With its rich history, fascinating cultural mix and old Mexican charm, Vercruz is a holiday destination that begs to be discovered. Although not as popular as other tourist resorts around Mexico, Vercruz is fast becoming a major tourist destination that offers a wide variety of historic architecture, adventure sports and natural beauty. Situated on the Gulf of Mexico, this is the country’s largest and most historic port ever since the Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés founded a city here in 1519. At the cultural heart of Vercruz is the Plaza de las Armas, the main square that acts as the social centre of the city, where you can witness music, dancing and other activities. Throughout the city, there are many interesting buildings to explore, including the Baroque Municipal Palace, which was built in 1608, the Virgen de la Asunción Cathedral, which dates back to the 17th Century, and the Carranza Lighthouse, situated in the Port area. To the north of the city centre lies Fort San Juan de Ulúa, an island that forms part of the La Gallega coral reef. Here you can relax on the 1.5 miles (2,500 metres) of beach or snorkel, dive and swim in the blue waters of the reef. If you are keen to see an authentic pre-Columbian site, then you can take a trip up the coast to Papantla to visit El Tajín, once one of the largest and most significant ancient cities in the region and now a World Heritage site. Amongst El Tajín’s most impressive monuments are the incredible Pyramids of the Niches.
The best way to explore the main tourist attractions in the centre of Vercruz is on foot. Taxis are also very cheap to hire, but you should agree a price before you start your journey. If you want to tour the Gulf region, the best way is to hire a car or go by bus. The bus station is situated on Salvador Diaz Miron Street. The Vercruz bus system is comprehensive and you can explore most of the Gulf region by bus if you prefer not to drive.
General Heriberto Jara International Airport (VER) is the closest airport to Vercruz, located 6 miles (9 km) to the southwest of the city. There are several car rental companies located at the airport, if you want to hire your own car. Alternatively, you can easily hire a taxi or shared minivan to reach the city, a journey which takes about 12 minutes.