Toxcatl in English

TÓXCATL
A paradise to enjoy Nature

español
South-east asian style, the tropical wood and bamboo cabin can welcome up to 8 people. On the ground floor is the kitchen-dinning area and on the first floor the sleeping quarters with a wooden floor and everyone shares the same large room without visual dividers. It's like camping together in a large cabin. There are 2 single beds (80 x 194 cm), 2 queen size beds (100 x 194 cm) and 1 king size bed (136 x 190 cm) with clean sheets and blankets for everyone to fit comfortably. We could however, accomodate 4 more people in 4 foldable beds. We have large doors on each of the four sides of the room and these can be kept wide open to have the view and the breeze. There is also a second set of doors, covered with mosquito nets, if one wants to feel protected but close to nature. We actually almost don't have mosquitoes, but these nets offer protection from that mosquito circling in your mind. I live on the upper floor and we share the bathroom, the kitchen and the dining table, but everyone is independent regarding the meals. There is a shower with hot water, electricity and the kitchen includes: A wash basin, a stove with two burners, a fridge, a large table and kitchen utensils. We also have a superb oven for bread, pizzas and other goodies. Below., we have pizza and bread recipes for this oven. We also have hammocks, swings, two kayaks, space and equipment for volleyball and lots of space for walks and exploration. About wi-fi, yes, we have good signal if you have your own plan, but our philosophy is to achieve a connection with nature, not with the internet... For that, you don't need to be in a place like this.
It's the ideal place

To listen to the birds from a hammock, to swim in the lake, to fix yourself a shrimp pizza in our wood oven or to BBQ some tilapia on the grill. To take a shower and read on the balcony with the evening breeze. Play a table game on our large hard-wood table as you sip a lemon and spearmint juice.
Enjoy a wood fire as you listen to the insect's bell-like concert...
Nothing like unwinding from everyday's chores.
You can also get a clay facial and go inside our ¨temazcal¨, the traditional herbal sauna or even get a massage by a local traditional masseuse...
As the sages say :
¨Return to primordial origins¨

Also

Tóxcatl is the perfect place to organize yoga workshops, tai chi sessions, ecology symposiums,
wild bird and monkey observation and kayaking on the lake.

It's ideal for creators and inventors,
composers, painters, architects, poets and writers who need a place to get inspired and concentrated
We have
6 acres by the water
for leisure
Furthermore, the Catemaco region is also well known for...
Its traditional healing, done by the ¨brujos¨or healers, facials applied with the local green clay, the Temazcal treatment (a traditional healing sauna), its delicious regional cuisine and the local mineral spring water, most of which we can offer you at Tóxcatl.
And the local music, the Son Jarocho, is one of the greatest music genres of Mexico
Touch a photo to listen
Tóxcatl is in a privileged area
The Tuxtlas mountain range is a place that stands out in the american continent. Due to its strategic location, It is a refuge for an enormous number of animal and plant species and a place where ancient cultures thrived. More than 5 thousand years ago, the Olmecs, one of the oldest known civilizations in the continent, settled in this area. Today, náhuatl and popoluca are still spoken in the region. The Catemaco lake is 11 km long by 8 wide (6.8 x 5 ml) and stands at 340 m. (1115 ft.) above sea level. The climate is tropical, with the lowest temperatures in January between 17 and 25 C (62.6 and 77 F) and the highest in July between 23 and 33 C (73.4 and 91.4 F) (See full charts below)
HOW TO GET THERE:
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION FROM CATEMACO
If you don't have a car, there are several options and ways to get to Tóxcatl and from Tóxcatl to Catemaco:
1.- Take a motorboat like this one, telling the driver to take you to Tóxcatl, which is next to the heron's island (la Isla de las garzas). They all know it well.
If you prefer traveling by boat rather than by car and your budget permits it, you can ask the boat man to come pick you up at a certain date and time to take you back to town.
2.- Take a taxi, telling the driver to take you to the intersection Sontecomapan-Nanciyaga where you will ask him to take a sharp right, as indicated in the ¨how to get there¨section above. If the dirt road has become too wild, due to heavy rains, he may not want to go further and you will walk from there to Toxcatl for about 15 minutes.
3.- If you are not too loaded with suitcases and/or have a low budget, take a group taxi ("taxi colectivo" or a "pirata") leaving a few blocks from the ADO bus station. Look at the pictures in the ¨How to get there¨ section to see where is the "Pirata" terminal. Get off at the intersection and walk to Tóxcatl for about 15 minutes.

DRIVING FROM CATEMACO
TO TOXCATL
(We recommend you arrive during the day because darkness makes it a bit difficult to find us)
In Catemaco go to "el malecón" (the edge of the lake) and as you face the lake, take a left and drive until you reach the end of the malecón, where the ADO bus terminal is located. Then, take a left and drive with the lake at your back. When you reach a red light, which sometimes doesn't work, take a right on the wider road going to the right (but not the smaller street immediately to your right) On the wider road you will find a mini super market on the left and a few shops on the right. Continue driving on this paved road for about 3 km until you go downhill on a curve. You will then find an intersection with a road going to the left with a sign saying Sontecomapan and Montepío and a sign saying Nanciyaga and Coyame pointing straight ahead. There you will want to turn right into an almost invisible little dirt road. If you are driving, watch for oncoming cars and make a U-turn (as shown on the map under ¨How to get there¨) in order to go into the little dirt road. If your car is low, step out and take a look at the terrain first, to decide if you will continue driving or if you will park to the side and continue by foot to Toxcatl. Follow the dirt road and you will see a metal gate. Turn right and you will immediately see our wooden gate with the sign TOXCATL. Go in and follow the road until you see our cabin. It's about 500 meters all together.
DISTANCE AND DRIVING TIMES TO CATEMACO
FROM OTHER TOWNS
Mexico D.F. – Catemaco: 528 km - 7 hrs.
Xalapa - Catemaco: 264 km - 4 hrs. 17 min.
Veracruz - Catemaco: 175 km - 3 hrs. 11 min.
Minatitlán - Catemaco: 122 km - 1 hr. 30 min.
DRIVING FROM THE MINATITLAN AIRPORT
From Minatitlán take the Córdoba-Minatitlán higway # 145D (which might be a toll road) towards Córdoba and at the junction with highway # 185 take a right towards Acayucan. Then in Acayucan take highway # 180 towards Catemaco. It's 122 km and it will take you 1 hour and a half from Minatitlán to Catemaco. After that, follow the instructions we have above and look at the maps we have under ¨how to get there¨, to get to Tóxcatl.
Don Antonio y Maria Isabel
They are our care takers in Tóxcatl.
Maria Isabel can offer you regional food, if you choose the "Food included option" as you make your reservation. Look at the menu further down. They have eggs from their hens and uses organic ingredients. In the same way, our fishermen friends Antonio and Sofía come every day (if weather permits) with fresh fish, to complement the menu.
Catemaco is also famous for its monkeys and Antonio is the monkey man, the person who has for years, taken care of our cousins, spider monkeys, macaques and howler monkeys that live on some islands in the lake. As part of the Universidad Veracruzana's program of reintroduction of local species, we will also be hosting red guacamayas and howling monkeys at Toxcatl.
Martin
I am your host and I will welcome you in Tóxcatl. Write to me if you have any questions.
PLANNING YOUR STAY:

In Catemaco there are restaurants, the market and a small supermarket. The local cuisine is delicious and unique. You can do your shopping and if you have a car it's even easier. Do not forget to bring enough water to drink. We have basic kitchen equipment.
It is good to plan well so you don't have to go to town often, just to do your shopping, especially if you don't have a car.
However, if you don't want to deal with buying food and cooking, you can enjoy María Isabel's food, knowing that this region is famous for its tasty cuisine. Below, you can look at the menu.
Maria Isabel and Antonio have hens and therefore fresh free range hens and the supplies we use are organic. In the same way, our fishermen friends Antonio (the other Antonio) and Sofía come every day (if weather permits) with fresh fish, to complement the menu.
What clothes to bring? It is always warm or hot, as is typical of the tropics. The night is when it cools the most, but we have sheets and blankets. See the temperature and precipitation tables under ¨How to get there¨, if you want to know what weather to expect. The rains can be a great experience, because when it rains hard, it's fabulous. We recommend boots if you like to walk and sandals to stay cool in the cabin. We are lucky to have almost no mosquitoes, although during the hottest season we may notice a few. For that, we have a mosquito nets. Don't forget hats and sunscreen, especially useful if the beauty of nature makes you lose track of time while kayaking.
Note: If you paddle to the monkey island, do not disembark because our furry cousins will believe that you bring them food, which should not be done, since their diet is special. They could then get frustrated if they can't find food and bite. Unfortunately, many people, despite the fact that it is prohibited, throw junk food at them...
My WhatsApp is: +33 6 05 37 27 11 and my cell phone is (52)228 2 15 34 87
Maria Isabel's WhatsApp is: +52 812 9 25 15 25
Nature...
A MAGIC PLACE

The Catemaco lake and its surrounding mountains are aligned in such a way, not only among themselves, but also in relation to the constellations reflected on its surface, that a natural OM, as the one cultivated by yogis and shamans, is maintained in constant vibration. It is no coincidence that in this geographic spot, intersection of great energetic currents, thrives the highest quantity of flora and animal species in the northern continent - only equaled to the Amazon jungle. In Mexico, this is also the place of choice where shamans hold a yearly meeting.

One has to respect for Nature; It's delicate but also powerful: Act like the eagle - be observant but cautious. If, for example, you want to flip a stone, don't put your hand under it, do it with a stick. We hardly have mosquitoes here, but if you are very sensitive, bring repellent just in case.
In the mornings and evenings, red, green and blue guacamayas fly overhead and zaraguato monkeys will soon inhabit our environment. We will be part of a program for the reinsertion of endemic fauna, which is carried out by the Universidad Veracruzana. Toño has worked with them for many years, taking care of monkeys.
A few alligators live in the lake, but so far, they have not been interested in people, they have enough to eat. The females however, are territorial during the breeding season, so one has to be cautious.

Lake and mountains have been formed, coexisting and interacting through the millennia with the caress of tides and the singing of waves. The Nahuales transcend time and space, joining the buzz of ants in transit, surfing the striped lizard´s yellow lines. Perched on the vortex of energized geometry, like bumblebees searching for existential pollen, these protectors of nature define cosmic forces, aligned in a spiraling fractal of infinity.
This fellow is known as "El Teterete"
Typical local cuisine
Garlic tilapia

...which you could buy fresh, directly from a fisherman. Ask Don Jesús how to.
Don't forget to bring the seasoning ingredients from the market.
Then get a fire going, and enjoy !

The food in this part of Mexico is unique and delicious
If you don't want to cook and go into town to get groceries, leave it to Doña Maria Isabel who can cook for you if you include your meals when you make your reservation.

If at some point you feel like dining out, on Paseo del Malecón street, parallel to the road that comes to Sontecomapan and Nanciyaga, there is also the restaurant-bar ¨El Gato¨, run by its owner and a very good cook. he's a skinny and kind man. It is a simple restaurant, where we recommend sitting on the porch, with the breeze.

There is also "La Casita" restaurant, at Matamoros 64, with very good dishes.

In the background we have mojarra al mojo de ajo, garlic tilapia, which is delicious...
Preparadas de carne de chango
with smoked pork and beans

Shrimp cocktail
Refried beans, Mexico's best
Pellizcadas con momocho
You can bake bread, pizzas and other goodies in our wood-heated oven !

Doña María Isabel will get the oven going for you, but please give her $50 pesos every time she fires it up. She chops the firewood and gets it going.
How to make pizzas :

You heat up the wood-oven, until temperature rises to about 500 degrees celsius. (100 is boiling and 0 is freezing). You then install the door and the temperature comes down slowly. The coal will keep its high temperature longer, depending on the wood quality.
When the temperature will have come down to between 290 and 270 degrees, introduce the bread dough in its moulds and put them in the oven for 22 minutes with the door closed. Then open the door and take them out.
You can then use that remaining heat to cook beans or a casserole with the door closed. Since in a 5 hour span, the temperature can come down from 200 to 150 degrees, it's a perfect temperature to slowly cook a number of dishes. The next morning the oven can still remain hot between 100 and 90 degrees.
Take note that after feeding the oven with wood after the first hour and a half, it doesn't need more feeding because it keeps a good temperature going.
For pizza making, the door remains open and the temperature is maintained between 350 and 400 degrees, adding a small log now and then.

How to make the dough:
Portions: 15
Ingredients :
2 1/4 teaspoons of active, dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar
350 milliliters of warm water (45 °C)
1 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of olive oil
425 grams of wheat flour
Cooking method:
Time to make it: 30 min › Cooking: 20 min ›
Extra time: 1 hour › Ready in: 1 hr. 50 min
Dissolve the yeast and the brown sugar in warm water and leave it aside 10 minutes. Then add the salt and the olive oil. Add half of the flour and mix well.
Put the dough on a clean and floured surface and knead it, adding little by little more and more flour to keep it from sticking. Put the dough in an oiled bowl and cover it with a humid towel. Leave it to rest until it has doubled its size, approximately 1 hour. Push the dough with your fist to eliminate any air bubbles trapped inside it and form a ball with it. Le the dough relax for a minute before you start deploying it on the table with the roller.
If you are using a metal tray, oil it a bit first, and let the deployed dough rest between 15 and 20 minutes before adding your favorite ingredients on it. Then, when the oven is between 290 and 270 degrees put it in the oven.
Bake the pizza until the cheese and the dough look golden, between 15 and 20 minutes.
How to make bread :

Prepare the dough :
1/2 Kg white flour mixed with 1/2 Kg whole flour.
Add 3 table spoons of powdered yeast.
Heat approximately one liter and a half of water to finger (body) temperature, that is 37 degrees and add a half teaspoon of salt and one tablespoon of oil. Have your 4 metal moulds ready.
Liquid and flours are well mixed until the mixture acquires a pasty consistency and you leave it to rest for 30 minutes.
This rested dough is then vigorously kneaded and divided into 4 equal parts and each part is kneaded as well.
You shape each of these, put them on the rectangular moulds and leave them 30 minutes more to rest before going into the oven. Four loaves fit well in the oven (actually, even 6 or 7).
When the temperature has come down to between 290 and 260 degrees, the loaves are put in the oven and after closing the door, will stay in there 22 minutes. During this time, the temperature will probably come down to between 240 and 230 degrees.
Doña Maria Isabel's menu

According to the week days, this is the menu you would get:
(Let us know if you have eating specifications)
--- The menu is under construction ---

Mondays
Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Tuesdays
Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Wednesdays
Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Thursdays
Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Fridays
Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Saturdays
Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Sundays
Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:
The exotic
And huge jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) grows in Tóxcatl. It belongs to the moraceae family and comes from Asia. Those who are ready to discover new frontiers will be able to taste this delicacy, well known in Thailand, India, the Philipines and very expensive in the streets of New York...
It is the national plant of Bangladesh and Indonesia.
But mind your head when they fall!
Pinpoint the jack fruit tree as you take a stroll.
Bird shit is safer
compared to a jack fruit falling on your hat...
The tree is located between the cabin
and Don Alejandro's house
The armadillo looks a bit like a jack fruit
And this is the donkey's testicle fruit, attractive but not eatable
Small dinosaurs hide well to escape from us,
the predators
You might get a glimpse of red guacamayas, soon to live in the premises
green parrot flocks...
or even a toucan on a branch
You may even hear the howling monkey, a shy fellow who likes our jack fruits...
And right in front of our shores, lies the crocodile island
But if you want to see a real one, you must be patient
And herons in this area, are far from being an endangered species
Please do not bring your pet, because no matter how much you trust their manners, this is an area that stimulates them in such a way that on several occasions we have experienced unpleasant surprises ...
He was my grandfather

This is an archaeological zone as well
You may see prehispanic mounds like this one
If you are seriously interested in the Olmecs and the ancient cultures of the region, on your way to Catemaco, stop over in Xalapa and visit the excellent anthropology museum.
You will then appreciate our area better.
Tóxcatl was one of the most important ceremonies celebrated by the aztecs. It was done to honour the god Tezcatlipoca, their main divinity.
FEE$ per night (in pesos)

$350 for one guest
$700.- for two
$300.- for each additional guest

If you saty for over a week:
$300.- for one guest
$600.- for two
$250.- for each additional guest

Check-in time: 14:00 hrs.
Check-out time: 14:00 hrs.

We recommend you arrive before sunset so you don't get lost.

SERVICES

IT INCLUDES:

A shower with hot water

Beds with bed sheets and a blanket
(we have single and double beds)

Towels, soap and toilet paper

To cook, gather twigs and firewood. To start the fire, pick up bamboo sheaths (the yellow stiff things you see on the ground by the bamboo bush). It burns like paper. Put them under the grill, add twigs and a few thicker pieces, fire it up and start fanning with the triangular fan.

We have plates, silverware, glasses, cups, pots, pans and all the other cooking equipment, but nothing too fancy.
Doña María Isabel can get the oven going for you, but please give her $50 pesos every time she fires it up. She needs to chop the wood and so forth.
You need to bring your own food to cook with.
(Don't forget salt, cooking oil, dishwashing soap and the like).
MAKE FIRES ONLY AT THE DESIGNATED LOCATION AND DON'T FORGET TO PUT THEM OUT BEFORE WALKING AWAY FROM THEM.
(Dry leaves and twigs can catch fire in no time...)

Please take your garbage away, including cigarette butts if you smoke, as you leave this natural reserve.
IF YOU ARE TEMPTED BY PARADISE,

make your reservation through Airbnb - Toxcatl

If you enjoyed your stay, you may reserve days or weeks as regular clients, to have your own exclusive time in Tóxcatl
Tóxcatl, Teotepec 95893 Catemaco, Ver. México
Arrival not before 14:00 hrs. and departure no later than 14:00 hrs.
If you are in Mexico, dial 228 2153487 WhatsApp number: +52 228 2153487
If you are in Mexico, dial 228 2153487 WhatsApp number: +52 228 2153487
martinvinaver@gmail.com
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Email

Message

Comment

TÓXCATL

A paradise to enjoy Nature

It's the ideal place

Also

We have6 acres by the waterfor leisure

Furthermore, the Catemaco region is also well known for...

Its traditional healing, done by the ¨brujos¨or healers, facials applied with the local green clay, the Temazcal treatment (a traditional healing sauna), its delicious regional cuisine and the local mineral spring water, most of which we can offer you at Tóxcatl.

And the local music, the Son Jarocho, is one of the greatest music genres of Mexico

Touch a photo to listen

Tóxcatl is in a privileged area

HOW TO GET THERE:

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION FROM CATEMACO

DRIVING FROM CATEMACOTO TOXCATL

DISTANCE AND DRIVING TIMES TO CATEMACOFROM OTHER TOWNS

DRIVING FROM THE MINATITLAN AIRPORT

Don Antonio y Maria Isabel

They are our care takers in Tóxcatl.

Martin

I am your host and I will welcome you in Tóxcatl. Write to me if you have any questions.

In Catemaco there are restaurants, the market and a small supermarket. The local cuisine is delicious and unique. You can do your shopping and if you have a car it's even easier. Do not forget to bring enough water to drink. We have basic kitchen equipment.

It is good to plan well so you don't have to go to town often, just to do your shopping, especially if you don't have a car.

However, if you don't want to deal with buying food and cooking, you can enjoy María Isabel's food, knowing that this region is famous for its tasty cuisine. Below, you can look at the menu.

Maria Isabel and Antonio have hens and therefore fresh free range hens and the supplies we use are organic. In the same way, our fishermen friends Antonio (the other Antonio) and Sofía come every day (if weather permits) with fresh fish, to complement the menu.

My WhatsApp is: +33 6 05 37 27 11 and my cell phone is (52)228 2 15 34 87Maria Isabel's WhatsApp is: +52 812 9 25 15 25

Nature...

A MAGIC PLACE

One has to respect for Nature; It's delicate but also powerful: Act like the eagle - be observant but cautious. If, for example, you want to flip a stone, don't put your hand under it, do it with a stick. We hardly have mosquitoes here, but if you are very sensitive, bring repellent just in case.

A few alligators live in the lake, but so far, they have not been interested in people, they have enough to eat. The females however, are territorial during the breeding season, so one has to be cautious.

This fellow is known as "El Teterete"

Typical local cuisine

The food in this part of Mexico is unique and delicious

If you don't want to cook and go into town to get groceries, leave it to Doña Maria Isabel who can cook for you if you include your meals when you make your reservation.

There is also "La Casita" restaurant, at Matamoros 64, with very good dishes.

In the background we have mojarra al mojo de ajo, garlic tilapia, which is delicious...

Preparadas de carne de changowith smoked pork and beans

Pellizcadas con momocho

You can bake bread, pizzas and other goodies in our wood-heated oven !

Doña María Isabel will get the oven going for you, but please give her $50 pesos every time she fires it up. She chops the firewood and gets it going.

How to make pizzas :

How to make bread :

According to the week days, this is the menu you would get:

(Let us know if you have eating specifications)

--- The menu is under construction ---

Mondays

Breakfast:

Tuesdays

Lunch:

Dinner:

Wednesdays

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Thursdays

Fridays

Saturdays

Sundays

The exotic

Please do not bring your pet, because no matter how much you trust their manners, this is an area that stimulates them in such a way that on several occasions we have experienced unpleasant surprises ...

He was my grandfather

This is an archaeol​ogical zone as well

If you are seriously interested in the Olmecs and the ancient cultures of the region, on your way to Catemaco, stop over in Xalapa and visit the excellent anthropology museum.

You will then appreciate our area better.

FEE$ per night (in pesos)

SERVICES

IF YOU ARE TEMPTED BY PARADISE, make your reservation through Airbnb - Toxcatl If you enjoyed your stay, you may reserve days or weeks as regular clients, to have your own exclusive time in Tóxcatl

We have
6 acres by the water
for leisure

DRIVING FROM CATEMACO
TO TOXCATL

DISTANCE AND DRIVING TIMES TO CATEMACO
FROM OTHER TOWNS

My WhatsApp is: +33 6 05 37 27 11 and my cell phone is (52)228 2 15 34 87
Maria Isabel's WhatsApp is: +52 812 9 25 15 25

Preparadas de carne de chango
with smoked pork and beans

This is an archaeological zone as well

IF YOU ARE TEMPTED BY PARADISE,

make your reservation through Airbnb - Toxcatl

If you enjoyed your stay, you may reserve days or weeks as regular clients, to have your own exclusive time in Tóxcatl