CATEMACO LAGOON

The big attraction in Catemaco is of course the boat rides on the lagoon, which was formed by a volcanic eruption over a thousand years ago. Whichever provider you choose, the ride lasts about an hour and a half and includes: a stop at Playa Azul, a mud mask, a walk through the Nanciyaga ecological reserve and a visit to the islands where the spider monkeys and macaques live (you can actually see the monkeys from the boat, since it's forbidden to set foot on the islands). Very nice.