Veracruz
Ciudad HistóRica / Primer Puerto De AméRica · Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz was founded by Cortes in 1519 and was for three centuries the only legal port between Spain and New Spain, so silver, goods, settlers and enslaved people all passed through it, and so did the music. It is where Spanish, African and indigenous sound met as son jarocho, the root of La Bamba, and where couples still dance danzon on the main square most evenings. It is a warm, working Gulf city, not a beach resort: the city beaches are grey-brown sand beside a port, so come for history, coffee, seafood and music. Offshore the coral-stone fortress of San Juan de Ulua became Mexico's most feared prison. Budget around MXN 700 (roughly USD 40) a night for a simple hotel, MXN 80-100 for the fortress, MXN 150-250 for the aquarium, and go between November and March, avoiding the carnival week unless you want it. The city is flat and walkable, with the best evenings on the zocalo and the malecon.
Zócalo, Centro Histórico, Veracruz, Veracruz, 91700, Mexico
An open city - the Zócalo, the malecón and the danzón are free. ⚠ DANZÓN IS DANCED ON THE ZÓCALO ON MOST EVENINGS to a live band - it is a public social event, not a performance; do not walk through the dance floor. San Juan de Ulúa keeps INAH daytime hours and generally closes Mondays; INAH Sunday free admission applies to Mexican nationals and residents only. ⚠ THE FORTRESS IS REACHED BY ROAD AROUND THE HARBOUR, not on foot from the malecón. ⚠ CARNIVAL FALLS IN THE NINE DAYS BEFORE LENT and fills the entire city. ⚠ NORTES - hard winter northerlies from November to March - CLOSE THE PORT AND CANCEL BOAT TRIPS for a day or two at a time. ⚠ THIS IS NOT A BEACH DESTINATION: the city beaches are grey Gulf sand beside a working port. ⚠ VERACRUZ STATE CARRIES A TRAVEL ADVISORY - check current advice and do not travel highways after dark. ⚠ HOURS AND PRICES NOT VERIFIED FOR THIS FILE.