Going Out in Xalapa/Jalapa

Visitors to the city can take a stroll round one of its four beautiful parks, or if you’re up for something little racier there is white-water rafting to enjoy.

Museo de Antropología: This renowned museum has everything from giant Olmec head statues to codices. It’s located at 4km to the northwest of the city center, on Avenida Xalapa. 9:00 - 17:00.

Galería de Arte Contemporaneo: Part of the thriving cultural scene, this state-run gallery houses temporary exhibitions in a beautiful colonial building. 10:00-15:00, 17:00-20:00, Tuesday to Thursday.

Pinacoteca Diego Rivera: This is a museum under Parque Juárez and to get to it, it’s necessary to descend the steps on the west side of the plaza. Exhibited are a mix of Rivera's work and that of other Mexican artists. 10:00-18:00, Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00-12:00, Saturday.

Parks: Xalapa features four parks, with Centro Cultural de los Lagos and Parque Paseo de los Lagos on the north and south sides of Parque Juárez, respectively. The Parque Ecológico Mauiltéptl is situated on an extinct volcano to the north of the city, and is very popular with joggers. To the southwest of the town is the Jardín Botánico Clavijero, with a great collection of subtropical plants.

White-Water Rafting: There are a range of tour operators for rafting, with some of them combining other activities such as rock-climbing.

Restaurants

La Capella

Xalpenos Ilustres 103

(228) 818-4520

La Pergola

Universidad No. 2 Lomas del Estadio

(228) 817-4714

La Gavia

Av. Maestros Veracruzanos No. 124

(228) 812-1368

Other restaurants worth a mention are Villa RIca, Barracuda and Casa Bonilla which serve local cuisine and seafood.

Bars and Nightclubs

Liquido

800m west of Parque Juarez

10pm to 3am, Thu-Sat

Cover: USD 3 to 5

La Chiva

Mata 13

2pm to 2am, Tue-Thu

Noon to 2am, Fri-Sat

La Tasca

Xicotencatl 76

9pm to 2am, Wed-Sat

Shopping

Xalapa/Jalapa has definitely outgrown its label of a small town with the arrival of major chains such as Walmart and Liverpool. It also has four major shopping malls which include movie theaters and takeway restaurants - Plaza Americas, Plaza Museo, Plaza Cristal and Plaza Animas.

Americas standouts as the most exclusive mall of the four selling brands such as Kenneth Cole, Hugo Boss among other top-selling labels.

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