Town 14 km northwest of Zozocolco
A Totonac town in the Sierra de Papantla known for embroidered quechquémitls, carved masks and voladores at its fiestas.
Coyutla is a municipal town in the hills of the Sierra de Papantla, northwest of Zozocolco, with around 20,000 people in the municipality, most of them Totonac. It is one of the places in the region where traditional dress is still worn by many men and women, and it is best known for its textiles.
Women here embroider the quechquémitl, a short triangular cape worn over the blouse, along with blouses in bright colors. Other local crafts include carved wooden masks for the dances, wooden furniture and pottery. Market days and fiestas are the best times to see them.
The two big celebrations are for Saints Peter and Paul in late June and for Saint Andrew, the patron saint, at the end of November. Both bring processions, traditional dances and the voladores, who climb a tall pole and descend in slow circles hanging from ropes. Outside fiesta time it is a quiet sierra town, and the drive there winds through coffee and corn country with wide views of the hills.
What to see and do
Look for embroidered quechquémitls and blouses made by local women.
Visit during the fiesta of San Pedro and San Pablo in late June or San Andrés in late November to see dances and the voladores.
Browse carved dance masks, furniture and pottery.
Enjoy the views of the sierra on the winding drive from Zozocolco.
Getting there
Coyutla is roughly 45 minutes to an hour from Zozocolco by car on mountain roads heading northwest. The roads are winding and slow, especially in the rainy season, so allow extra time.
14 km northwest of Zozocolco
Directions from Zozocolco on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Coyutla
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Weather warm
Coyutla shares the climate of Zozocolco, 14 km away. The best months to visit are Feb, Mar, Nov, Dec.
Make Zozocolco your base
Coyutla is an easy trip from Zozocolco, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Zozocolco
-
Coxquihui
· Town · 5 km away
A Totonac town just north of Zozocolco, known for crafts like carved dance masks, wax candles and embroidered clothing. -
Huehuetla
· Town · 6 km away
A Totonac coffee-growing town across the Puebla line, where traditional dress is still part of daily life. -
Jonotla
· Town · 12 km away
A Sierra Norte village with the El Peñón shrine and viewpoint, river pools and waterfalls, about 30–40 minutes south. -
Yohualichan
· Archaeological site · 12 km away
Ruins near Cuetzalan with buildings decorated with niches like those of El Tajín, in a quiet setting among coffee hills.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.