Pan-American Highway, National Geographic Book: Huasteca Village Life
Children play in the courtyard in front of their traditional thatched-roof adobe home in Palictla, Mexico. Families in this tropical region are orange pickers. The family of Hipolito Marcial, includes seven children. The thatch called “zacate” grass will last around 20 years before it must be replaced. South of Ciudad Valles the Pan American highway passes through Huasteca Indian country. At one time the Huastec population was once estimated to be one million, but today they number about 150,000.