Discover Martínez de la Torre

Martínez de la Torre brings together the Río Bobos, a rich history, local festival traditions, and citrus-growing landscapes in the surrounding area. When planning your trip, it’s worth considering the scope of each reference: some are specific to the city, while others apply to the municipality or the wider region. Events also vary in timing, with some held once and others part of recurring traditions. If you want to plan your trip around a festival, check the date in advance.

History Along the Río Bobos

The history of Martínez de la Torre dates back to 1567, apart from scattered Totonac settlements in the area. At the time, the region was called “Los Llanos de Almería” and was granted to a group of Spaniards as an encomienda; the city stands in this area today. At the beginning of the 19th century, the settlement on the Río Bobos, below the present-day bridge between the city and Villa Independencia, was called Paso de Novillos. These are two distinct historical reference points: the region’s early history and the later name of the riverside settlement.

Riverside Setting and Individual Events

The Río Bobos provides a scenic backdrop for family events featuring cultural performances at the Malecón in Martínez de la Torre. Events of this kind were held there in August 2018. Around the same time, the Malecón was proposed as a natural venue for artistic and cultural events. The river setting thus links a specific event context with a cultural initiative from that period.

The 6th Concurso de Robótica ROBOTEC was held in 2026 on the esplanade of Parque José María Mata and organized by the Tecnológico de Martínez de la Torre. Another public family activity in the park was called “Buzón anónimo para mamá”; it was organized by the Casa de la Cultura and attended by children and members of the public. In 2026, the public children’s art exhibition “Colores de la Infancia Martinense” was also on view at the Casa de la Cultura until April 30. These examples represent different individual occasions: technology, community participation, and children’s art.

Festival Traditions and Music

The Fiesta de San Isidro is celebrated as a recurring tradition on May 15 in honor of the city’s patron saint. The festival includes sporting and cultural events, horse races, a palenque, jaripeos, folk dances, a public plantain exhibition, and performances by the Voladores de Papantla. The program brings together various forms of public celebration.

At the municipal level, the Feria Agropecuaria, Industrial y Comercial is associated with the month of July. Its program includes an exhibition, cultural and sporting events, regional dances, cockfights, fireworks, the selection and crowning of a queen, and an evening of folk dancing. The Fiesta Patronal de San Juan Bautista is also celebrated at the municipal level, on June 24. It features the traditional dances Huehuenches, Negritos, Tocotines, and Quetzalines, as well as music and a fair. The dates and programs can offer different points of reference when planning your trip.

Son Jarocho, Danzón, Décimas, and popular music are part of the municipality’s cultural profile. This is a broader reference than a single performance or venue: these musical traditions reflect the municipality’s cultural identity, while the festival descriptions relate to specific dates and program items.

Vanilla and Local Cuisine

Vanilla was an important source of income in Martínez de la Torre. Specialized shops that processed it were called “vainilleras,” and people there still work in vanilla processing today. This local tradition brings together economic history and a craft that continues to this day.

The municipality’s cuisine includes Acamayas al mojo de ajo and Chilpozo de pollo y gallina. Artisan dairy products made in the communities of El Ojite and Mentidero include Pay de Queso, Queso de Hebra, Queso Crema, and Queso Botanero. These culinary traditions are associated with the municipality.

Landscape and Other Places of Interest in the Municipality

In the wider region around Martínez de la Torre, San Rafael, and Nautla, orange and lemon groves line the roads during flowering season, their fragrance spreading across the region. This landscape extends beyond the city and complements the urban history and cultural themes with a regional perspective.

The archaeological site of El Pital lies in the municipality of Martínez de la Torre: a vegetated hill amid banana plantations, with a pyramidal base and stairs on its eastern side. Estero Tres Bocas, known for adventure tourism and fishing, and El Faro, known for ecotourism and boat trips, are designated tourist centers in the municipality. Parque ecológico “Rafael Hernández Ochoa” is also designated as a tourist center there. These places and activities are part of the municipality’s profile and offer a different focus from the events and cultural venues in the city.

Discover more destinations: Juan Díaz Covarrubias, Veracruz, Minatitlán, Papantla De Olarte, La Encantada, Nautla, Jáltipan de Morelos, Chiltoyac.

Return to the main travel overview: Veracruz.