The city of Veracruz is the largest and most important city of the state of Veracruz; it has the largest commercial seaport in Mexico. It is located 90 km from Jalapa and 400 km from Mexico City. Historically, this city is known for being founded by Hernan Cortés, due to it was in the region where the Spanish troops landed to then undertake the conquest of the Aztec Empire. It is also four times heroic, for the courageous struggle of its population against four different foreign invasions. It is known as “The door from Mexico to the World” (La Puerta de Mexico al Mundo), since the port is and has been the largest in the country since its beginnings in the colonial era to the present day and was for 250 years the only port through which goods could enter and leave continental America to Europe.

In the port of Veracruz tourists can find a wide variety of beaches such as Villa del Mar, Playon de Hornos, Costa de oro and Mocambo, some of them decorated by the great Mexican Navy ships. These beaches are ideal for relaxing and enjoying the sun as well as for do all kinds of water sports, mostly diving, thanks to the fact that in front of them there are 6 reefs, which belong to the Veracruz Reef System, one of the most important reef systems of Mexico. This area is recognized as one of the 13 wonders of Mexico; it has over 10 million years old and has a wide range of corals, colorful fish and crustaceans, also small islands with an abundance of mangroves and coconut palms; in this area it is also possible to find over 350 shipwrecks, many of which can be explored by diving. In the port tourists can visit the amazing aquarium, with the largest seawater tank in Latin America, where you can admire a variety of sharks.

The city of Veracruz has a rich history which can be seen in the beautiful architecture of its streets, museums and historic buildings, among the most important are: the Lighthouse, the Post Office building, the bastion of Santiago and the fortress of San Juan de Ulúa, it also has a beautiful Malecon where tourists can sit and enjoy the view of the arriving and leaving of large ships to the port. Currently, the design of the historic center is the same as in 1615, planned by the Dutch engineer Adrian Boot, when, for lack of stone, the houses in Veracruz were built of wood, so the city was called “City of wooden boards”. It was until the eighteenth century that was built with stone brought from Campeche and later with mucara stone, a coral origin rock, similar to volcanic rock.

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The Zocalo is located in the heart of the port, surrounded by beautiful buildings and its famous portals, it is known as the Plaza de la Constitution (Constitution Square) and it has an outdoor theater, which is the venue for various cultural activities. The Bastion of Santiago is a military building, it was part of a wall, consisting of nine bastions, it was a defensive system, which purpose was to help guard the city and avoid the constant attacks by pirates and privateers that Veracruz suffered. It is the only surviving bastion. The fortress of San Juan de Ulúa is a building built on an islet in front of the port to protect it from the constant attacks, years later served as a jail where many of the initiators of the independence and revolution movements were imprisoned and now houses an important museum which tells the history of the port since pre-Hispanic times to today.

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The most anticipated celebration in Veracruz is the Carnival of Veracruz is known as the world’s happiest Carnival and the largest in Mexico, it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world, and it takes place between the months of February and March. The festival begins with the “Burning of Bad Humor” represented by a paperboard character, which is set on fire taking the bad humor away. During nine days, there are colorful parades, masked balls and the Queen of Carnival is elected. There is the interpretation of the “Danzon”, traditional folklore in Veracruz; on the ninth day, to finish this popular event takes place the funeral of Juan Carnaval. The traditional cuisine of Veracruz is known nationally and internationally for its richness and variety, it mixes the Spanish delicious cuisine, with flavors from coast, combining the best of tropical food and the best sea food. As appetizers, are typical the most exquisite seafood dishes and fresh fish in infinite variety and all kinds of tropical fruit drinks and candy. Veracruz is also known for being the second coffee-producer state in Mexico, tourists can enjoy a cup of authentic coffee from Veracruz in the Gran Cafe de la Parroquia, founded in 1808, is an icon in the tradition of Veracruz, and there is a famous saying: “If you come to Veracruz but do not take a coffee in Gran Cafe de la Parroquia, is like if you had not come to Veracruz”.