Near Catemaco, Veracruz, the ecological rexerve of Nanciayga is tucked away, but not entirely unknown to the outside world. Catemaco is noted for its volcanic lake and the annual brujo (witch or sorcerer) convention the first week in March. Some say that this convention is only for show and that if you want to find real burjas or curanderas, you should go to Santiago Tuxtla, just up the road (see description below).
Nanciyaga ecological reserve is only seven kilometers east of town on the road to Coyame. There are signs. Nanciyaga is like a set in a movie. In fact, it was a set in the movie, Medicine Man, which was supposed to take place in the Amazon. I have been to the Amazon and that is a stretch, but the area does have a jungle-like atmosphere. Make the effort to get there. The area is sacred to the Native Peoples who originally populated the area. Some will consider it a place of spiritual renewal.
At the park, you can take a Temezcal, or ritual steam bath in an earthen dome. You can also take baths of mud and aromatic plants in the mineral spring. You can drink the naturally pure water from the stream (upstream from the bathing area). I did. A swim in the waters is refreshing and it feels like they tone your skin. They are not hot, which is a blessing. Farther away, the mineral water, Coyame, is bottled. Order book about Mexican hot springs here
If you so desire, visit the resident shaman or medicine man. He is supposed to be able to diagnose your ailments and prescribe herbal treatments. The prehistoric planetarium is certainly worth seeing. For naturalists, the extensive vegetation and the opportunity to view animals in their natural habitat will be rewarding.
Hotel Facts
The hotel itself has only ten simple cabins on stilts in the jungle. They will appeal to those who want to get back to nature, but might be a little rough for most. They are set on stilts at the edge of the mysterious Lake Catemaco. Next door is La Jungla, a jungle like restaurant where you can eat under camouflage covers. They have a very nice swimming hole with the same mineral waters. The food is good and the bar is hopping. The hotel can be reached by phone at (294)-943-0199. Email informes@nanciyaga.com. Web site: http://www.nanciyaga.com/en/index.html
Getting There
From Veracruz, keep going southeast on Hwy. #180 for 109 miles.
Nearby Attractions
The waterfalls of Eyipantla are worth a visit. Four miles west, on Hwy. # 180 in San Andrea Tuxtla are the factories where most of the cigars in Mexico are rolled by hand.
Nine miles west in Santiago Tuxtla, where a giant Olmec head, weighing an estimates forty tons, sits in the middle of the plaza. A friend of mine who is a true curanderas (healer) tells me that the town is a center for healers. She said that whenever a new person comes to town, they will walk by and decide if they want to help them. Order here