Venue

The CaDis Workshop will be held at Instituto de Investigaciones en Inteligencia Artificial ( https://www.uv.mx/iiia/ )

Campus Sur, Calle Paseo Lote II, Sección Segunda N° 112, Nuevo Xalapa, Xalapa, Ver., México 91097

Xalapa is clearly a university city. At the heart of its cultural life is the Universidad Veracruzana, an important educational center that offers music, theater, dance, visual arts, and various other forms of artistic expression.

The Universidad Veracruzana (UV) was founded in 1944 and gained autonomy in 1996. It has five regional campuses: Xalapa, Veracruz, Orizaba-Córdoba, Poza Rica-Tuxpan, and Coatzacoalcos-Minatitlán, with a presence in 27 municipalities in the state of Veracruz, located on the Gulf of Mexico. By enrollment, it ranks among the five largest state public universities in higher education in Mexico.

The university’s activities are carried out mainly through: 77 faculties, the Open Learning System, 26 Research Institutes, 17 Research Centers, the Climate Change Studies Program, the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology, 18 observatories, the Large Animal Veterinary Hospital, the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology, the Tlaqná Cultural Complex, eight Free Art Workshops, two Children’s Music Initiation Centers, the Art Gallery, 17 Language and Self-Access Centers, the Department of Foreign Languages, the School for Foreign Students, six Library and Information Service Units (USBI), 48 libraries, the Virtual Library, five campuses of the Intercultural Universidad Veracruzana (UVI), seven university houses, 22 university brigades, the Health Studies Center, the University Clinic for Reproductive and Sexual Health, and the Cancer Care Center.

The University is currently led by Rector Dr. Martín Gerardo Aguilar Sánchez, for a four-year term from September 2021 to August 2025.

Xalapa, Veracruz

The name Xalapa—spelled Jalapa according to the phoneticist tradition—comes from the Náhuatl word Xallapan, which means “spring in the sand.” This is fitting, as the city, located on a mountain slope, still has several natural springs. This beautiful city lies at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental and is the capital of the stunning state of Veracruz.

Rich in cultural tradition, Xalapa is home to the main campus of the Universidad Veracruzana, earning it the nickname “The Athens of Veracruz.” Another nickname, “The City of Flowers,” was given by Alexander von Humboldt in 1804 due to the city’s abundant floral vegetation.

Located on the slopes of the Macuiltépetl volcano, 350 kilometers from Mexico City and surrounded by cloud forests, the Veracruz capital is an unforgettable place. Strolling through its narrow and vibrant streets is a delight not only for the eyes—the aroma of high-quality locally grown coffee often lingers in the air, blending with the sweet melodies of street musicians.

http://www.veracruz.gob.mx/turismo/
https://www.zonaturistica.com/destinos/veracruz/xalapa
https://escapadas.mx/veracruz/xalapa/

How to Get to Xalapa, Veracruz

You can reach the city of Xalapa by bus from the country’s capital via the ADO GL bus line, or by air, flying into the Heriberto Jara Corona Airport in the city and port of Veracruz, then traveling by land on one of the bus lines available from there. By road, Xalapa is 295 km from Mexico City and 108 km from the Port of Veracruz.

From Mexico City
Take a bus from TAPO (Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente) to Xalapa: The bus trip takes approximately 4 ½ to 5 hours. Recommended options:

ADO GL
ADO Platino

Main routes and schedules can be found at https://www.ado.com.mx/.

From Mexico City International Airport

Option 1 (Recommended): Take the bus (generally a van) to Xalapa directly from Terminal 1 of the Airport, in the “Domestic Arrivals” area. The bus brand is “ADO.” It’s best to arrive in Mexico City before or around 4:00 p.m. to reach Xalapa by 10:00 p.m.

Departure: AEROPUERTO LLEGADAS NACIONALES, CDMX (ADO website)
Arrival: CAXA Terminal, Xalapa

Option 2: Take an authorized taxi or Uber (15–20 minutes) to the TAPO bus terminal. Once you exit the Customs inspection area, you’ll find authorized taxi counters (Sitio 300 in Terminal 1 and Nueva Imagen in Terminal 2), where you pay your fare to your destination in advance. Fares are fixed and based on travel zones. A map next to the counter shows the zones so you can verify you’ve been charged correctly. After purchasing your ticket, go outside to the authorized taxi line (Taxi Terrestre), get in, and hand the prepaid ticket to the driver, who will give you your receipt. You may also request an Uber through the app and take it from one of the airport exits.
Main bus routes and schedules from TAPO to Xalapa are available at https://www.ado.com.mx/.

From Veracruz International Airport

Option 1: Take a shuttle service directly from the airport to Xalapa. Tickets are sold only after the baggage claim area and before leaving the controlled zone, in the same area as the car rental and authorized taxi companies. The transport brand is ADO. Main routes and schedules are available at https://www.ado.com.mx/.

Option 2: Take an authorized taxi to the bus terminal in the city of Veracruz, then take a bus to Xalapa. Departures are available approximately every 30 minutes. Main routes and schedules are available at https://www.ado.com.mx/.

Important to Consider:

Always take an authorized taxi, identifiable at the exits of the respective terminals.
Arrive at the airport well in advance before your flight:
- International flights: 3 hours before departure
- Domestic flights: 2 hours before departure

More information: Mexican Airlines https://aerolineasmexicanas.mx/informacion/informacion-util-para-viajar

Hotels in Historic Center
https://pradodelrio.com/pages/posadacafeto-es/
https://pradodelrio.com/pages/mesonalferez-xalapa-es/
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/es/xalapa/jalex/hoteldetail
http://colombehotel.com/
https://www.hotelesmision.com.mx/

Places of Interest in Xalapa and the Surrounding Region

Visita Xalapa
The Visita Xalapa website is an online space created by the city government to share information about local events.
https://www.facebook.com/VisitaXalapa/
http://www.visitaxalapa.com

Vida en Xalapa
Vida en Xalapa is an independent events listing that gathers all of the city’s happenings in one place.
https://www.facebook.com/VidaEnXalapa
http://www.vidaenxalapa.com

Tlaqná
The Tlaqná Concert Hall is home to the Veracruz University Symphony Orchestra, which offers classical and themed concerts throughout the year.
https://www.orquestasinfonicadexalapa.com/tlaqna-sala-de-conciertos-osx/el-proyecto-acustico.html

Museum of Anthropology
The Museum of Anthropology is one of the most important museums in Mexico, with a unique collection that includes the famous Olmec colossal heads, from one of the world’s earliest civilizations.
https://www.uv.mx/max/

Ágora de la Ciudad
The Ágora de la Ciudad is a cultural space offering the most diverse programming in the city—ranging from theater, dance, music, performing and visual arts, and literature to film screenings, lectures, courses, and workshops.
https://www.facebook.com/AgoraXalapa/

Gallery of Contemporary Art
The Gallery of Contemporary Art showcases the work of emerging artists and hosts round tables and a variety of concerts.
http://gacxalapa.blogspot.com/

Diego Rivera Gallery
The Diego Rivera Gallery exhibits visual works by renowned national and international artists and promotes cultural activities throughout the state of Veracruz.
https://www.facebook.com/PinacotecaDiegoRivera.IVEC/

Área 51 Theater Forum
An experimental theater space where you can enjoy a short play accompanied by a cold drink.
https://www.facebook.com/Area51ForoTeatral/

Flavia Gallery
Flavia is a café-bar that also sells contemporary designs with a personal touch.
http://flavia.mx

Cauz – Flor Catorce
Cauz is a music venue that features the best of the city’s jazz scene as well as artists from across the country. It shares its space with Flor Catorce café.
http://cauzmx.eventbrite.com

Brújula Brewery
A craft brewery, restaurant, and cultural venue located in Zoncuantla, Coatepec, Veracruz.
https://www.facebook.com/cerveceria.brujula.arte

Coatepec – Pueblo Mágico
Coatepec has been Mexico’s most traditional and high-quality coffee-growing region since the last century. It is a “Pueblo Mágico” with a rich blend of natural and cultural beauty, home to nearly 370 buildings of historical value, and has been declared a National Historical Heritage site.
https://www.facebook.com/CoatepecPuebloMagicoOficial