Rinconada brings together the history of colonial routes, local food culture and festivals held on fixed dates. The Amealco River, also known as Los Pescados, flows south of the town; Rinconada is also located on Mexican Federal Highway Mex 140. Landscape, road access and historical connections to the town thus sit side by side. When deciding whether Rinconada is the right destination for you, these themes can offer different points of reference: Are you most interested in historic routes, local food or traveling around the time of a festival? If you are looking for a vacation rental, this overview can help you tailor your planned stay to your interests.
History of Colonial Routes
Rinconada was established during the colonial era under the name La Rinconada as an inn along the old route from Puerto de Veracruz to Ciudad de México. The colonial Camino Real Veracruz–México passes through the town, and historical remains of the route are still there. The former inn points to the town’s role along the old travel route, while the remains make the course of the Camino Real through the town tangible. These are closely related but distinct clues: one story concerns Rinconada’s origins, the other a historic route that passed through the town.
Railway, Architecture and Remembrance
Another phase in the history of transportation began in 1910, when a station on the Ferrocarril Interoceánico was built near Los Ídolos, contributing to the growth of present-day Rinconada. The station near Los Ídolos is considered a building in a striking English-origin Neo-Gothic style and is historically connected with Rinconada’s settled area. The station and the colonial route represent different periods in the history of transportation: the railway station is associated with the growth of the present-day town, while the Camino Real is associated with the older route.
On August 8, 2023, the bronze statue “Zapata Vive” was unveiled in Rinconada in honor of Emiliano Zapata. It is seven meters tall. Alongside the transportation routes, the statue adds a focus on an individual to the town’s history: it commemorates a specific person and thus complements the stories of the inn, the route and the railway with a tribute to Zapata.
Antojitos, Garnacha and Festival Dates
Rinconada is known for Mexican antojitos, which are offered to travelers along the stretch between Xalapa and Ciudad Cardel. In August, the Festival de la Garnacha Rinconada adds to this culinary connection: visitors can discover Rinconada’s garnacha there. The festival also features an exhibition of the “largest garnacha.” The antojitos link the food culture to the travel stretch between the towns; in August, the festival puts garnacha explicitly in the spotlight.
Two other festivals also provide specific dates to plan around. The festival of Santa Cruz, or the Holy Cross, is celebrated in Rinconada on May 2 and 3. The patron saint celebrations in honor of the Virgen de Guadalupe take place from December 11 to 13. Together with the Garnacha Festival in August, these events fall within three clearly distinct time periods.
When to Visit and Finding Accommodation
When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish the town’s history from events scheduled for specific dates: the routes, railway station and statue tell different aspects of Rinconada’s story, while the festivals can shape when you travel.
Discover more destinations: Tlapacoyan, Barra De Nautla, Perote, Alto Lucero, Banderilla, Acayucan, El Tamarindo, Santiago Tuxtla
For the main travel overview: Veracruz.
