Hualula

San Juan Hualula, usually just Hualula, is the largest community in the municipality of Eloxochitlán: 975 people in 2020, 37.6% of the whole municipality, living in 271 homes. It sits at 1,474 metres, about 6.7 km southwest of the municipal seat, on plateaus and ridges of the Carso Huasteco in the Sierra Madre Oriental. Less than a kilometre northwest lies El Puerto de Jiliapa, a little over a kilometre northeast rises Cerro Zontzacuile (1,785 m), and the Los Canes and La Cebada mesas close the horizon a bit farther out.

The climate is dry and semi-warm, and water runs to the Metztitlán river sub-basin. The municipality's own description says the sky is overcast most of the year, with frosts and even snow in winter. Part of its territory belongs to the Barranca de Metztitlán Biosphere Reserve, decreed on 27 November 2000; the hills carry pine, white cedar and oak, and deer, flying squirrel, wild boar and bobcat have been recorded.

INEGI lists among the municipality's architectural monuments the church of San Juan, which stands in Hualula, alongside those of San Agustín and San Pedro. Baskets and hats woven from willow switches used to be made here; today craftspeople work palm, leather (machete sheaths, huaraches) and cedar-wood masks sold mostly for carnival. The kitchen is known for zacahuil, revoltijo, pork carnitas, beef barbacoa and enchiladas with cecina, with cane liquor to drink.