Discover Martínez De La Torre

The Río Bobos, a history dating back to the 16th century, and vanilla processing shape different sides of Martínez de la Torre. The region also offers landscapes, cultural traditions, and events from 2026. If you are looking for a vacation rental, first consider whether you mainly want to explore the city itself or also include destinations and traditions elsewhere in the municipality.

River and local history

Aside from scattered Totonac settlements in the area, the history of Martínez de la Torre dates back to 1567. At the time, the region was called “Los Llanos de Almería” and was granted as an encomienda to a group of Spaniards; the city now stands on this land. The Río Bobos is also part of the area’s historical context: At the beginning of the 19th century, a settlement stood by the river below the present-day bridge between the city and Villa Independencia Paso de Novillos.

The river is also part of the city’s cultural landscape. In August 2018, the Río Bobos provided the setting for family events featuring cultural performances at the Malecón in Martínez de la Torre. This is a specific link between the river and city life, while the settlement’s location on the Río Bobos offers an older historical perspective.

Landscape and destinations in the municipality

In the wider region around Martínez de la Torre, San Rafael, and Nautla, orange and lemon groves shape the landscape along the roads when in bloom, filling the region with their fragrance. This landscape extends beyond the city and offers a different note from the river and cultural themes found in town.

Within the municipality of Martínez de la Torre, Estero Tres Bocas is designated as a tourist center for adventure tourism and fishing, while El Faro is designated for ecotourism and boat trips. Their focuses differ: adventure and fishing are the main draws at one, while ecotourism and boat tours take center stage at the other. The archaeological site of El Pital is also located in the municipality. It sits on a wooded hill amid banana plantations; its base is pyramid-shaped, with steps on the east side.

Events and festival traditions

In 2026, the public family event “Buzón anónimo para mamá” was held at Parque José María Mata, organized by the Casa de la Cultura and attended by children and members of the public. The 6th ROBOTEC Robotics Competition, organized by the Tecnológico de Martínez de la Torre, was also held on the park esplanade. The children’s art exhibition “Colores de la Infancia Martinense” was open to the public at the Casa de la Cultura until April 30, 2026.

A recurring festival tradition is the Fiesta de San Isidro on May 15, held in honor of the city’s patron saint. It includes sporting and cultural events, horse races, a palenque, jaripeos, folk dances, a public plantain exhibition, and performances by the Voladores de Papantla. The Fiesta Patronal de San Juan Bautista is also celebrated in the municipality on June 24, with traditional Huehuenches, Negritos, Tocotines, and Quetzalines dances, music, and a fair.

Vanilla, cuisine, and music

Vanilla was once an important source of income in Martínez de la Torre. There were specialty shops called “vainilleras”; people there are still involved in processing vanilla today. The local vanilla tradition thus brings together its former economic importance and a craft that continues to this day.

The municipality’s cuisine offers its own highlights: The communities of El Ojite and Mentidero produce artisanal dairy products such as Pay de Queso, Queso de Hebra, Queso Crema, and Queso Botanero. Other listed dishes include Acamayas al mojo de ajo and Chilpozo de pollo y gallina. The municipality’s musical traditions include Son Jarocho, Danzón, Décimas, and popular music.

Choose the right base

When looking for a vacation rental, it helps to distinguish between things to see in the city and those elsewhere in the municipality: The river, Malecón, Parque José María Mata, and Casa de la Cultura are directly associated with Martínez de la Torre; El Pital, Estero Tres Bocas, and El Faro are in the wider municipality. Decide which experiences you want to shape your stay, then match your accommodation’s location to your plans. This way, you can focus your vacation rental search on what matters most to you without treating the city and the wider municipality as one and the same.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Minatitlán, Gutiérrez Zamora, Tlapacoyan, Laguna Verde, Acayucan, Tuxpan De Rodríguez Cano, Nautla, Juan Díaz Covarrubias.

For the main travel overview: Veracruz.