Cleanse Your Soul at Catemaco’s Noche de las Brujas
Published by Jonathan Vaas, Writer
Country: Mexico 
The Experience
In southern Mexico, nestled between ranges of volcanic mountains, the town of Catemaco springs to life every March with a spectacle of witchcraft, sorcery and merriment. The Noche de Brujas—“Night of the witches”—dates back to the precolonial era, drawing traditional healers, shamans, prophets and fortune-tellers from all over Mexico to gather for a legendary all-night festival, during which participants invoke a mass cleansing to alleviate the previous year’s negative energies. Adventurous tourists join in on the fun of Noche de Brujas, some just to witness the spectacle, others daring to get involved.
The adorable avenues and landscapes of pristine Catemaco are supercharged with mysticism on a regular day, but during Noche de Brujas the sense is nearly palpable. Streets are crowded year-round with vendors selling trinkets, magical potions and healings. Tourists encounter spiritualists and sorcerers in every nook and cranny, advertising traditional remedies for just about any malady you can think of. The culebreros (snake bite healers) are renowned due to the region’s abundance of venomous snakes, but unless you’ve recently come across an asp or a cobra, consider hiring a yorbatero (massage healer) instead for a soothing massage. Follow the signs to dwellings of prominent witches. Hire a witch for a limpia—a spiritual cleaning; better yet, unless your soul is afflicted with a curse, have the bruja cast one on someone else in your party!
When the Noche de Brujas is over, stay a few extra days to catch a ferry to the Monkey Islands, where abandoned research monkeys from Thailand run free. Take a morning stroll down the Malecon and witness the 600 species of birds come to life as the sun breaks on the volcanic horizon. Unless you're a risk taker who craves confrontation, avoid taking snapshots of the brujos; they hate photographs.
The adorable avenues and landscapes of pristine Catemaco are supercharged with mysticism on a regular day, but during Noche de Brujas the sense is nearly palpable. Streets are crowded year-round with vendors selling trinkets, magical potions and healings. Tourists encounter spiritualists and sorcerers in every nook and cranny, advertising traditional remedies for just about any malady you can think of. The culebreros (snake bite healers) are renowned due to the region’s abundance of venomous snakes, but unless you’ve recently come across an asp or a cobra, consider hiring a yorbatero (massage healer) instead for a soothing massage. Follow the signs to dwellings of prominent witches. Hire a witch for a limpia—a spiritual cleaning; better yet, unless your soul is afflicted with a curse, have the bruja cast one on someone else in your party!
When the Noche de Brujas is over, stay a few extra days to catch a ferry to the Monkey Islands, where abandoned research monkeys from Thailand run free. Take a morning stroll down the Malecon and witness the 600 species of birds come to life as the sun breaks on the volcanic horizon. Unless you're a risk taker who craves confrontation, avoid taking snapshots of the brujos; they hate photographs.
When to Go to Noche De Brujas
Odds n' Ends
Portions of the films Apocalypto (2006) and Medicine Man (1992) were filmed in the Catemaco vicinity. Don’t miss the opportunity to dine on rabbit on the Catemaco carretera. Or if you’re even more daring, hit up one of the curbside vendors for a Tegogolo cocktail. According to legend, the freshwater snail concoction is more effective than Viagra, and the sauce is said to be lethal to insects.
Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
The Hotel Posada Koniapan is ideally situated in the centre of the town. 0 miles away
$844 MXN+
Location. Hotel La Finca is located close to the beach in Catemaco. Hotel Features. This Catemaco property has a private beach. Hotel La Finca features ... 1 miles away
+ 19 others. Show all.
More Experiences Nearby
- Savour the Surreal at the Sculpture Gardens of Las Pozas
- Las Pozas, which means “The Pools,” is an eccentric and surreal sculpture garden high in the rain forest outside Xilitla, Mexico. English poet and artist Edward James built Las Pozas because he “wanted a Garden of Eden set up,” and what he found on a visit to Los Angeles in the 1940s wasn’t to his liking. Instead, “Mexico was far more romantic,” he explained, and there was “far more room than there (was) in crowded Southern California.” In the lush mountains seven hours north of Mexico City, and about 2,000 feet (610 meters) above sea level, Las Pozas sits on ...326 miles away.
Elsewhere on the Web
- Life in the Fast Lane
- A countdown of the world's top 10 spectacular festivals
- Catemaco Info
- Information on brujos in Catemaco. Site is loaded with helpful tourist information about the city, things to do, where to stay, eat, etc.
- The Noche deBrujas Festival - MexicoLessTraveled.com
- You can sense it before you can see it, a strangely mythical atmosphere supercharged by the thick tropical air and mingled with swirling mists of the Sierra de Las Tuxtlas mountains near Vera Cruz, Mexico.
Media References
- Witches of Mexico- NationalGeographicChannel.com (television)
- You won't find any broomsticks or pointy hats in southern Mexico, but you will find witches everywhere. The city of Catemaco is the self-styled witchcraft capital. Find out why!
Travel Insurance. Simple & Flexible.
Language Guides
Japanese 
,
Spanish
are some of the languages spoken in Mexico. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
Discussion
Experienced this and have something to share? Experienced something like this somewhere else? Looking for advise or travel companions? Use this space to leave your mark. Our writers and editors are more than happy to help answer your questions.
People who wish to experience
Recent Tweets
Listed below are the most recent comments made on Twitter for "noche de brujas":
