Tlaltetela is a municipality situated in the montane central zone of the Mexican state of Veracruz. It is located approximately 25 kilometers from Xalapa, the state capital, and covers a total surface area of 266.50 square kilometers at coordinates 19°19′N 96°54′W.
The name Tlaltetela originates from the Náhuatl language, derived from the words tlal- (land) and tetl (rocks). The municipality was previously known as Axocuapan, a name meaning "in the acid water" in Náhuatl. It was officially renamed Tlaltetela by decree 373 on May 8, 1979.
Notable local developments include the opening of the municipal library and the first recreational park in 1998. Additionally, the municipality gained national attention on July 12, 2020, when it became the site of the first formal quarantine in Mexico following a decree to implement a curfew due to rising COVID-19 cases.