi within town | M$50–100 |
| Taxi Xalapa → Xico | About M$200 |
| Museum entry | M$5–10 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- JAL · Xalapa (El Lencero)
- Small field; few scheduled flights. Most travellers fly into Mexico City (MEX) or Veracruz (VER) and continue by bus.
- VER · Veracruz (General Heriberto Jara)
- About 2 h by road to Xalapa, then 20 min to Xico.
- MEX · Mexico City (Benito Juárez)
- ADO and AU buses to Xalapa, roughly 4.5–5.5 h; then combi or taxi to Xico.
Typical fares
- Taxi Xalapa → Xico
- about M$200, 20 min
- Taxi Xico → Texolo falls
- about M$250 return, 10–15 min each way
- Bus Xalapa → Xico (combi)
- under M$50, about 30 min
Get around
The centre is compact and best on foot; cobbles are uneven, so wear shoes with grip. Taxis handle the waterfalls and nearby villages — agree the fare before you get in. Buses and combis link Xico with Xalapa and Coatepec.
See and do
Known for
- Texolo waterfall
- Pueblo Mágico cobbled centre
- Mole and Xiqueño cooking
- Veracruz coffee country
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Xalapa | Combi or taxi from the centre; buses also run the route | About 30–40 min |
| Coatepec | Taxi or local bus via the Xalapa road | About 30 min |
| Naolinco | Taxi or bus via Xalapa | About 1 h |
| Cofre de Perote National Park | Taxi or car up the Xalapa road | About 1–1.5 h |
| Veracruz city | Bus to Xalapa, then ADO to Veracruz | About 3–3.5 h |
Sleep
- Centro (Av. Miguel Hidalgo and around the square)
- Best for one night without a car: church, museums, restaurants and coffee shops all within a 10-minute walk.
- Riverside and south edge of town
- Quieter, closer to the road out toward Texolo falls; useful if you plan an early waterfall start.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much to the waterfall? | ¿Cuánto cuesta a la cascada?KWAN-to KWES-ta a la kas-KA-da |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorla KWEN-ta por fa-VOR |
| One coffee, please | Un café, por favoroon ka-FE por fa-VOR |
| Is it safe to swim here? | ¿Es seguro nadar aquí?es se-GU-ro na-DAR a-KEE |
| Where is the taxi stand? | ¿Dónde está el sitio de taxis?DON-de es-TA el SEE-tyo de TAK-sees |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta?PWE-do pa-GAR kon tar-HE-ta |
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
- Cobblestone streets are slippery after rain and hard on wheeled bags.
- Do not swim at the waterfalls: currents and pools are dangerous.
- Waterfall paths have drops and no railings in places; keep children close.
- Some falls access points charge a small fee even where the waterfall itself is free.
- Book accommodation ahead for the July–August fiesta week; the town fills up.
Xico is a small, calm town and the usual advice applies: use taxis after dark, keep to lit streets, and treat the waterfalls as a viewing stop, not a swimming spot. The main practical risks are slippery cobbles, uneven paths and mountain weather.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Xico yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Texolo waterfall
- Pueblo Mágico cobbled centre
- Mole and Xiqueño cooking
- Veracruz coffee country
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Visit Mexico — Pueblos Mágicos: www.visitmexico.com/en/pueblos-magicos
- SECTUR — Secretaría de Turismo: www.gob.mx/sectur
- ADO — Autobuses de Oriente: www.ado.com.mx/
- Wikivoyage: Xico, revision 5297201 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5297201
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Xico
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassy in Xico. The US, UK and Canadian embassies are in Mexico City; several countries keep consulates in Veracruz city. Check your own country's list before you travel.
Small town: carry some cash for museums, taxis and bakeries.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/xico). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.