Tempoal

​From the Huasteco Tam-puhal, which means "lugar de los sapos", Tempoal is a municipality of Veracruz with deep indigenous roots and a history that dates back to pre-Hispanic times.

It was a relevant population of the former Huasteca, and over the centuries it has been the scene of historical events that marked the region.

Today, Tempoal is known throughout Mexico for being the capital of Xantolo, one of the most representative celebrations of Huasteca culture (cultura huasteca).

Every year, in late October and early November, the streets are filled with music, comparsas, dances, colors and hand-carved masks. Men and women disguised as "masked" represent the spirits that return to the world of the living, in a mixture of joy, respect and mysticism that turns this holiday into a unique cultural spectacle.

The visitor can walk the streets and admire the Monumento al Enmascarado de Xantolo, a symbol of local identity, or visit the Mask Workshop "Arte y tradición", where artisans shape the faces that come to life during the party.

Other attractions such as "catedral de Cristo Rey" the Tempoal River (río Tempoal) , the Chalán de Piedra and the Tempoal Statue complete the experience between history and Huasteco landscape.

The gastronomy, like everything in Tempoal, is full of flavor and heritage. Dishes such as cuiches, adobo de puerco, bocoles de frijol, and the traditional queso de aro, reflect the ancestral cuisine of the region, which combines local ingredients with recipes transmitted from generation to generation.

In season, the anona sweetens the tables and celebrates the abundance of the land.

Tempoal is a living door to the Huasteca: a place where traditions are not told, they are lived; where Xantolo is not just a party, but a language of the soul.​​