Natural and Supernatural Worlds Collide in Mexico's Capital of Witchcraft and Witch Doctors Stuff
go to original March 4, 2017

Between God & The Devil: Mexico's Land of Sorcerers (VICE)

There's something about the thick tropical air and swirling mists over the nearby Sierra de las Tuxtlas mountains that make it easy to believe you've found a porthole to another dimension in Catemaco.

Witchcraft traditions combining indigenous, medieval Spanish and West African voodoo practices date back centuries in the picturesque town, now considered the spiritual home of Mexico's brujos (shaman).

A local brujo first decided to host a witchcraft convention in the area in 1970 and, these days, hundreds of practitioners, healers and interested onlookers head to its Noche de Brujas ceremony each March.

The focus is a kind of communal spiritual detox held at witching hour on nearby Cerro Mono Blanco, designed to wash away the negative energies of the previous year.

Visitors seek consultations on a whole host of spiritual matters at the shaman tents that surround the main stage before heading into town for more physical delights in the restaurants and bars.

Nestled beside a large lagoon, home to several interesting islands (including one populated by macaques), Catemaco is also a great spot for nature lovers. Head for the hills for a hike or relax in a mineral mud spa in the rainforest.

Check out the hotspot of the week: Catemaco, Mexico

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