Papantla is a city and municipality located in the northern region of the Mexican state of Veracruz. It is situated within the Sierra Papanteca range along the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in the 13th century by the Totonacs, the city has historically dominated the Totonacapan region.
The area is well-known for its natural vanilla production and its proximity to the El Tajín archaeological site, which is designated as a World Heritage Site. The region is also famous for the Danza de los Voladores tradition. Today, Papantla maintains strong communities of Totonacs who preserve their native language and culture.
The city features numerous large-scale murals and sculptures by native artist Teodoro Cano García that honor Totonac heritage. Its name originates from Nahuatl and is commonly interpreted to mean "place of the papanes," a meaning that is represented on the municipality's coat of arms.