best places to visit in veracruz mexico

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10 Best Places to Visit in Veracruz, Mexico

Often overlooked by tourists to the country, the coastal state of Veracruz has a wealth of hidden gems for you to discover, with charming colonial towns and awe-inspiring archaeological sites tucked away amongst breathtakingly beautiful landscapes. Lying alongside the glimmering Gulf of Mexico, it was here in Veracruz that the Spanish founded their first settlements and attempted to conquer the Aztecs.

There are lots of interesting historical sights and cultural landmarks to be found in picturesque towns such as Tlacotalpan and La Antigua, while the mesmerizing Mesoamerican ruins at La Tajin count among the most impressive in the country.

With the towering snowcapped Orizaba also on show – Mexico’s highest mountain – and beautiful beaches along the Gulf for you to check out; Veracruz has a lot to offer. Discover this unknown region of Mexico with our list of the best places to visit in Veracruz.

Map of Veracruz, Mexico

10. Coatepec [SEE MAP]

Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, the laidback town of Coatepec is a lovely place to visit that is known for one thing and one thing only – coffee. Surrounded by endless farms, coffee plantations, and cloud forests, the town has long produced some of the best coffee in the country, with ‘La Vereda’ and ‘Bola de Oro’ being among the most popular.

As such, no visit to Coatepec can ever be complete without trying at least a couple of its famous brews, and there are loads of places around town where you can grab a cup or two.

While its coffee is undeniably delicious, Coatepec actually has much more to offer. The center of town is full of magnificent old colonial buildings, and lots of restaurants and bars sell traditional local fare. The best time of year to visit is in September when the whole town springs to life to celebrate San Jeronimo, its patron saint.

9. Villa Rica [SEE MAP]

Nowadays a small, sleepy fishing village, it was at Villa Rica that Hernan Cortes, the famous Spanish explorer, established the first European settlement in the Americas north of Panama , all the way back in 1519. Meaning ‘Rich Village,’ Villa Rica was named after all the gold the Spanish found in the area.

While the dusty remains of some buildings constructed by Cortes can still be seen in town, within five years of its founding, the town had been relocated to what is now the bustling port city of Veracruz. Since then, time and history have passed Villa Rica by, and most people now visit for its lovely beach and laidback vibe.

8. Orizaba [SEE MAP]

Designated as one of Mexico’s pueblos magicos – or magical towns – by the country’s tourism board, Orizaba is a delight to visit, with historical sights, cultural attractions, and breathtaking nature all on offer. Set in a scenic spot in a valley high in the mountains, Orizaba is very attractive, with lovely parks surrounding its colonial center and a lazy river meandering through town.

Besides a brilliant art museum boasting a large collection of Diego Rivera paintings, the undoubted highlight is the majestic art nouveau architecture of the Iron Palace that was built by Gustave Eiffel himself.

The town also has lots of great cafes and restaurants scattered here and there, with plenty of delicious local fare for you to try out. While visiting Orizaba, be sure to take an exhilarating cable car ride to the top of Cerro Borrego, which offers up fantastic views of the town below and the awe-inspiring Pico de Orizaba – the country’s highest mountain.

7. Cempoala [SEE MAP]

Home to the crumbling ruins of several vast fortresses, squares, and temples, the Mesoamerican archaeological site of Cempoala is fascinating to wander around, and history lovers will delight at the elegant architecture. Founded around 1,500 years before the arrival of the Spanish, Cempoala was once a significant settlement; around 25-30,000 people would have lived there, and it was even the capital of Totonocapan for a while.

Defeated by Aztec armies in the 15th century, Cempoala slowly declined, so all we can see today are the remains of a once flourishing city. The most impressive on show are the Templo del Sol – or Great Pyramid – and the interesting designs and ornamentation found on the sides of El Pimiento and Templo Las Caritas.

6. Lago de Catemaco [SEE MAP]

Located at the heart of the Sierra de Los Tuxtlas – a mountainous belt that lies right next to the Gulf of Mexico – the glistening Lago de Catemaco is a great place to head if you want to kick back and relax. There are lots of pristine beaches and fun watersports for you to check out.

Ringed by gently rolling hills, the large freshwater lake is perfect for swimming in; many people take boat trips out to the small, isolated islands that dot its waters, with some of them home to different species of monkey.

It is well worth staying a few days at the sleepy lakeside town of Catemaco, as the area surrounding the lake has lots of beautiful rivers, waterfalls, and mountains for you to check out, and there is some fantastic birdwatching to be had.

5. La Antigua [SEE MAP]

The second oldest Spanish settlement in the country, La Antigua was founded by Hernan Cortes all the way back in 1525. The crumbling, vine-covered ‘Casa de Cortes’ that dates to his time is now one of the town’s main attractions. A very peaceful and pleasant place to spend some time, La Antigua’s cobbled streets are fantastic for getting lost in, and stopping off at one of the excellent seafood restaurants is simply a must.

The other main sight in town is the Ermita del Rosario church, which is widely considered to be the oldest Spanish-built structure in the Americas. Other than that, there is not all that much to do in La Antigua besides taking a relaxing cruise down the Rio Antigua and lazily watch the world go by.

4. Xalapa [SEE MAP]

Tucked away in the highlands in the interior of the state, Xalapa, the capital city of Veracruz, has a vivacious and youthful feel to it, thanks to its large student population. Its universities have long had a profound influence on the city, and its arts and culture scene is thriving due to its many theaters, museums, and bookshops.

Nightlife is great to experience in Xalapa too, with lots of trendy bars and nightclubs for you to check out. Besides the lovely colonial architecture on show in the center of town, the main attraction is the wonderful anthropological museum that hosts a huge collection of Mesoamerican artifacts.

3. Tlacotalpan [SEE MAP]

Lying on the north bank of the Rio Papaloapan, Tlacotalpan is full of beautiful, colonial-era architecture; it is not without reason that it is also known as the ‘Pearl of the Papaloapan.’ Once an important river port, riches flowed into Tlacotalpan and funded the building of all the magnificent buildings we see before us today.

Painted in an eclectic mix of blues, pinks, yellows, and oranges, the colonial buildings are beautiful to behold, with life in the peaceful town revolving around its two main plazas of Parque Hidalgo and Plaza Zaragoza. As there is not all that much to do in Tlacotalpan, it’s best to just bask in the ambiance and wander around town, taking in all the fantastic sights.

2. Veracruz [SEE MAP]

Known as ‘Puerto’ to locals, the bustling city of Veracruz is home to Mexico’s largest and most important port; as such, it has long attracted people to its shores. Due to this, the city exhibits a dazzling array of different cultures. This intoxicating mix is best experienced through its cuisine and music scene, which showcases indigenous, Spanish, and Afro-Cuban influences.

Famed for its pounding nightlife, Veracruz is loads of fun to visit. February is a particularly good time to stop by as its raucous carnival celebrations bring the city to a standstill. Founded by the Spanish all the way back in the early 16th century, Veracruz has some lovely colonial-era architecture on show, with its two historic forts amongst its many highlights. Ambling peacefully along its harborside boardwalk is a great way to take in the sights and sounds of the city.

1. El Tajin [SEE MAP]

The breathtaking and expansive ruins of El Tajin are among the most well-preserved and impressive in Mesoamerica, and no visit to Veracruz can ever be complete without exploring the amazing archaeological site. Once one of the largest cities in the region, El Tajin flourished for centuries, with palaces, ball courts, and temples springing up – until the city’s fortunes waned around the year 1200.

Wandering around the crumbling ruins that tower over you is a mesmerizing experience as you follow in the footsteps of the people who once lived here; the vast Pyramid of the Niches is the undoubted highlight. For history lovers interested in learning more about El Tajin and its many beautiful buildings, it is a good idea to hire a tour guide who can explain all the elegant designs and motifs you come across.

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Veracruz Travel Guide

Mexico › Veracruz Updated: March 3, 2022

• Best Places to Stay in Mexico City
• Best Places to Stay in Guadalajara

Veracruz is a major port and popular resort city on the eastern, Gulf Coast of Mexico, and one of our absolute favorite places to go in the country. Veracruz is best known for its rich history, tropical setting, charming old town, raucous nightlife, and the biggest aquarium in Latin America.

Frequently Asked Questions about Veracruz

Where is veracruz.

Veracruz is a port on the Gulf of Mexico and the largest city in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It lies around 90 km southeast of the state capital Xalapa, 420 km east of Mexico City, and 270 km east of Puebla. Non-stop flights to Veracruz take just 55 minutes from Mexico City, 1 hour 35 minutes from Monterrey, 2 hours 15 minutes from Houston, and 3 hours 20 minutes from Tijuana.

The historic downtown area of the port city of Heroica.

How big is Veracruz?

Veracruz has a greater metro population of just over 700,000. The city and busiest resort area stretches some 20km north to south along the Gulf of Mexico, from the port to the Jamapa River.

What is the history of Veracruz?

Veracruz (officially “Heroica Veracruz”), is one of the most historic cities in Mexico. Once part of the Aztec Empire, the city was the first to be founded by the Spanish in Mexico, just after Hernán Cortés’ fateful arrival in 1519. Cortés and his conquistadors waded ashore and made camp here, but the city was relocated up the coast a couple of times before settling on its current location in 1589. Veracruz subsequently became a crucial port city, the main link between Mexico and Spain – as a consequence the English, Dutch, and French frequently attacked its shipping throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. In the Mexican War of Independence, Veracruz was the last part of the country held by the Spanish, and in the Mexican–American War (1846–48), US troops occupied the city and marched on to capture the capital. In 1861 the French invaded Mexico through the port of Veracruz, and in 1914 US troops returned to occupy the city during the Mexican Revolution. Since then, the city has flourished as Mexico’s biggest port and a key petroleum-refining hub (there are major oil fields offshore).

‘Pico de Orizaba’ is the tallest mountain in Mexico and 3rd tallest in North America.

How do I get to Veracruz?

Veracruz is connected to the US by three weekly non-stop flights from Houston on United, but its airport otherwise serves Mexican domestic destinations only; Cancún, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Tijuana among them. All other flights from Canada, the US, and Europe route through Houston or Mexico City.

Veracruz airport is about 10km south of the city; it’s simple and convenient to take a taxi from here into the center (around 300 pesos; pay in advance at the taxi desk in the terminal).

Within Mexico, first-class long-distance buses are an economical and comfortable alternative to flying – buses to Veracruz from Puebla (3 hours) and Mexico City (5 hours 30 minutes) operate hourly. Veracruz bus station is about 3km from the city center. Arriving there it’s best to take a taxi – these follow a fixed-rate system, with the current rates displayed at the exit. Buy a ticket from the dedicated booth before getting in (around 45 to 50 pesos).

Can I use Uber in Veracruz?

Currently Uber does not operate in Veracruz.

Can I drive to Veracruz?

Driving down to Veracruz from the US border is relatively straightforward – the main highways are good, and virtually empty outside the towns. However, the Mexican border states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas have been affected by drug cartel violence – driving at night is definitely a bad idea. Check the latest travel advisories at travel.state.gov or ask the hotel. Drivers also need a Mexican “Temporary Importation of Vehicle Permit”.

From Brownsville, Texas the drive is around 590 miles (950 km) and takes around 13 hours non-stop.

Renting a car is much easier to do on the Mexican side of the border, as taking US rental vehicles into Mexico comes with all sorts of restrictions.

The paper balloon festival in front of the Church of San Miguel Arcangel.

Do I need a car in Veracruz?

Most of the historic center of Veracruz can be explored on foot; for the beaches and attractions further afield it’s easy and cheap to take a taxi or a bus (navigating the congested roads of Veracruz can be a real headache in any case). Taxis are easy to hail on the street (hotels will also call them) – always fix the price in advance before getting in (there are no meters). The minimum fare is 35 pesos, but trips in the center will rarely top 50 pesos. Buses for the beaches (labeled “Boca del Río”, “Playas” or “Mocambo”) run along Zaragoza Street close to the zócalo (main square). Local buses charge a flat fare of 9 pesos (expected to increase by a few pesos in the coming year).

When is the best time to go to Veracruz?

During the dry season, from November to May – Veracruz is a tropical city but temperatures at this time are more comfortable and less humid. To get the best hotel rates and to avoid the crowds, skip Veracruz during Christmas, Easter, or the Veracruz Carnival (Feb/March), when the city is mobbed by domestic tourists. The hot, humid wet season runs from June to October – hotel rates can be cheaper, but exploring the city is miserable at this time.

What are the main resort areas in Veracruz?

The historic city center of Veracruz (“Centro Histórico”) fronts the port and marina, and most of the resort hotels lie along the beaches further south, linked by Bulevar María Ávila Camacho. The closest beaches to the center are Playa Villa del Mar and neighboring Playa Hornos and Playa Martí: it’s not great for swimming here (the water is not clean), but there is plenty of seafood and boat trips are offered to Cancuncito and the Isla de Sacrificios, just offshore. Further south, Costa de Oro is home to several major resorts, though the beaches here are also fairly scrappy. Playa Mocambo is much better, a kilometer south, with beach bars, a small water park, and lots of decent hotels. At the end of the strip, 3.5 km south of Mocambo, lies Boca del Río at the mouth of the River Jamapa. There are more long, grey-sand beaches here, but the main attractions are the town’s riverfront seafood restaurants and boat trips upstream into the jungle.

Market on the plaza in front of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Catemoc.

What are the best beaches in Veracruz?

Our favorite beach in Veracruz is Playa Mocambo – it’s by far the nicest stretch of sand and is the best for swimming. Playa Martí is closer to the center and is a fun spot to watch local beach volleyball and soccer matches. Playa Hornos is the best place for watersports.

Where should I stay in Veracruz?

We would recommend somewhere in the Old Center of Veracruz, the “Centro Histórico”, to make the most of the nightlife, sights, best restaurants and attractions. While it’s true that the hotels here tend to be more old-fashioned, the resort hotels along the beaches are quite a long way from the action – and Veracruz isn’t known for its beaches in any case (they are not Mexico’s best). Staying in the city center it’s relatively easy to take a taxi or bus out to the beaches for the day. On the other hand, those that prefer a few hours of sightseeing followed by every afternoon on the beach may want to check out the resorts in the coastal “hotel zone”.

In the city center, we like the Hotel Emporio , which combines a central location with excellent amenities and a pool overlooking the harbor. The Hotel Veracruz Centro Histórico and Hotel Baluarte are other excellent choices in the center. Hotel Indigo Boca del Rio is a chic, contemporary option close to Playa Mocambo, as is the Collection O Hotel Mocambo , a beautifully renovated hotel from 1932.

What are the best things to do in Veracruz?

Veracruz has an energy and cultural identity unlike any other Mexican resort city.

The old heart of the city is its main plaza, known as the Zócalo. Dominated by the city’s beautiful cathedral, the Zócalo is the perfect place to sip local mint juleps and listen to marimba bands (based around a giant wooden xylophone), as well as mariachi and norteño music. Similarly lively in the evenings, the malecón (harbourfront promenade) features street vendors, buskers, and “dancing” fountains. The city’s biggest conventional attraction is the Acuario de Veracruz , the huge aquarium, though there are also plenty of historic sights. Get oriented at the Museo de la Ciudad , a museum that chronicles the history of the city, and the Museo Histórico Naval , which charts Mexican naval history from the Mesoamerican period to the modern-day. It’s also possible to visit the city’s once-formidable Spanish fortifications: the 17th-century Baluarte de Santiago and the ruined Castillo de San Juan de Ulúa , complete with creepy dungeon.

Though the beaches of Veracruz (see above) are not the best in Mexico, they can make for a relaxing day in the sun. Snorkeling and diving trips out to the nearby islands are also fun: Cancuncito is a tiny sandbank in crystal-clear waters, while the Isla de Sacrificios is off-limits but surrounded by enticing snorkeling sites, and La Blanquilla, Isla Verde, and Anegada de Adentro are all reef sites just 20 minutes ride from the beach. Recommended operators include Mundo Submarino and Scubaver . Monkey Fish is another excellent operator that can arrange kayaking, paddleboarding, sandboarding, and snorkeling. Armonia Rafting can arrange whitewater rafting in nearby Jalcomulco.

What are the restaurants like in Veracruz?

Veracruz is well-known throughout Mexico for its cuisine, with its signature dish, Huachinango a la Veracruzana (red snapper Veracruz-style), available almost everywhere. Other local specialties include pulpo a la marinera (octopus), arroz a la tumbada (local seafood rice, a bit like paella), empanadas de camarón (shrimp empanadas), and jaiba, a large Gulf crab. The local coffee, fruits, and vanilla are also worth sampling, and all the seafood is fabulous.

Another pleasure in Veracruz is hanging out in its old colonial cafés – always lively and ringing with the sound of spoons clinking against glasses (the traditional way to call for a refill). Gran Café del Portal (Independencia 1187) and Café de la Parroquia (Gómez Farías 34) are the two most famous and our favorite spots to enjoy breakfast. For a treat, we like the contemporary Mexican food at Restaurante Fussion (Av. 1º de Mayo 632).

Enjoying an evening on the plaza in Tlacotalpan.

What currency is used in Veracruz?

The Mexican peso (often prefixed with a “$” sign) is the currency of Mexico and Veracruz. Most major shops and restaurants in Veracruz accept credit cards, but it is a good idea to have some peso cash on hand for bus/taxi trips, museum entry, and small purchases like bottled water and snacks. ATMs are easy to find in Veracruz around the junction of Independencia and Benito Juárez.

Is Veracruz expensive?

Hotels in Veracruz are reasonably priced, and food and drink is a good value. All beaches are open to the public and free to visit, buses and taxis are cheap, and budget Airbnb deals are also a viable option.

Is Veracruz safe?

Veracruz has generally avoided the drug violence that has affected other parts of Mexico. Take the usual precautions, especially at night, and keep valuables in room safes. Theft of personal items from beaches does happen – never leave anything of value unattended, even on seemingly empty stretches of sand.

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15 Best Places To Visit In Veracruz For Families and Kids

Veracruz, Mexico is one of the most overlooked family travel destinations in the country - but it shouldn't be. There are so many places to visit in Veracruz for families to experience!

The city of Veracruz itself, (officially known as Heroica Veracruz but also known as Veracruz Port) is the oldest city in the Americas. It’s full of culture and history. But, it's also one of the most family friendly destinations abroad that you will find. 

This post may contain affiliate links. That means this blog will receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase something. However, this will not result in any extra costs to you.

This post was written by Sara Tyler.

Table of Contents

Where to stay and what to see in Veracruz

The largest city in the state is Veracruz Port, which is often combined with its southern neighbor, Boca del Rio. Together, Veracruz Port and Boca del Rio host the majority of the tourist attractions, annual festivals, and cultural events, not to mention the malecon and the beaches. 

Many hotels in Veracruz are located along the coast, from the Zona Centro neighborhood to the Costa de Oro neighborhood. These neighborhoods are convenient to many of the places to visit in Veracruz that are highlighted in this post. You can also find hotels scattered throughout the city of Boca del Rio.

DoubleTree by Hilton

For a dependable hotel experience, consider staying at the DoubleTree by Hilton during your visit in Veracruz. Being a Hilton hotel, you'll find the usual room amenities such as air conditioning, WiFi, coffee maker, safe, and TV with cable. Rooms can accommodate families of up to 4 people, and some of them have views of the beach.

Within the hotel, you'll find an outdoor pool, a gym, and restaurant on-site. Breakfast is available for a fee. DoubleTree by Hilton is a 4 minute walk from Regatas Beach, and is a 12 minute walk from the Veracruz Aquarium. You'll find a few restaurants within a 3-10 minute walk from the hotel.

Veracruz Centro Historico

For a hotel with a more retro vibe during your time in Veracruz with kids, consider staying at the Veracruz Centro Historico . This hotel is located a 1 minute walk from the Zocalo, and has many restaurant options within a 1-2 minute walk. Veracruz Centro Historico is right in the middle of the action!

Rooms can accommodate families of up to 4 people and are equipped with air conditioning, WiFi, safe, and TV with cable channels. The hotel has an outdoor pool and cooked-to-order breakfast available for a fee. There are 2 restaurants available on-site.

Gran Hotel Diligencias

If you're looking for another place to stay in Zona Centro, consider staying at Gran Hotel Diligencias . Located close to the Zocalo, Veracruz Cathedral, and Veracruz Harbor, this hotel offers families a convenient place to stay during their time in Veracruz with kids. The architecture of the hotel blends well with its surroundings, so you get a historic vibe with modern amenities.

Rooms at Gran Hotel Diligencias can accommodate families of up to 4 people, and come with WiFi, TV, air conditioning, and coffee maker. There's an outdoor pool, as well as hot tub and sauna, plus a 24-hour gym. The hotel has a restaurant on-site.

Use this map to find more places to stay in Veracruz

Top family picks for places to visit in veracruz.

There are plenty of amazing places to visit in Veracruz within the port city itself. From boardwalks to museums, Veracruz has something for every age. 

If your time in Veracruz is limited, pick one or two of these suggestions to make the most of your time. But if you have longer to stay in Veracruz, see them all to make your vacation extra memorable.

1. Malecon 

Within the city, the malecon (boardwalk) is itself one of the most popular tourist attractions in Veracruz Mexico. Recently renovated, the malecon consists of over 10 miles of a wide beachfront path, where families gather after the sun goes down. You will find locals and tourists alike walking, jogging, cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, and more along the beach. 

You will also find benches, tables and chairs to dine, and children's parks along the malecon. Additionally, there are public gyms/workout equipment every few miles. It’s one of the best places to visit in Veracruz if you’re looking for a glimpse of local life!

2. Artisan Markets 

At the northern end of the malecon, you will find artisan markets and street vendors that sell everything from authentic, handmade clothing and goods, to the typical souvenirs that you can expect in any beach destination. 

The artisan market, officially called Mercado de Artesanias Miguel Aleman Valdes, is located in front of the Port. This is one of the best places to visit in Veracruz Mexico because in addition to the typical vendors, you will see local dance and music performances at night. And you’ll also get plenty of street food. 

3. Aquarium 

For families looking for educational places to visit in Veracruz, head to the Aquarium del Puerto de Veracruz. The aquarium is located in Plaza Acuario, a local shopping mall, next to Playa Villa del Mar. It features exhibits which focus on the local flora and fauna of the Veracruz coral reef system. 

The aquarium is a great option for family friendly attractions in Veracruz. Your family will enjoy learning about sea life, especially the turtles, which are native to the Veracruz area. The aquarium is free on Tuesdays. 

4. Ripley’s and Museo de Cera

If you’re looking for some unique Veracruz points of interest after your visit to the aquarium, head to the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum and nearby Museo de Cera (the wax museum). Both are located in the same plaza. 

You’ll also find a small food court in the plaza. Additionally, in front of the plaza, you can buy tickets for double decker tourist buses that take you around the historic downtown area. 

Alternatively, you can book your double decker tourist bus ahead of time online to get a panoramic tour of all the places to visit in Veracruz.

Panoramic Sightseeing Tour of Veracruz

5. Playa Villa del Mar 

Playa Villa del Mar is one of the most popular beaches in the Port of Veracruz, and also one of the best beaches in Veracruz. It hosts over 20 local, authentic restaurants right on the shore for visitors to enjoy. Restaurants and palapas are located along the beach where you can rent tables outright, or by consuming food or drink off the menu of traditional Veracruz dishes. 

For families looking for some water-themed places to visit in Veracruz, you can find vendors selling Veracruz sightseeing tours to Cancuncito (an area just a few miles offshore which is unusually shallow due to a hurricane a couple decades ago). It is called Cancuncito because of the white sand and transparent water that appear just like Isla Mujeres or the beaches of Cancun. Vendors sell spots on collectivos (group trips) which include a tour of the local area and a visit in front of Isla de las Sacrificios (Sacrifice Island). 

6. Playa Marti 

If you’re looking for more low key and off the beaten path Veracruz tourist attractions, head to Playa Marti. This is a small local beach where you can find competitive soccer games most nights.

On the malecon directly in front of the beach is a new, large playground area for small children. Free, public workout equipment is located 2 blocks north for teens and adults. This beach is a hidden gem among all the places to visit in Veracruz!

7. Carnaval

One of the fun things to do in Veracruz Mexico in early spring is to experience Carnaval. Veracruz Port has the largest Carnaval celebration outside of Brazil. 

The date for Carnaval changes each year as it follows a religious calendar, but is usually held in February/March. Similar to Mardi Gras in the United States, there are nightly Carnaval parades along the malecon. A family-friendly parade is always scheduled for Sunday morning, and is usually free of charge. 

In addition, you can attend free concerts and the crowning of the King and Queen of Carnaval. The beaches of Veracruz are some of the best places to visit in Veracruz during Carnaval. Along the main boulevard in front of the local beaches you’ll find vendors selling street food, beer, and souvenirs during the week-long festival. 

8. Zocalo 

Another must for Veracruz things to do is to visit the Zocalo. The historical center of the city, the Zocalo is located near the northern end of the malecon and is the site of many weekly cultural events. 

The Palacio Municipal (or local town hall) is located in the center of the town square and is a great local option for places to visit in Veracruz. It is surrounded by local family friendly restaurants/bars. There is a large fountain in the center, surrounded by benches and street vendors selling everything from Cuban cigars to ice cream. On the weekends, you can listen to live music and watch locals dancing. 

9. Parque Zaragoza 

Zaragoza Park is one of the best family friendly places to visit in Veracruz. It is located next to the local market, where you can eat at many of the authentic food stalls, or buy meat, fruit, and vegetables at local prices. 

Recently remodeled, the park is home to playground equipment for small children, as well as family bicycles and remote control Power Wheel rentals. On the weekends, the park is lined with bouncy houses where kids can jump and play for a small fee ($10-20 pesos per 15 minutes). 

10. Other places to visit in Veracruz Port 

For families who have longer than a few days for their vacation, here is a list of other places to visit in Veracruz that are perfect for learning about the culture and history of the city.

• San Juan de Ulua: a historic Spanish fortress with a museum
• Naval History Museum: a museum showcasing the naval history of Mexico
• Museo de la Ciudad: a museum showcasing the history of the city of Veracruz 

Book this sightseeing tour to pack in multiple places to visit in Veracruz into one action-packed day:

Veracruz City Sightseeing Tour, San Juan de Ulúa Castle & Aquarium

Day Trips from Veracruz Port 

If you’re looking for more places to visit in Veracruz, why not take a day trip from Veracruz Port? Day trips give families a chance to see more of Veracruz state and experience life outside of the city. Take a look at these great day trip ideas for places to visit in Veracruz state.

11. Historical day trips from Veracruz Port

Veracruz is one of the first cities colonized by Spain in the 1500s. But prior to the arrival of the Spanish, Veracruz state was home to a diverse population of indigenous groups, according to the site, Indigenous Mexico .

There are many places to visit in Veracruz where families can learn about pre-colonial and colonial history of the area. Families can visit the archeological site of El Tajin , a 3 hour drive from Veracruz Port, to learn about pre-colonial history. 

Book one of these tours of El Tajin for your family:

Magic Town - Papantla And Tajin In Veracruz

El Tajín Ruins and Papantla Day Trip from Veracruz

Tajin And Papantla Tour From Veracruz Or Boca Del Rio

Additionally, families can visit the town of Tlacotalpan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is 2 hours from Veracruz Port by car. 

Book this day trip to Tlacotalpan from Veracruz:

Tlacotalpan World Heritage Site and Alvarado Day Trip

You can also visit some of Veracruz state’s Pueblos Magicos (Magic Towns), by booking this tour. Coatepec is known for its coffee cultivation, while Xico has plenty of delicious local cuisines that families must try.

Xalapa with the Magic Towns of Coatepec and Xico

12. Anton Lizardo 

Anton Lizardo is a sleepy fishing village located about 20 minutes to the south of Veracruz Port/Boca del Rio. It is home to some of the calmest waters in the state of Veracruz, so it is extremely popular for families with kids of all ages And it's a great option for places to visit in Veracruz state. Palapas and restaurants line the beach where you can rent tables outright for $150-$200 pesos or by consuming food and drink from the menu. 

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Anton Lizardo has a population of less than 5,000 residents, with a large chunk belonging to the local navy school. There are limited hotel options in the area as a result (most families will drive down from Boca del Rio for the day and drive home). 

One recommendation, however, is Java John´s Suites . The owner is an expat originally from Texas, who speaks English and Spanish. He offers family-friendly rooms at an affordable price ($25-35 USD per night) and just 1 block from the sea. 

13. Isla de Enmedio 

Isla de Enmedio is a small island and protected turtle sanctuary located just 15 minutes off the coast of Anton Lizardo. So small, you can walk around the perimeter in less than half an hour. Its pristine, virgin beaches rival even the beaches in the Riviera Maya. 

Around 2018, a group of local visitors had an unauthorized party on the island, leading to the destruction of endangered sea turtle eggs. As a result, the island was closed off to visitors for almost a year. 

It reopened with new regulations to the public. Visitors may only stay under the supervision of the boat captain, cannot disturb the local wildlife, and things like speakers and beach umbrellas are banned to protect the turtle eggs. Now, visitors are allowed back on the island where they can swim and snorkel for 3-4 hours on group or private tours. For families looking for places to visit in Veracruz state for snorkeling, this place is a must!

Local vendors on the beach in Anton Lizardo sell spots on collectivos to visit the island on the beaches in Anton Lizardo for around $750 pesos per person. Children under 5 years old are not currently permitted to visit. 

14. Orizaba 

Orizaba is a Pueblo Magico (Magical Town) located about 2 hours from Veracruz Port by bus. Buses run every 1-2 hours from the main ADO bus station in town for about $11 USD. Located higher above sea level than the Port, Orizaba is typically 10-15 degrees cooler than the hot, tropical weather along the coast. 

Want to get inspired to travel?

Grab a copy of Born to Travel: Wanderlust Families That Collect Passport Stamps Instead of Toys to read amazing stories from traveling families.

The downtown area is walkable and very safe, so it's a great option for places to visit in Veracruz state. Within a 6-square block radius, you will find: 

• Parque Alameda (Alameda Park)
• Teleferico (cable cars that bring tourists up to the EcoParque Cerro del Borrego )
• EcoParque Cerro del Borrego (clearing where the Pico de Orizaba (Orizaba mountain peak) is visible)
• Artisan markets
• Main municipal market
• River Walk, where you can see various zoo animals and art exhibits as you walk along the river.
• Palacio del Hierro (Iron Palace)

15. Theme parks near Veracruz

A short 10-minute taxi ride from Orizaba will bring you to 2 of the town’s biggest attractions for kids: 

Expo Parque de los Dinosaurios (the Dinosaur Park) features real life sized dinosaurs inspired by the movie Jurassic Park. Kids can climb into the airplane and jeep for pictures, and take pictures in front of T-Rex and other famous dinosaurs. Admission is free of charge. 

Parque de las Sonrisas (Smile Park) is a free park located 200 meters from the Dinosaur Park. It is made from completely recycled material. All of the attractions are part of a typical city and include fire trucks, ambulances, schools, trains and stations, etc. 

These fun places to visit in Veracruz state are perfect for families with very young kids.

Read up on these Mexico travel tips before your trip.

Is Veracruz worth visiting?

While Veracruz city isn't as easily accessible as Cancun or other tourist hotspots in Mexico, it remains an authentic Mexican destination where you can immerse yourself in the local culture. You can also try all of the traditional food of Veracruz. And of course, practice your Spanish language skills with friendly locals. You can even get a head start with these basic Spanish phrases !

Veracruz is the perfect family vacation destination. Families can visit parks, encounter the best beaches in Veracruz, and experience other Veracruz Mexico tourist attractions for children and teens of all ages. 

Take a look at these Mexico guidebooks to research some of the best places to visit in Veracruz:

Lonely Planet Mexico (Travel Guide)

DK Eyewitness Mexico (Travel Guide)

Read other Gulf Coast posts here .

How to get to Veracruz

The port city of Veracruz is located within the state of Veracruz, situated along the Gulf of Mexico, in central/southern Mexico. It is a 5 hour bus ride from Mexico City and 2 hours from Puebla. From Veracruz state’s capital city, Xalapa, Veracruz Port is about 90 minutes by bus or car.

Veracruz is not a major international tourist destination due to a limited availability of direct, international flights. However, you can find direct flights to Veracruz from Houston, Texas. 

The majority of the flights into Veracruz run through Mexico City. So you’ll find that most of the Veracruz Mexico tourism comes from Mexicans traveling from Mexico City, Puebla, and the surrounding areas. Daily domestic flights from Mexico City and Cancun are less than 2 hours in total flight time. 

If you’re planning to rent a car to get to all the places to visit in Veracruz, you can book a car rental through Avis for pick up at the Veracruz airport.

How safe is Veracruz Mexico?

Veracruz is one of the safest cities to visit in Mexico. The city has moderately low crime and safety rates, according to Numbeo . And according to the website, Crimen en Mexico , which takes crime and homicide data from the Mexican government, Veracruz has some of the lowest crime rates in the country.

What this means for families is that Veracruz is a great place to visit with kids. Families know they’ll be safe adventuring through all the places to visit in Veracruz on their next trip to Mexico. 

Is Mexico safe? Read this post to find out.

Enjoy all the places to visit in Veracruz with kids!

The city of Veracruz is rich with history and culture for families to learn about. And the area surrounding Veracruz Port is just as amazing! This list of places to visit in Veracruz is an excellent way to get a taste of the city's history and culture.

Come here to immerse yourself in the local culture and language, make friends for life, and eat the best regional food in Mexico. While in Veracruz, make sure to try all of the local antojitos like picadas , empanadas , and chiles rellenos .

Whether you decide to stay in the Veracruz Port/Boca del Rio metropolitan area or venture into other parts of the state, you will find many affordable and family friendly places to visit in Veracruz! 

Want to visit more coastal cities in Mexico? Take a look at these posts:

The Top 12 Memorable Progreso Activities and Progreso Excursions

9 Amazing Things To Do In Puerto Vallarta With Kids

About the author

Sara Tyler has lived in Mexico since 2010 and currently resides in Boca del Rio, Veracruz with her partner and 2 daughters, ages 3 and 6. She is the founder of Nomad Publishing , which helps aspiring authors share their travel experiences in bestselling books. She also organizes TEDxBocadelRio annually. 

Sara is the author and publisher of the book, Born to Travel: Wanderlust Families that Collect Passport Stamps Instead of Toys .

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The central Gulf coast is among the least-visited yet most distinct areas of Mexico. From Mexico City, you descend through the southern fringes of the Sierra Madre Oriental , past the country’s highest peaks, to a broad, hot and wet coastal plain. In this fertile tropical zone the earliest Mexican civilizations developed: Olmec culture dominated the southern half of the state from 1200 BC, while the civilization known as Classic Veracruz flourished between 250 and 900 AD at centres such as El Tajín. Today, Huastec and Totonac culture remains strong in the north. Cortés began his march on the Aztec capital from Veracruz, and the city remains, as it was throughout colonial history, one of the busiest ports in the country. Rich in agriculture – coffee, vanilla, tropical fruits and flowers grow everywhere – the Gulf coast is also endowed with large deposits of oil and natural gas.

Fiestas in Veracruz

Villa rica de la veracruz, veracruz to papantla, papantla and around, south of veracruz.

The few non-Mexican tourists who find their way here are usually just passing through. In part, at least, this is because the area makes no particular effort to attract them; the weather can also be blamed – it rains more often and more heavily here than just about anywhere else in Mexico. Yet even in the rainy season the torrential downpours are short-lived, and within a couple of hours of the rain starting, you can be back on the streets in bright sunshine. Though there are long, windswept beaches all down the Atlantic coast, they are less beautiful than their Pacific or Caribbean counterparts, while the larger coastal towns are primarily commercial centres, of little interest to the visitor.

That said, domestic tourism to the area is on the rise, both to the beaches and, increasingly, for adventure tourism – whitewater rafting, kayaking, canyoning, climbing and more – around the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre and the rivers that flow off it. Veracruz itself is one of the most welcoming of all Mexico’s cities; too busy with its own affairs to create a separate life for visitors, the steamy tropical port draws you instead into the rhythms of its daily life, and its obsession with music. Less than an hour north lie La Antigua and Villa Rica, where Cortés established the first Spanish settlements on the American mainland, and Cempoala, ruined site of the first civilization he encountered. El Tajín, near the coast in the north of the state, is one of the most important archeological sites in the country, and Filo Bobos, only recently excavated, is also well worth a visit.

The colonial cities in the mountains are also delightful: Xalapa , seat of the Veracruz state government, is the finest, with its balmy climate, beautiful highland setting and superb anthropology museum. This area, and the high mountains around Córdoba and Orizaba, are the playground of the adrenaline tourist too. To the south, Catemaco is a spellbinding lake set in an extinct volcanic crater, where you can see the last remaining tract of Gulf coast rainforest. The area is renowned as a meeting place for native brujos and curanderos, witches and healers.

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Explore Central Mexico with its ever-busy capital Mexico City, visiting Teotihuacan and the famous museums in the city. Further on to Oaxaca City, the gateway to the Archaeological Site Monte Alban. Afterwards, continue to the white beaches of the Yucatan: Cancun and Isla Holbox await.

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• Día de la Candelaria (Feb 2). The final day of a week-long fiesta, complete with dances, boat races and bulls let loose in the streets, in Tlacotalpan. Colourful fiesta in Jaltipán, near Acayucán, which includes the dance of La Malinche (Cortés’ Indian interpreter and mistress, who is said to have been born here).
• Carnaval (the week before Lent; variable Feb–March) is celebrated all over the region, most riotously in Veracruz.
• Congreso de Brujos (first Fri in March). Shamans, witches, wizards and healers from across Mexico attend purification rituals and celebrations in and around Catemaco, amid a festival that attracts plenty of visitors.
• Fiestas de San José (March 18–19). In Naranjos, between Tuxpán and Tampico, a fiesta with many traditional dances. In Espinal, a Totonac village on the Río Tecolutla, not far from El Tajín and Papantla, you can witness the spectacular voladores.
• Semana Santa (Holy Week, March/April). Re-creations of the Passion are widespread in this area. You can witness them in Papantla, where you’ll also see the voladores; in Coatzintla, a Totonac village nearby; in Cotaxtla, between Veracruz and Córdoba; and in Otatitlán. Naolinco, a beautiful village near Xalapa , stages a mock Crucifixion on Good Friday. Also celebrations in Catemaco and in the port of Alvarado – a ribald Fish Fiesta following the spirit of the Veracruz Carnaval.
• Feria del Cafe (first two weeks of May). Coatepec celebrates the local crop.
• Corpus Christi (variable; the Thurs after Trinity Sun). The start of a major four-day festival in Papantla with regular performances by the voladores.
• Día de San Juan (June 24). Celebrated with dancing in Santiago Tuxtla,and in Martinez de la Torre, near Tlapacoyan, where the voladores perform.
• Día de la Virgen del Carmen (July 15–16). A massive pilgrimage to Catemaco, accompanied by a fiesta which spills over into the following day. At the same time, Xico has a week-long celebration of Mary Magdalene.
• Día de Santiago (July 25). Celebrated with fiestas in Santiago Tuxtla and Coatzintla; each lasts several days. In Tlapacoyan you can see the bizarre Baile de los Negritos.
• Day of Assumption (Aug 15). Widely celebrated, particularly in Tlapacoyan, where you can see El Baile de los Negritos, and with a week-long festival in Tuxpán that includes dancing and the voladores.
• Independence Day (Sept 15–16). Celebrated everywhere.
• San Jeronimo (last week of Sept). Big celebrations in Coatepec.
• Fiesta de la Virgen del Rosario (Oct 7). In La Antigua the patroness of fishermen is honoured with processions of canoes on the river, while Alvarado, outside Veracruz, enjoys a fiesta filling the first two weeks of the month.
• Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead; Nov 2). Observed everywhere.
• Dia del Niño Perdido (Dec 7). Huge candle-lit processions in Tuxpán.
• Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Dec 12). Widely observed, especially in Huatusco, Cotaxtla and Amatlán de los Reyes, near Córdoba.
• Christmas (Dec 25). Celebrated everywhere. There’s a very famous festival in Santiago Tuxtla that lasts until Twelfth Night (Jan 6).

VILLA RICA DE LA VERACRUZ was the first town founded by the Spanish in Mexico, a few days after Cortés’ arrival on Good Friday, 1519. Though today’s city occupies the area of coast where he first came ashore, made camp and encountered Aztec emissaries, the earliest development – little more than a wooden stockade – was in fact established some way to the north before being moved to La Antigua and finally arriving at its present site in 1589. The modern city is very much the heir of the original; still the largest port on the Gulf coast, its history reflects every major event from the Conquest onwards. “Veracruz,” states author Paul Theroux, “is known as the ‘heroic city’. It is a poignant description: in Mexico a hero is nearly always a corpse.”

Your first, and lasting, impression of Veracruz, however, will not be of its historical significance but of its present-day vitality. Its dynamic zócalo, pleasant waterfront location and relative absence of tourists make the city one of the most enjoyable places in the Republic in which to sit back and observe – or join – the daily round. This is especially true in the evenings, when the tables under the portales of the plaza fill up and the drinking and the marimba music begin, to go on late into the evening. Marimba – a distinctively Latin-Caribbean sound based around a giant wooden xylophone – is the local sound, but at peak times there are also mariachi and norteño bands and individual crooners all striving to be heard over each other. When the municipal band strikes up from the middle of the square, confusion is total. Veracruz’s riotous nine-day Carnaval celebrations (held in February) rival the best in the world, while the Festival Internacional Afrocaribeño, usually held in July or August, showcases dance, film, music and art from all over the Caribbean and Africa.

Brief history

Throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Veracruz and the Spanish galleons that used the port were preyed on constantly by the English, Dutch and French. In the War of Independence the Spanish made their final stand here, holding the fortress of San Juan Ulúa for four years after the country had been lost. In 1838 the French occupied the city, in what was later dubbed “The Pastry War”, demanding compensation for French property and citizens who had suffered in the years following Independence; in 1847 US troops took Veracruz, and from here marched on to capture the capital. In January 1862 the French, supported by Spanish and English forces that soon withdrew, invaded on the pretext of forcing Mexico to pay her foreign debt, but ended up staying five years and setting up the unfortunate Maximilian as emperor. Finally, in 1914, US marines were back, occupying the city to protect American interests during the Revolution. These are the “Cuatro Veces Heroica” of the city’s official title, and form the bulk of the history displayed in the museums here.

The attractive zócalo is the heart of life in Veracruz in every sense – the place where everyone gathers, for morning coffee, lunch, afternoon strolls and at night. After dark, especially, it has an extraordinary energy, with tables set out under the portales, nonstop music and strolling crowds. The imposing Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Asunción, consecrated in 1721, dominates the square. Its most striking features are its solid, whitewashed exterior and tiled dome; inside, there’s little to see other than endless restoration works. On the plaza too is the elegant Palacio Municipal, one of the oldest in Mexico, originally built between 1609 and 1627, though it assumed its current form in the eighteenth century. The Fototeca de Veracruz, alongside, hosts beautifully presented photography exhibitions.

Comida y cerveza, a la Veracruzana

Veracruz offers up some fabulous food – the state’s coffee, fruit and vanilla are renowned, and the seafood is also superb. Huachinango a la Veracruzana (red snapper Veracruz-style) is served across the country, and is of course on every menu here; the Veracruzana sauce of tomato, chile, onions and olives can also spice up anything from steak to squid. Other local specialities include pulpos a la marinera (baby octopus), arroz a la tumbada (Veracruz-style rice, packed with seafood), empanadas de camaron (shrimp turnovers) and jaiba, a large local crab; look out too for anything made with chile chipotle, a hot, dark-brown chile with a very distinctive (and delicious) flavour – chilpachole de jaiba is a sort of crab chowder that combines the two. Sweet tamales, too, are a speciality, and to wash it all down, the brewery at Orizaba produces some of the best beers in the country. Stronger liquors include the mind-wiping toritos, made with fruits and blended with condensed milk and a tot of brandy.

Immediately north of Veracruz lie the oldest Spanish settlements in Mexico, and the sites of the indigenous towns which became Cortes’ first allies. A short stretch of toll highway takes you as far as Cardel, a busy little town and handy place to change buses or visit the bank, at the junction of the coastal highway and the road up to Xalapa . La Antigua lies 2km off this road. Beyond Cardel there’s very little to stop for in the long coastal stretch (about 4hr on the bus) to Papantla. At Nautla, 153km from Veracruz, you pass the largest town en route to Papantla, surrounded by coconut groves, at the heart of the so-called “Costa Esmeralda”. There are hotels, some of them pretty fancy, trailer parks and campsites all the way up here, but most are just metres from the highway, which runs close to the shore. The grey sand is frequently desolate and windswept, and it’s not really a place you’d want to stay.

For all its antiquity, there’s not a great deal to see in LA ANTIGUA, site of the second Spanish settlement in Mexico (it’s often incorrectly described as the first – Villa Rica is further north). It is, however, a beautiful, cobbled tropical village, just 20km north of Veracruz on the banks of the Río La Antigua (or Río Huitzilapan). At weekends it makes a popular excursion for Veracruzanos, who picnic by the river and swim or take boat rides.

In the semi-ruined centre of the village stand some of the oldest surviving Spanish buildings in the country: on the plaza are the Edificio del Cabildo, built in 1523, which housed the first ayuntamiento (local government) established in Mexico, and the Casa de Cortés, a fairly crude stone construction, which, despite the name, was probably never lived in by Cortés and is now a ruin, undergoing restoration. Nearby is the tranquil Ermita del Rosario, the first Christian church built in New Spain, which also dates from the early sixteenth century, though it’s been altered and restored since.

On the riverbank stands a grand old tree – the Ceiba de la Noche Feliz – to which it is claimed that Cortés moored his ships. A pedestrian suspension bridge crosses the river near the tree, and on this stretch of the bank are lanchas offering river trips and a little row of restaurants with waterside terraces, the pick of which is Las Maravillas.

The first native city visited by the conquistadors, CEMPOALA (or Zempoala) quickly became their ally against the Aztecs. When Cortés arrived, the city, under the leadership of Chicomacatl (dubbed the “Fat Chief” by conquistador Bernal Díaz del Castillo), had been under Aztec control for little over fifty years. Its people, who numbered some 25,000 to 30,000, had already rebelled more than once and were only too happy to stop paying their tribute once they believed that the Spaniards could protect them. This they did, although the inhabitants must have begun to have second thoughts when Cortés ordered the idols of their deities to be smashed and replaced with crosses and Christian altars.

The ruins, though nowhere near as dramatic as El Tajín further north, make for an absorbing detour and take no more than an hour to explore. They date mostly from the Aztec period, and although the buildings have lost their decorative facings and thatched sanctuaries, they constitute one of the most complete surviving examples of an Aztec ceremonial centre – albeit in an atypical tropical setting and on a very small scale. The double-stairway pyramids, grouped around a central plaza, must have resembled miniature versions of those at Tenochtitlán. Apart from the main, cleared site, consisting of the Templo Mayor, the Gran Pirámide and the Templo de las Chimeneas, there are lesser ruins scattered throughout, and around, the modern village. Look out in particular for the circular Templo de Ehecatl (Temple of the Wind God) on the opposite side of the main road through the village.

Around 15km north of Cardel, the sleepy village of Villa Rica was the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Spain. Established by Cortés in 1519, it was abandoned in 1524 for La Antigua, and only foundations remain today, close to the normally deserted beach. Just beyond, an exceptionally scenic area of steep, green hills is home to Mexico’s only nuclear plant, on the coast at Laguna Verde.’s only nuclear plant, on the coast at Laguna Verde.

PAPANTLA, 227km from Veracruz, is the most attractive town on the route north, straggling over an outcrop of low, jungly hills. Even so, if it weren’t for the proximity of El Tajín, few people would consider staying here. In addition to being one of the most important centres of the Mexican vanilla industry – the sweet, sticky odour frequently hangs over the place, and vanilla products are on sale everywhere – Papantla is also one of the last surviving strongholds of Totonac culture. You’ll see Totonacs, barefoot and in loose white robes in the markets, and can regularly witness the amazing dance-spectacle of the Voladores de Papantla.

On the edge of the zócalo, the huge Mural Cultural Totonaca depicts the clash between modern and traditional life, with sculpted images of Totonac gods, myths and the pyramids of El Tajín alongside oil rigs and farm machinery (the tourist office has a leaflet describing this in detail). It’s best appreciated in the evening, when floodlights pick out the relief and the zócalo itself is wildly animated; especially at weekends, when there’s often live music and dancing. On the terrace above the mural stands the solid Catedral de la Asunción, beyond which you can climb to the Volador monument, a giant statue affording tremendous views of the town.

The Voladores de Papantla

Although the full significance of the dance of the voladores has been lost over time, it has survived much as the earliest chroniclers reported it, largely because the Spanish thought of it as a sport rather than a pagan rite. It involves five men: a leader who provides acoustics on flute and drum, and four performers. They represent the five earthly directions – the four cardinal points and straight up, from earth to heaven. After a few preliminaries, the five climb to a small platform atop a pole, where the leader resumes playing and directs prayers for the fertility of the land in every direction. Meanwhile, the dancers tie ropes, coiled tightly around the top of the pole, to their waists and at a signal fling themselves head-first into space. As they spiral down in increasing circles the leader continues to play, and to spin, on his platform, until the four hit the ground (hopefully landing on their feet, having righted themselves at the last minute). In all, they make thirteen revolutions each, symbolizing the 52-year cycle of the Aztec calendar.

At Papantla (performances in front of the cathedral Fri, Sat & Sun 10.30am–7pm) and El Tajín (regular performances outside the entrance to the ruins starting at 11am), the ritual has become primarily a tourist spectacle, as the permanent metal poles attest. In local villages there is still more ceremony attached, particularly in the selection of a sufficiently tall tree to act as the pole, and its temporary erection in the place where the dance is to be performed. Note that performances are nominally free, though if you catch one of the regular shows in Papantla or El Tajín you’ll be expected to make a donation.

With numerous substantial structures spread over an extensive site, EL TAJÍN is by far the most important and impressive archeological site on the Gulf coast. It divides broadly into two areas: Tajín Viejo, which centres on the amazing Pirámide de los Nichos, and Tajín Chico, a group of official residential buildings belonging to the city’s ruling class built on an artificial terrace. The site museum, by the entrance, has a model of the site worth examining before you venture in, along with a collection of the more delicate stonework salvaged from the ruins, notably murals and columns, bits of pottery and statues – displays are primarily labelled in Spanish, but there are a few English explanations.

The principal architecture at El Tajín dates from the Classic period (300–900 AD); the city declined in the early Post-Classic (900–1100 AD), and by the time of the Conquest it had been forgotten. Our knowledge comes entirely from archeological enquiries made since the accidental discovery of the site in 1785 – El Tajín remains one of the most enigmatic of all of Mexico’s ancient cities. No one even knows who built it: some claim it was the Huastecs, others the Totonacs. Most archeologists prefer not to speculate too wildly, instead calling the civilization Classic Veracruz. You’ll notice many of its hallmarks at El Tajín, including niches in temple walls and complex ornamental motifs known as “scrolls”. Classic Veracruz influence was widespread, and is strongly felt at Teotihuacán,to the extent that some believe that city may have been built by Veracruzanos.

Tajín Viejo

From the site entrance, a track leads through a small group of buildings to the Plaza del Arroyo, the city marketplace, and into the heart of Tajín Viejo. Around the plaza are several ball-courts, the most prominent of which is the South Court, or Juego de Pelota Sur; it looks like a wide avenue between two small pyramids. Seventeen such courts are known here, and more possibly lie unexcavated; it’s thought that the game took on a greater importance here than at any other known site. The superb bas-relief sculptures that cover the walls of the South Court include portrayals of a decapitated player, and another about to be stabbed with a ritual knife by fellow players, with Death waiting to his left. Such bas-reliefs are a constant feature of the site, adorning many of the ball-courts and buildings, with more stacked in the museum.

The unique Pirámide de los Nichos, one of the last to be built here, is the most famous building at El Tajín, and indeed one of the most remarkable of all Mexican ruins. It rises to a height of about 20m in six receding tiers, each face punctuated with regularly spaced niches; up the front a steep stairway climbs to a platform on which the temple originally stood. If you tally up the niches, including those hidden by the stairs and those, partly destroyed, around the base of the temple, there are 365 in all. Their exact purpose is unknown, but clearly they were more than mere decoration: theories include each holding some offering or sacrifice, one for each day of the year, or that they symbolized caves to the underworld – the dwellings of the earth god. Originally they were painted black, with the pyramid in red, to enhance the impression of depth. Niches are also present on other buildings at the site, some bearing the attributes of Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent, El Tajín’s most depicted god.

Around the plaza in front of the pyramid stand all the other important buildings of Tajín Viejo. Opposite is Monumento 3, a similar pyramid without niches, and behind it Monumento 23, a strange steep-sided bulk, one of the last structures to be built here. To the right of the Pirámide de los Nichos, Monumento 2, a low temple, squats at the base of Monumento 5, a beautiful truncated pyramid with a high decorative pediment broken by a broad staircase; on the left, Monumento 4 is one of the oldest at El Tajín, and only partly restored.

Tajín Chico

From the back of Monumento 4 the path continues past the Juego de Pelota Norte, with its worn relief sculptures, onto the levelled terrace of Tajín Chico, home of the city’s elite. From here, you get a great overview of Tajín Viejo. Only parts of the buildings survive, making a rather confusing whole. Edificio C and the adjoining Edificio B are the most impressive remains: Edificio C has stone friezes running around its three storeys, giving the illusion of niches. In this case, they were purely decorative, an effect that would have been heightened by a brightly coloured stucco finish. It also has the remains of a concrete roof – originally a huge single slab of poured cement, unique in ancient Mexico. Edificio A had a covered interior, and you can still see the entrance covered by a false arch of the type common in Maya buildings.

Estructura I (aka Edificio de las Pinturas) is distinguished by a palapa roof protecting its elaborate decoration, including relief carvings and delicately painted murals. Such luxurious decor suggests that this was probably the residence of some major political or religious figure. On the hill above Tajín Chico stood the Edificio de las Columnas, which must have dominated the entire city. El Tajín’s most famous ruler, 13 Rabbit, lived here; bas-reliefs on columns recorded his exploits, and some of these are now on show in the museum.

From the terrace of Tajín Chico you can walk down the stone path to the Gran Greca complex, also known as Xicalcoliuhqui, whose spiral walls contain two ball-courts and more pyramids. It has been only partially cleared of jungle, but you can stroll along the walled edges to get a sense of its vast size. Built towards the end of the city’s life, it is regarded as a sign of growing crisis, Tajín’s rulers becoming increasingly obsessed with monumental projects in order to maintain control over a disenchanted populace.

El Baile de los Negritos

Popular at festivals across the state of Veracruz, the frenetic Baile de los Negritos is a Totonac dance dating back to colonial times, when African slaves were imported to work on local plantations, often living and labouring alongside indígenas. Stories abound as to the origin of the dance: the most popular version has it that a female slave and her child escaped from a plantation near Papantla and lived in the dense jungle with local indigenous groups. After her child was poisoned by a snake bite, the mother, using African folk medicine, danced herself into a trance. The Totonacs around her found the spectacle highly amusing and, it is said, began to copy her in a spirit of mockery.

Good opportunities to see the dance are Corpus Christi (late May–June) in Papantla, or in Tlapacoyan at the Feast of Santiago (July 25) or the Day of the Assumption (Aug 15); it’s frequently performed on a smaller scale at other village festivals in the area.

Leaving Veracruz to the south, Hwy-180 traverses a long expanse of plain, a country of broad river deltas and salty lagoons where the river port of Tlacotalpan oozes elegant decay. Some 150km south of Veracruz, the volcanic hills of the Sierra Tuxtla are home to the townships of Santiago Tuxtla and San Andrés Tuxtla. This beautiful region of rolling green hills, known as “La Suiza Veracruzana” (the Switzerland of Veracruz, plainly named by someone who’d never been to Switzerland), makes a welcome change from the flat plains, and the cooler climate is an infinite relief. The idyllic Lago de Catemaco, around which the last expanse of Gulf coast rainforest is preserved, makes a rewarding place to break the journey south, with plenty of opportunities to explore the nearby mountains and coast. Beyond the Tuxtla mountains, low, flat, dull country leads all the way to Villahermosa.

Historically, the region’s great claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of Mexico’s first civilization, the Olmecs. Here lies the Volcán de San Martín, where the Olmecs believed the earth to have been created; they built a replica “creation mountain” at their city, La Venta, on the border with Tabasco. Their second major city, at Tres Zapotes near Santiago Tuxtla, is now little more than a mound in a maize field. For most modern Mexicans, however, this part of southern Veracruz, especially around Lago de Catemaco, is best known as the Tierra de los Brujos (land of the witches/wizards).

Squatting on the western shore of the enchanting Lago de Catemaco, and by tradition a centre of native witchcraft, CATEMACO is a picturesque spot – perfect to break up a journey if you’re heading south – with an impressive backdrop of volcanic mountains. The lake and nearby marshland and lagoons are a haven for wildlife, supporting large colonies of water birds, including herons, cormorants, wintering ospreys and dozens of other resident and migratory species. The town itself isn’t particularly attractive, with slapdash development stretching five blocks or so back from the waterfront, but there’s plenty to do on and around the lake. Veracruzanos arrive in force at weekends and holidays, when the main strip can get pretty busy; at other times the place can be dead, and many of the facilities shut.

Lago de Catemaco

A boat trip around the lake is one of the highlights of southern Veracruz. You’re unlikely to escape the attentions of the lancha operators as you approach the lakefront: they all offer similar ninety-minute trips to the lake’s main sights and some of its beaches. On the tiny Isla de los Changos there are stump-tailed macaques (monkeys native to Thailand), introduced here by Veracruz University in 1974 – they look bored stiff in their restricted habitat. In 1988, endangered Mexican howler monkeys were introduced to the much larger Agaltepec Island; these are far more active and aggressive. You are almost guaranteed to see a huge variety of birds too – herons, egrets, cormorants and shags, as well as more exotic kingfishers and ospreys.

Morelet’s crocodiles, a relatively small species (up to 3m long), live in the lake too, nesting on the far bank. They’re well fed and, apparently, never attack. Certainly plenty of people swim in the lake: stick to the main beaches and close to others if you feel uneasy. Playa Espagoya is just a short walk beyond the eastern edge of town, with Playa Hermosa and Playa Azul not much further beyond.

Shamanism, witchcraft and wizardry

Every March a gathering of brujos takes place on Cerro Mono Blanco (White Monkey Hill), just north of Catemaco town. Mexico has thousands of witches, warlocks, shamans, herbalists, seers, healers, psychics and fortune-tellers, whose belief system blends Catholicism with ancient rites and practices. The thirteen brujos of Catemaco, who call themselves “the Brothers”, are acknowledged as the high priests of the trade.

These days, shamanism is big business in Catemaco. Many brujos have websites and toll-free numbers over which they sell long-distance spells, and in town you’ll be pestered by their agents. By no means all of those claiming shamanistic powers are the real thing, so if you do want a consultation take advice from people locally, and be sure to know what you’re getting and how much you’ll be paying for it. The rituals can be fascinating – but they can also be theatrical flim-flam, designed to empty your wallet rather than expand your consciousness.

Tlacotalpan

TLACOTALPAN is a beautiful, languid town on the north bank of the broad Río Papaloapan. An important port and railhead in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it now has just six hundred permanent inhabitants, but its elegant colonial architecture has led to its being declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. At the weekend it can be packed with locals, who come here to eat at the riverside restaurants, fish, swim or take boat rides on the river, browse the artesanía shops and hang out in the bars and cafés on the plaza. Come on a weekday afternoon and you’ll find the place all but deserted.

Among Mexicans, Tlacotalpan is known as the place where musician and composer Agustín Lara (1900–70), whose works have been interpreted by the likes of Pavarotti, Carreras and Domingo, spent his early childhood. Two museums and a cultural centre honour the man, but unless you’re a huge fan they’re not worth the admission – the true pleasure here is simply to wander the streets, admiring the architecture (many of the buildings are labelled with their history) and soaking up the steamy, tropical atmosphere. On the Plaza Zaragoza are two magnificent churches and a florid, wrought-iron bandstand; Enriquez and Miguel Chazaro, parallel streets heading west from here, are lined with magnificent colonnaded houses. A market occupies a wonderful nineteenth-century building on the waterfront, just east of the centre.

Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria

For ten days starting on January 31, Tlacotalpan is inundated with thousands of visitors as it celebrates its famous Fiesta de la Virgen de la Candelaria. Processions, bull runs, dance and music take over the town, especially for the first three days, culminating on February 2, when the image of the Virgin processes downstream accompanied by a mass of assorted riverboats.

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updated 26.04.2021

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Los Jarochos Sculpture

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The 6 “Magic Villages” of Veracruz, Mexico You Need to Visit

Veracruz, a state with a wide diversity of attractions, has rural towns called “Magic Villages,” which are places of natural beauty and attributes that immerse tourists in its history and culture. Check the following list and discover the delightful gastronomy, fabulous eco-touristic spots and other characteristics that make these villages so special.

Known as the Coffee Capital in Mexico, Coatepec is synonymous with delicious coffee, colonial architecture, walking trails, stunning hills, crystal-clear waterfalls, and about 370 historic buildings that earned it the title of National Historical Heritage. Visit its historic buildings and churches, and the interactive coffee museum El Cafetal. Don’t miss the natural attractions, which include the waterfalls Granada and Bola de Oro. As a Magic Village, Coatepec has charming local parties, like Fiestas Patronales de San Jerónimo, and the Coffee Fair. What else can you do? Landscape photography, coffee and liquor tasting, and amazing ecological and meditation trekking, and visits to coffee farms where you can buy treats such as coffee covered with chocolate.

Coscomatepec

Translating as “place of joyful water” in the native Nahuatl language, Orizaba is located in the high mountains region of Veracruz. Due to its height, the weather is always nice and fresh. Sightseeing is enjoyable, as it’s possible to appreciate the history and beautiful architecture. Orizaba has spots of important historic significance, such as the battle between Mexican and French armies in the Borrego Hill. The art is painted on the walls of its buildings—take a look at the Neoclassic style of the city hall and the mural “Social Revolution,” painted in 1926 by Clemente Orozco, a remarkable Mexican artist who reflected the tragedies he saw himself during the Mexican Revolution in the Cathedral church. Visit the State Art Museum to admire artwork of outstanding painters like Diego Rivera (Frida Kahlo’s once-husband), and if you like historic monuments, Orizaba has 113 of them. If you like adventure, don’t miss climbing the Pico de Orizaba volcano, an amazing natural wonder standing more than 18,300 feet (5,600m) tall, and the highest in Mexico.

Rich in culture and nature, Papantla is the town of the Totonaca culture, Papantla’s Flyers and of the archaeological site El Tajin. This magic village was founded by the indigenous people, under the name Papantla, which in their language—Nahuatl—means “place of very noisy birds.” If you’re interested in taking pictures of the architecture, shoot the gothic style of the Cristo Rey Church, the Cathedral de la Señora de la Asunción and the Neoclassic style of the city hall. Visit the Israel C. Téllez park on weekends and observe the social dynamic of the locals, who like to spend time with family and friends. This park and garden has the traditional Danzon dance nights on Fridays, musical events on Saturdays, and cultural activities on Sundays, where you’ll be able to view local art.

History, gastronomy, culture and nature—all of this you can find in the picturesque village, which once was the land of Totonacas until the 16th century, when the Spanish founded Xico. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountain landscapes and the Texolo and Las Monjas waterfalls, walking, climbing, and even camping in these places fills you with a special peace and joy. Enjoy eating local dishes in a cozy restaurant in the afternoon, the fresh (never too cold) breeze gives a romantic touch. Try their special mole, prepared with chocolate, banana and apple, the classic chileatole, or the delicious beans soup with xonequi. Visit the Santa María Magdalena church to observe how the baroque and Neoclassical influence blends in the Mexican architecture.

Mexico is a diverse country—every single little corner is different, and in Zozocolco you’ll be able to see a different perspective. Get to know another face of Mexico in a small village, where you’ll see the Catholic religious influences brought by the Spaniards. Its festivities are religious, such as Fiesta Patronal de San Miguel and Fiesta de la Purísima Concepción, festivals of regional music, with colorful dances that include guaguas ´ (an agricultural ritual) and negritos . If you like music, here you’ll find a unique style: Huapango music. Walk through the narrow streets of downtown, enjoy the local gastronomy, and when it’s time, join the eco-touristic activities, swim in the pozas (natural pools) and streams, pay attention to the exotic fauna you’ve probably never seen before: peculiar insects, skunks, quails, chachalacas, and reptiles. Check the local crafts: 150 families are dedicated to wooden handicrafts and ornamental objects, so you might want to buy a souvenir.

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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An Epic Culinary Road Trip Through Veracruz

Along Mexico's central Gulf Coast lies a region steeped in history, fed by the sea and forest, and modernized by a new generation of chefs.

Each May, when the first peals of thunder rattle the cloud forests of Mexico's eastern Sierra Madre mountains, white, star-shaped blossoms known as flor de trueno — literally "thunder flowers" — open in dense clusters, marking the beginning of the rainy season in Veracruz. This state, a sickle of hills and beaches along the Gulf Coast, is a place of spectacular abundance year-round, brimming with coffee, vanilla, and honey. But during the summer rains, daily showers raise wild mushrooms from the forest floor and coax dozens of varieties of flowers into bloom.

"In Veracruz alone, there are 52 edible flowers. And we eat them — we don't decorate with them," said Raquel Torres Cerdán, a 72-year-old anthropologist, cookbook author, and onetime restaurateur, on the balmy April afternoon we met at her home in Xalapa , Veracruz's state capital. For the past six years, she has used her kitchen to offer workshops focused on the food of her home state, a subject she has studied for more than 40 years.

From a young age, Torres visited the hills around Xalapa with her family, extending her travels to more distant corners of Veracruz in her twenties as an anthropology student and employee of the federal government's Rural Development Program. Though she started working in her father's restaurant at the age of 13, the diversity of ingredients she encountered in those later trips came as a shock. They reflected not only the wide range of fruits and vegetables, seafood, and wild game in Veracruz, but also the cultures and rituals that have flourished there for three millennia, beginning with the Olmecs, the first major civilization of Mesoamerica.

And yet, Torres says, finding expressions of that diversity outside of home kitchens has always been difficult. After she opened her second restaurant in the early 1980s in Xalapa's historic center, she scoured cookbooks from as far back as the 18th and 19th centuries — and found no recipes that required, for example, those thunder flowers, an ingredient used regularly by many of Veracruz's 14 Indigenous communities.

"I thought, well, of course, these books were written for people who could read… which is to say, for the rich," she told me as we sat in her intimate ocher kitchen. "That's when I became preoccupied with doing something different."

Torres had prepared a half-dozen recipes, all of them representative of the region around Xalapa. She had stuffed pear-green jalapeños, shiny as lacquer, with a pale-yellow mash of sweet plantains, then bathed them in a sauce of goat-milk cheese and cream. Young black beans stewed slowly in a narrow-necked clay pot with masa dumplings, sticky and supple as gnocchi. A pitcher of nectar made from wild capulín, an astringent stone fruit like a cross between açai and black currant, sat on the sideboard, lurid as a bruise and generously spiked with caña, a high-proof liquor distilled from sugarcane. For dessert Torres served a simple dish of zapote negro, the fruit slicked with honey and orange, its flesh black as molasses and unctuous as overripe avocado.

"We can't speak about a single identity in Veracruz. It's local cultures, local cuisines, local identities. What makes a cuisine unique is who's cooking, not the things they cook."

For all their simplicity, these dishes defied my expectations of what Veracruzano cooking could be. When I arrived the day before my lunch with Torres, my knowledge was limited to a few emblematic dishes. I'd eaten chilpachole de jaiba, a piquant soup made with chiles and corn and crab, ingredients native to the Sotavento, a region in the state's steaming south. I'd gorged on gorditas, corn-flour tortillas deep-fried in oil and puffed up like golden balloons. And, of course, I knew fish a la veracruzana, made with pickled chiles, tomatoes, olives, and capers — ingredients with their roots in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. But these dishes, though well known elsewhere in Mexico, tell an incomplete story of Veracruz's geographic and cultural diversity.

As we finished lunch, I asked Torres what, if anything, unified Veracruz's culinary identity. She shook her head, smiling indulgently. "We can't speak about a single identity in Veracruz. It's local cultures, local cuisines, local identities," she said. "What makes a cuisine unique is who's cooking, not the things they cook."

I had ended up at Torres's house thanks to Erik Guerrero Arias. The most prominent chef in the state, his latest restaurant, Namik , opened in early July in the port of Veracruz — the state's largest city, known locally as El Puerto. We'd met some months earlier over coffee in Mexico City , where I've lived since 2016, to talk about the new project. Over the course of a long, meandering conversation, he extolled the state of Veracruz's many virtues with an evangelical zeal. In me, he'd found an easy convert.

From the time of the Olmecs until the Spanish landed on Mexican shores in 1518, the region had supported a succession of Indigenous civilizations that left behind an artistic and archaeological record of stunning sophistication, from the colossal stone heads of the Olmecs at San Lorenzo, in the southeast, to the monuments and smiling clay dolls left by the Totonacs at El Tajín, in the state's north. It was here that the Spanish established their first permanent settlements in Mexico, among them El Puerto, for centuries the primary entry point for migrants arriving from the east, and still one of the country's busiest ports.

Related : How a Colorful Mexican Folk Dance Reconnected Me With My Heritage

Guerrero, 38, grew up in Poza Rica, an oil town in northern Veracruz, a region rich with citrus trees and vanilla orchids. He spent his youth helping out at the family snack shop, collecting orders and distributing change while learning how to steam tamales and fry plantains. After a series of restaurant jobs in Mexico and France, he landed a career-making gig in 2011 as the executive chef of Pujol, in Mexico City, before opening his own place, the seafood-focused Dos , in El Puerto.

Five years later, he started a sustainable fishing project, Nuestra Pesca ("Our Fish"), working with fishermen to improve the quality of their catch while educating cooks and consumers about the diversity of Gulf species. He met Torres shortly after, and they immediately recognized each other as kindred spirits. Guerrero invariably refers to Torres as La Maestra: the teacher, the master. Torres, for her part, treats Guerrero with the affectionate condescension of an older sister. Her jibe about the flowers? That was for his benefit.

"As a culture we've lost our capacity for symbiosis. I run a restaurant. This guy makes the coffee I serve, but if he wants to grow fruit, I'll take what I can of that product, too. Those are the relationships you lose when you start counting pesos."

Guerrero has not had an easy time expanding the culinary lexicon of his customers. At Dos, he told me, he and his team struggled, at first, to sell fish that most people in El Puerto had grown up seeing as corriente, or common — a complaint shared by his friend and colleague Abraham Guillén Arévalo, chef and owner at the beachside restaurant Mardel , also in El Puerto. Harder still, Guerrero says, was convincing clients on the coast that products brought down from the mountains — chayote root, like a smooth-skinned celeriac; lantern-shaped grosella, or gooseberries; long-fingered flowers of the chocho palm — formed a part of their state's heritage.

"People were used to pescado a la veracruzana, their seafood cocktail, their agua de jamaica, " he said. "We would serve this beautiful agua de grosella, and they would complain. We had people get up and leave all the time."

Inspired by Torres, Guerrero decided that, at Namik, he would build a menu to showcase ingredients and techniques that even people who grew up in Veracruz rarely have the opportunity to try. And so Guerrero and I, taking Namik's menu as a loose guide, traveled through Veracruz's verdant hills and riparian south, meeting and sometimes traveling with cooks and farmers, scientists and writers — all of them intent on disseminating a more complete understanding of their state's culinary identity, creating change not through transformation but through excavation.

On my first morning in Veracruz, I drove out into coffee country to meet Guerrero at Finca Sierra del Mar , an experimental farm owned by Emilio Vélez Quintero. Vélez grows coffee and corn, raises pigs and sheep, and works closely with neighboring farmers to improve the quality and yield of their harvests. At mid-morning, the snowcapped dome of Citlatépetl, a dormant volcano and Mexico's highest peak, seemed to float over receding hills the color of jade as we sipped dense pulls of espresso redolent of green peppercorn and dried apricot, the coffee that Vélez serves in his shop in El Puerto. Guerrero, for his part, plans to buy not only coffee from Vélez but also fruits and vegetables and whatever else he manages to produce.

"As a culture we've lost our capacity for symbiosis. I run a restaurant. This guy makes the coffee I serve, but if he wants to grow fruit, I'll take what I can of that product, too," Guerrero said. "Those are the relationships you lose when you start counting pesos."

The next day we drove on to the coast, where El Puerto announces its gregarious urbanity with storage tanks and cranes and an endless sprawl of shipping containers. For centuries this was among Mexico's most cosmopolitan urban centers, the first port of call for immigrants arriving from Europe and the Middle East and for men and women brought from western Africa as enslaved workers. Rich monastic orders built convents and churches alongside customs houses run by wealthy merchants, who imported luxury goods from Europe and sent back shiploads of cacao and chiles.

At mid-morning, the snowcapped dome of Citlatépetl, a dormant volcano, seemed to float over receding hills the color of jade as we sipped dense pulls of espresso.

The morning after dinner at Mardel, where Guillén served us just-caught Gulf fish in three preparations — deep fried, a la veracruzana, and straight off the grill, all transcendent in their simplicity — I woke at dawn for a walk through El Puerto's historic center. Blocks of petrified coral, long the city's primary construction material, blazed white, through crumbling layers of plaster damaged by northerly winds and relentless humidity. Austere colonial churches rubbed shoulders with florid 19th-century mansions and Modernist apartment buildings raised on sail-shaped pilotis, all in various states of romantic decay.

Outside the historic center, I stopped for breakfast at the Mercado Unidad Veracruzana, a Bauhaus behemoth built in 1942. I snagged a seat at a frenetic, 52-year-old stall named for its owner, the formidable Doña Bella, and ordered a gordita dulce made from masa spiked with piloncillo, or unrefined cane sugar, and served in a bath of mole negro . It exhaled a sigh of nixtamal-scented steam as I pulled it apart.

Driving out of Veracruz the next morning, we stopped for impeccable cold brew from Antonino's , arguably the best of the city's handful of third-wave coffee shops, and continued down the coast past open fields and open ocean, grabbing lunch in the town of Alvarado at the 30-year-old Restaurante Tella. Set in a shabby concrete box, it overlooks the slate-blue Alvarado Lagoon. The brash, bawdy owner, Doña Tella, turned out dishes enriched by the seafood pulled in by the fishermen who live along the water's edge. Her interpretations of the state's coastal bounty were humbler than those I'd tried in El Puerto.

First came fresh tortillas slicked with lard and refried beans and topped with baby shrimp and shredded crab. The house specialty, arroz a la tumbada, came next, a soupy rice studded with sea snails and flavored with tomato, garlic, and oregano, like a poor-man's paella. The dish, she told me, has its origins on the old launches where fishermen would toss whatever they could find in a pot for a quick, easy lunch. " A la tumbada is like a la chingada, " Tella laughed, using an expletive. "It's something any fool can make."

From Alvarado, we followed the Papaloapan River inland to the village of Tlacotalpan, once an important port where ships would arrive from Europe loaded with almonds and Carrera marble and depart with pineapple, cotton, and sugar. Tlacotalpan fell into decline in the early 20th century, after the Tehuantepec Railroad rendered river transport obsolete. Preserved in the amber of sudden irrelevance, Tlacotalpan's quiet lanes, unique in Veracruz, are lined by 18th-century mansions painted in vibrant rose and lilac, emerald and cobalt. Older residents open their doors to sell the village's famous dulces de almendra, an almond sweet similar to marzipan — as much a testament to the town's historic wealth as the French floor tiles in the charming, if dilapidated, Museo Salvador Ferrando , which is dedicated to the eponymous painter.

That night, we settled in at the village's oldest cantina, Blanca Nieves , for ice-cold beers and toritos, sweet concoctions of milk, fruit, and hazardous quantities of caña . As the hours passed and seven-ounce Coronitas sweated away on our table, a pair of young musicians played Son Jarocho, the warm, rhythmic folk music that originated centuries ago in Veracruz's cattle farms.

After Tlacotalpan, the highway bends through pastureland and sugarcane fields before ascending into hills that rise gently out of the sea. Crystalline natural pools are surrounded by tropical greenery. Outside the town of San Andrés Tuxtla, we stopped at a rural homestay, Yambigapan , perched on the edge of the Laguna Encantada, or Enchanted Lagoon, a limpid pool in an ancient volcanic crater. Nidia Hernández Medel started Yambigapan with her brother Bruno on two acres of land that their parents bought in the early 1990s as a place to retire.

As with most people in this part of Veracruz, known as Los Tuxtlas, Hernández's heritage is a blend of cultures and identities. It's a reflection of the region's Indigenous peoples and the population of African descent that, by the 18th century, constituted as much as a quarter of the people living in southern Veracruz. Today, Los Tuxtlas is a center of Mexico's Afro-Mexican culture, present in its mix of religious practices (best seen at the Iglesia de la Virgen del Carmen, in Catemaco), in the practice of traditional medicine (often misidentified as brujería, or witchcraft), and, of course, in its food.

"When you give someone a recipe, you're giving away a part of yourself. You can't make sense of a recipe unless you know its story."

Like Guerrero, Hernández considers Torres a mentor and, like La Maestra, uses her kitchen to give lessons. But even more than the mountain food I'd tasted days earlier in Xalapa, the recipes at Yambigapan shocked me. Curls of tripe, boiled then quickly smoked on the grill over fragrant guava leaves, were electric with raw garlic, cilantro, and lime, like something from the hill tracts of Southeast Asia. Mogomogo — mashed taro or plantains fortified with lashings of pork lard — tasted of the Caribbean.

In one way or another, Hernández told me, all of these dishes speak to the history of her homeland. Spanish traders brought in cumin and cloves from Asia. Formerly enslaved people from West Africa, who established free colonies in southern Veracruz as early as 1618, and later, immigrants from the Caribbean, used locally grown viandas, or tubers, like taro and sweet potato, to approximate the yams of their ancestral homeland. The mixing of lard and sugar into masa emerged from those same Black foodways. Even the arroz a la tumbada that we'd eaten with Doña Tella, she told me, was an interpretation not of a Spanish paella, but of Creole jambalaya, a dish likely brought to Alvarado on the ships that once connected the town directly to New Orleans.

For Hernández, sharing these recipes is an essential act of cultural preservation for a community whose history is too often erased from Mexico's official narrative. "When you give someone a recipe, you're giving away a part of yourself," she told me over breakfast. Toucans winged between avocado trees as I sipped thick taro atole, soothing as oatmeal, made by mixing an ingredient that originated in the Asia-Pacific region with an Indigenous dish of Mexico's corn-rich central valleys. "You can't make sense of a recipe unless you know its story."

On my final day in Veracruz, I drove back into the central hills to visit the Monday market in Coscomatepec, a town set in the folded skirts of Citlaltepetl. Guerrero first visited this area around the time he met Torres, and "it really changed the way I see things," he said, explaining that the trip expanded his vocabulary of ingredients in much the same way that he hopes Namik can expand that of his clients in El Puerto, a distance of just 87 miles by road, but many worlds away. We spent the morning snaking our way between vendors from more than 50 nearby villages. Old women in gingham aprons sold wild blackberries, sour as citrus; bundles of wild greens in shades of sage, silver, and violet; and white palm flowers called tepojolotes, which we ate fried and wrapped in tortillas with a pinch of salt.

Guerrero joked around with vendors, as comfortable as if this were the market of the town he'd grown up in. He pointed out ingredients he planned to use at Namik: Purple leaves of yerba mora for a fish-head broth. Calabaza melocotón, an indigenous squash that tastes more like melon than most melons, for a delicate pudding sprinkled with cacao nibs. He told me he plans to experiment with mixing taro and yuca flours into his tortillas and hopes one day to master those tepojolotes, too. "They always come out bitter," he said. "But I haven't given up."

None of these dishes are exactly traditional, but tradition, especially in Veracruz, is never a constant. Once Namik opens, Guerrero told me, he'll make it mandatory for anyone who wants to work in his kitchen to spend at least a full day out fishing and another working on Vélez's coffee farm. Members of the team will tour the state constantly, covering all 212 of its municipalities every two years. He'll keep growing his circle, not making anything new, he insists, not innovating, but revealing the intrinsic beauty of the home he loves.

"There's still so much for us to learn," he told me that morning. "The truth is, I don't really know Veracruz at all."

Visiting Veracruz

Where to stay.

Hotel Emporio : This 223-room high-rise in El Puerto has three swimming pools and guest rooms overlooking the harbor and the 16th century fortress of San Juan de Ulúa. Doubles from $51.

Los Amigos : Comfortable cabins on a mangrove-fringed lagoon in Los Tuxtlas, just inland from the beach. Cabins from $30.

Mesón de Alférez Xalapa : A stay at this colonial house in Xalapa comes with a delicious breakfast. Doubles from $40.

Yambigapan Estancia Rural : Owner Nidia Hernández Medel offers cooking classes and two rustic, no frills cabins on her property in San Andrés Tuxtla, near Laguna Encantada. Doubles from $30.

Where to Eat

¡Ay! Apaa : A tiny neighborhood seafood joint in Boca del Río with delicious coctéles and ceviches. 103 Calle Antonio M. Carlón. Entrées $7–$10.

Café Sierra del Mar : The El Puerto outpost of Emilio Velez's farm serves exceptional coffee and a good, simple breakfast.

Doña Bella: This stall at the Mercado Unidad Veracruzana serves the finest gorditas in El Puerto. Calle Juan Soto at Nicolás Brav o.

Mardel : Nab a seat on the terrace overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and order fresh, local whole fish and ceviche. Entrées $11–$40.

Namik : Erik Guerrero's new restaurant is reviving the culinary heritage of Veracruz. Entrées $14–$20.

Restaurante Tella: A no-frills space with views of the Alvarado Lagoon. Try the shrimp-and-crab tortillas and cool off with an icy beer. Km 1, Carretera Federal Alvarado Veracruz. Entrées $4–$7.

Ruda : A restaurant and cultural center in the coffee town of Coatepec, just outside Xalapa. Entrées $5–$24.

Acuyo Taller de Cocina : To really dig into Veracruz's rich cultural and culinary history, book a class in the Xalapa home of Raquel Torres Cerdán.

Monday Market in Coscomatepec: A great place to witness Veracruz's living culinary traditions — and to taste some exceptional barbacoa and tamales.

Museo de Antropología Xalapa : One of Mexico's finest anthropology museums tells the story of Veracruz's Indigenous civilizations through artifacts and sculpture.

Museo Salvador Ferrando : A quaint village museum named for a 19th-century painter from Tlacotalpan. Filled with antiquities, it's worth a quick visit if only for its dusty, old-world atmosphere.

A version of this story first appeared in the September 2021 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline No Place Like Veracruz.

The 15 best places to visit in Mexico

Oct 9, 2023 • 14 min read

Explore Mexico's stunning landscape and see the best the country has to offer © Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

Cantinas and cathedrals. Art and archaeology. Mariachis and mountains. Ruins and rainbow reefs. Mexico makes a mesmerizing escape for lovers of adventure, romance, history, culture, food, and fiery festivals .

Then there are the much-lauded  beaches with clear, blue waters you’ll want to step right into and silent paradise islands without a soul in sight. From the deep canyons of Chihuahua to the peaks of Veracruz, these are the best places to visit in Mexico .

1. Mexico City

Best place for art and vibrant culture

Wondering where to go for your first trip to Mexico? Start in the bustling capital that brims with skyscrapers, markets, gardens and parks , awe-inspiring museums and more than 22 million residents.

Top Mexico City sights include “Casa Azul,” better known as Museo Frida Kahlo , where the celebrated artist lived and died. High-spirited high jinks and chihuahua-sized micheladas are on offer when catching a lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) match at the sprawling Arena México .

For artsy folks, Mexico City is where many of the country's top muralists left behind their most important works. Peruse Diego Rivera's cinematic murals in the Palacio Nacional and the social-realism work of José Clemente Orozco in the Palacio de Bellas Artes .

For a taste of culture, float along the ancient canals of Xochimilco with a mariachi band serenade, or savor piping-hot tacos from the many street-food stalls in the downtown areas before catching a show at one of the city’s 160-odd theaters. You might be lost for words, but you’ll never be short of things to do in Mexico City.

Planning tip : Couple your Mexico City stay with a trip to see the pyramids at Teotihuacán . This archaeological site is located 50km (31 miles) northeast of Mexico City, and it was one of the largest in the Americas in the pre-Columbian era. Visit during the vernal equinox to celebrate spring.

2. Isla Holbox

Best island for bioluminescence and flamingos

For its size, Isla Holbox packs a strong biodiversity punch. Only a mile wide and 26 miles long, this is one of the best places to visit in Mexico to see bubblegum-pink flamingos in the wild (head to Punta Mosquito), catch a glimpse of whale sharks (between mid-May and mid-September), and witness the mesmerizing show of bioluminescent phytoplankton glimmering in the water. Comparable to sparkling underwater fireworks, these glowing micro-organisms are best seen on moonless nights.

Holbox (pronounced hol-bosh) is a laid-back dream of an island off the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula .

With no vehicles to disturb the peace (cars are banned), sandy streets lead to endless beaches with warm, inviting water that’s waist-deep at most for adults. The island’s one alleged drawback? Questionable wi-fi, which encourages travelers to disconnect.

3. San Miguel de Allende

Best place for craft shops and folk art

This Mexican beauty has it all: a fantastic spring-like climate, extraordinary light, breathtaking architecture, superb handicraft shopping, and well-attended art workshops. With a high gallery-to-resident ratio, San Miguel de Allende is one of the best places for creative types to visit in Mexico.

The cobbled city has been luring retirees and bewitching artists since the first art institute opened in a former convent back in the 1930s. It then enticed Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Neal Cassady, who came to drink, write and read poetry in the 1960s (the latter stayed there until his death).

Today, San Miguel de Allende’s narrow, sloped streets house boutiques and cafes that dangle multicolored ribbons from wrought iron window bars, and its vibe is akin to a sepia-toned postcard from the past.

Buildings in the historic district adhere to a color code of saffron, rusty orange, ochre, terracotta, and mustard yellow. Grab a birdseye view of them from one of the city’s numerous rooftops, like Luna Rooftop Tapas Bar at Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, a firm favorite.

Planning tip : San Miguel de Allende is a three-hour drive north of Mexico City in the state of Guanajuato . Visit in spring to see the purple jacaranda trees in full bloom.

Best place for lagoon living and Maldives vibes

Everything about Bacalar is magical. Not only was it recognized by the Mexican government as a Magic Town ( Pueblo Mágico ) in 2006, but it’s also known for its ethereal jewel-toned lagoon, serene spas offering Mexican healing rituals and a distinct bohemian vibe.

Diners enjoy live music sessions beside bright indoor murals at tropical restaurant-meets-gallery El Manati , and wellness-minded travelers experience temazcal sweat ceremonies and copal cleansings at Casa Hormiga boutique hotel.

The prized activities in Bacalar are kayaking, paddleboarding and boating on the 26-mile Bacalar Lagoon , which is known as the Lagoon of Seven Colors (Laguna de Los Siete Colores) due to its mesmerizing gradient of blues and greens.

The town also has a 90m-deep (295ft) cenote (freshwater pool) and an old Spanish fortress . Nicknamed “the Maldives of Mexico,” unhurried Bacalar is one of the best places to visit in Mexico to get away from it all.

Planning tip : Bacalar is in the state of Quintana Roo, close to Mexico’s border with Belize. To get there using public transportation, take the ADO bus from Cancún, Playa del Carmen or Tulum.

5. Guadalajara

Best city for mariachi music, tequila and fine dining

Guadalajara , Mexico's second-largest city, is a dynamic cultural hub in the state of Jalisco. This is the tequila-producing region where Mariachi music was born, as well as charrería , Mexico’s national sport (don’t miss September’s annual International Mariachi and Charrería Festival).

Must-sees in Guadalajara include a lienzo (a charrería arena), the vivid frescoes of the Instituto Cultural de Cabaña – a testament to the genius of one-handed muralist José Clemente Orozco – and the three-story Mercado San Juan de Dios , Latin America’s largest indoor market.

Despite being deeply rooted in tradition, Guadalajara has recently gained recognition for its modern gastronomic excellence with multiple appearances on the coveted World’s 50 Best lists. Delight in upscale, globalized Mexican cuisine and cocktails at Alcalde and El Gallo Altanero.

Planning tip : Guadalajara's allure extends beyond its city limits. Use it as your gateway to Lake Chapala (one of the largest freshwater lakes in the country), the agave-clad fields of Tequila, or other charming Magic Towns like Tlaquepaque or Tapalpa.

6. Puerto Vallarta

Best place for sand, adventure and LGBTIQ+ events

With climactic and wild scenery, Puerto Vallarta is a popular vacation destination for Mexicans and foreign travelers alike. Framed by the Sierra Madre Mountains and the Bahía de Banderas (Bay of Banderas), it's a place where thrill seekers conquer rugged terrain and rappel down waterfalls, and families frolic on sun-kissed beaches – Playa Conchas Chinas , Playa Las Gemelas and Playa Mismaloya are noteworthy sandy spots.

The city is also popular among LGBTIQ+ travelers; there are gay-friendly Puerto Vallarta hotels, beach bars, restaurants, and nightlife establishments. Lovers take to the Zona Romantica (Romanic Zone) for alfresco meals, and strolling along the picturesque Malecon boardwalk, with its numerous bronze sculptures and street performers, is one of the best free things to do in Puerto Vallarta.

There's also plenty going on in the ocean, where you can see humpback whales breaching on the horizon, pods of dolphins rising from the waves, and mother turtles arriving to lay their eggs.

Planning tip : The best time to visit Puerto Vallarta to witness a baby turtle release is between July and December. Selected hotels like Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa host newborn turtle release ceremonies.

7. Playa del Carmen

Best place for beach-meets-city vibes

Playa del Carmen is the best of both worlds: a thriving city with a bounty of enticing restaurants and pinch-me-please white sand beaches (one is even connected to a cenote). The palm-lined Quinta Avenida is the city's bustling artery with an eclectic mix of shops, lively street performances, and gourmand-pleasing international eateries.

In this versatile beach destination, families build sandcastles alongside digital nomads and solo travelers seeking spirited adventures, while night owls congregate around Calle 12 (12th St) for throbbing nights at Mandala, La Vaquita and Coco Bongo. Another Playa del Carmen accolade is the variety of rooftop bars, from the sleek UMI Rooftop and Tokyo Kitchen to the laid-back BeRoof .

From Playa (as locals call it), day trips to Riviera Maya towns like Akumal (known for turtle encounters) are all within easy reach using colectivos (minivans). There is also a direct ferry to Cozumel with Winjet or Ultramar .

8. Chichén Itzá

Best place to see pre-Columbian architecture

If you’ve always wanted to see one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá is one of the best places to go in Mexico. With origins dating back to the 5th century, this is undoubtedly the most popular of Mexico's ancient sights.

From the imposing, monolithic El Castillo pyramid (where the shadow of the plumed serpent god Kukulcán creeps down the staircase during the spring and autumn equinoxes) to the Sacred Cenote and curiously designed El Caracol observatory, Chichén Itzá is spectacular.

Planning tip : Book a Chichén Itzá tour with an English-speaking guide to learn about the mind-blowing legacy of Maya astronomers . Note that the heat, humidity and crowds in Chichén Itzá can be fierce, so try to explore the site either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, though keep in mind that the 5pm closing is a hard exit. There is also a post-sunset sound-and-light show .

9. Zihuatanejo

Best place for an Old-Mexico feel

Zihuatanejo benefited from the fortunes of neighboring resort town Ixtapa, which Mexico’s tourism body carefully developed in the 1970s. This was a direct attempt to replicate the Caribbean splendor of Cancún on the Pacific coast.

Ixtapa’s hotspot status trickled 6.5km (4 miles) south to Zihuatanejo, which feels like a sleepy fishing village elevated by a handful of relaxed seaside sanctuaries like Thompson Zihuatanejo on Playa La Ropa .

In this blissed-out traditional Guerrero town, there are storied, curiously named beaches that are great for surfing, diving, fishing and seafood-feasting in the presence of crashing waves.

Take a walk on Playa Las Gatas (Cat Beach), reportedly named after land wildcats or the whiskered nurse sharks in Zihua’s waters, or make a dash for the aforementioned Playa La Ropa (Clothes Beach), the town’s most popular beach, which incorporates a legend of a Spanish shore wreckage containing washed silk clothes.

Best place for quiet beaches

La Paz , the capital of Baja California Sur, has something for every kind of beach lover. The city is a delightful springboard to adventures on the Sea of Cortez, home to 39% of the world’s marine mammals.

Around 40 minutes from La Paz, Playa El Saltito feels tranquil and isolated during the sweltering days, and its crystal waters come alive with bioluminescence at night. Though competition is tough, Playa Balandra , with its unique mushroom-like rock formation, is heralded as one of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches.

The impossible-to-miss destination in the region is the Unesco-listed Espíritu Santo  island, where you can camp under a canopy of stunning stars, snorkel with playful sea lions and even peek at congresses of clumsy blue-footed boobies. A number of operators run activities here, including kayaking and snorkeling.

Best place for wellness and boho vibes

Over the years, Tulum shed its former name (Zama), and its position as a secluded and sleepy beach-meets-jungle town in Riviera Maya and subsequently ripened into a world-famous pilgrimage for honeymooners, hedonists and holistic tourists. The spirituality-focused traveler will find a host of things to do in Tulum ranging from cacao ceremonies to pre-Hispanic sound healing and open-air rooftop yoga classes.

Tulum is a well-rounded destination with scrumptious restaurants and bars, and accommodations for all budgets, from waterfront shacks to top-end resorts and thatch-roofed boutique boltholes like La Valise Tulum .

The beaches are postcard-ready, the most celebrated stretch being Playa Ruinas with its strikingly well-preserved Maya ruins perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. There are also numerous attractions in the surrounding area, such as the massive Reserva de la Biosfera Sian Ka’an , the secluded fishing village Punta Allen and the ruins of Cobá .

Planning tip : Tulum Pueblo (the town center) is where the really cheap eats and sleeps are found, but it’s a 20-minute bike ride or 12-minute taxi to the beach. Plan ahead to find well-priced beach accommodations if that’s where you’d prefer to stay.

12. Los Cabos

Best place for glitz, glamor and parties

Sister cities Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo need no introduction. The former is notorious among party-hearty North American crowds, while the latter is more sedate with art galleries, celebrity-frequented luxury resorts, upscale boutiques and over-the-top decadent tequila tasting rooms.

Together, these perennially sunny spots on the southernmost tip of the Baja California Sur peninsula have become two of the top places to see in Mexico.

Under the blazing Cabo sun, golfers chase their dreams on emerald greens designed by legendary champion Jack Nicklaus, and surfers tackle world-class surf breaks.

Not many beaches are safe for swimming, but other outdoor pursuits like deep-sea fishing, spotting sea lions and whale watching (from mid-December to mid-April) keep water babies coming back.

13. Pico de Orizaba

Best place for a superlative trek

Pico de Orizaba is a symmetrical, snow-capped volcano on the border of Puebla and Veracruz states. Also called Citlaltépetl, it’s the highest peak in Mexico and the third-highest mountain in North America, with a summit elevation of around 5636m (18,491ft) above sea level.

Dormant but not extinct, the last recorded eruption was in 1846, and it is one of the most popular places to visit in Mexico for serious climbers – professionals prep there before taking on Mount Everest. Treks start from the small village of Tlachichuca, and the ascent requires some technical skills – Pico de Orizaba is the ultimate trekking and climbing challenge in Mexico.

If sea-level thrills are more to your liking, there's plenty on offer in the town of Orizaba, including a beautiful riverside walk, a couple of impressive museums and galleries and a unique "Iron Palace. " The perfect introduction to Veracruz state's most appealing town is to hop into the cable car up to the park atop 1240m (4068ft) Cerro del Borrego.

From this lofty, green perch, you can admire the domes and bell towers of the city's many historic churches and the surrounding mountainous terrain, including the snowcapped summit of Pico de Orizaba.

14. Copper Canyon Railway

Best train ride

The Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífico (Copper Canyon Railway) remains one of Latin America’s best rail trips. Also known as the Chepe Express (from the “Ch” of Chihuahua and “P” of Pacífico), trains climb from sea level at Los Mochis to the town of Creel via the sensational rocky landscapes of the rust-hued Copper Canyon (the “Grand Canyon of Mexico”).

Vistas from your window during the train journey include alpine forests, subtropical valleys, Tarahumara villages and glimpses of some of the world’s deepest canyons.

Overnight en route at cinematic lodges overlooking the canyon's edge, or stay for days of exploring, hiking, horseback riding and even zip-lining in one of the best places to see in Mexico.

15. Oaxaca City

Best place for mezcal and cultural celebrations

Once the capital of the Zapotec Civilization, the state of Oaxaca is now better known as Mexico’s primary mezcal-producing region. Fine mezcals distilled around the state make their way to low-lit, atmospheric establishments in Oaxaca City like La Popular, El Destilado and La Mezcalerita, and savvy locals guide thirsty patrons on popular tours to experience the city one smoky sip at a time (check out Mezcouting and Oaxacking ).

The frequent colorful fiestas in Oaxaca City also win smiles from cultural travelers. The city’s population swells at the start of November during Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities, when Mexican families honor and celebrate their lost loves with round-the-clock vigils, joyful offerings, and parades.

One of the most unique things to see in Oaxaca City is the merrymaking during Noche de Rábanos (Night of the Radishes) on December 23. During this competition dating back to 1897, the young and old carve radishes into scenes that are displayed in Zócalo to much fanfare.

Planning tip : Venture two hours outside of Oaxaca City to reach Hierve el Agua , a jaw-dropping petrified waterfall-like formation. You can take a bus, rent a car or hire a driver to take you to these mineral-rich infinity pools.

This article was first published June 2021 and updated October 2023

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10 Best Places in Mexico to Visit on Your Next Trip

W ith centuries of Indigenous cultural history, ancient ruins , and resplendent cities, Mexico is brimming with beautiful places. But this can make choosing a place (or several places) to visit in Mexico a challenge. Do you want to spend your days stretched on a beach in the Yucatán Peninsula or in idle relaxation sitting beside a pueblo plaza? Then again, why not both?

To help you decide, here are our top picks for the best places to visit in Mexico.

• Location: Oaxaca
• Come for: a heady mix of traditional and experimental cuisine, ancient ruins, and a vibrant arts scene
• Where to stay: Hotel Sin Nombre

Tucked high up in the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca, Oaxaca is a place where overflowing baskets of spices and textiles sit beside cafés serving up artisanal coffee. Cuisine is a pillar of the city's soul, whether in the form of crispy, coal-grilled tlayudas on the street or high-brow rooftop cocktails.

A capital for mezcal artistry, Oaxaca is known for its dozens upon dozens of mezcalerias . Pull up a chair at La Mezcalerita , a veritable library of mezcal, with three downstairs rooms and an appealing rooftop patio-perfect for sunset.

How to get to Oaxaca

The most direct way to get to Oaxaca is to fly into the Oaxaca International Airport (OAX). Travelers can also connect in Mexico City for the nearly 90-minute flight.

• Location: Quintana Roo
• Come for: tranquil lagoon life that is still flying relatively far below the typical tourist radar
• Where to stay: Hotel Makaaba Eco-Boutique

Laguna de Bacalar is the second largest lake in Mexico, with colors that change from aquamarine to cobalt because of the different depths of the water, earning it the nickname "The Lake of Seven Colors." Bacalar has a reputation for eco-friendly resorts, hidden cenotes, and mangrove channels for kayaking. Life is slow-paced here-lights are usually out by 9 p.m., and that's how the locals like it.

How to get to Bacalar

Bacalar is a four-hour drive south of Cancun, which helps it retain its remote vibe. In December 2023 , the opening of the airport in Tulum will cut that drive nearly in half. Travelers can also fly into the city of Chetumal and drive for 30 minutes.

3. Puerto Escondido

• Come for: epic surf and the culture that comes with it, plus undeveloped beaches, bioluminescent bays, and hot springs
• Where to stay: Villas Carrizalillo

Mexico is in a constant state of development and some foreign investors have set their sights on coveted real estate. But in this port town, visitors can still eat fish tacos underneath shady palapas , grab an open-air collective van (a one-way ride will cost roughly 10 pesos), travel to the market downtown, and surf along windswept beaches at dawn, in large part thanks to efforts from tourists, expats, and locals to control development.

How to get to Puerto Escondido

Puerto Escondido has a very small airport. For an accessible alternative, travelers can connect in Mexico City or Guadalajara. A larger international airport is in Huatulco, which is about 90 minutes away.

4. Isla Holbox

• Come for: idyllic car-free island living with spectacular beaches, yoga, and a growing foodie scene
• Where to stay: Ser Casasandra

This island off the coast of the Yucatan peni nsula feels as much Caribbean as it does Mexican, with a blend of car-free streets and the lilt of steel drums. Though admittedly less Robinson Crusoe–esque than it used to be thanks to an infusion of boutique resorts like Nomade Holbox and NÁAY Boutique Hotel Punta Coco, this remains a place for freshly caught and grilled seafood and beaches that seem to stretch on forever.

How to get to Isla Holbox

Fly into Cancun International Airport and take a two-hour taxi, or hop on an ADO bus up for a four-hour ride to Chiquila. From there, take the 15-minute ferry to Isla Holbox.

5. Puerto Vallarta

• Location: Jalisco
• Come for: a beach-meets-city scene where locals and tourists mingle
• Where to stay: Casa Kimberly

Puerto Vallarta is a city where bars, restaurants, or shops will unlikely accept U.S. dollars, unlike in other resort towns. It buzzes with action from both visitors and locals, whether through the pulse of the Malecon boardwalk until the wee hours or lively cobblestone streets of Zona Romantica. At the end of the day, travelers can enjoy sunset above the Bay of Banderas.

How to get to Puerto Vallarta

Several U.S. airports, including New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), and Los Angeles (LAX) offer direct flights to Puerto Vallarta.

• Come for: all-inclusive hotels, white-sand beaches, and a lively downtown
• Where to stay: Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa

Cancún is what put the Mexican Caribbean on the map, for good reason: Few places offer better white-sand beaches or all-inclusive resorts than this spot on the Yucatán Peninsula. Cancun's once locals-only downtown is starting to gain traction from travelers who want to venture outside the Hotel Zone. Here, visitors can get another taste of the city when encountering its street art, taco trucks, and bustling markets like Mercado 28.

How to get to Cancun

With the second busiest airport in Mexico , it's one of the easiest places in the country to access.

7. Guanajuato

• Location: Guanajuato
• Come for: colorful architecture and growing wine tourism
• Where to stay: 1850 Hotel Boutique

Guanajuato is a great jumping-off point for exploring the state's growing wine route (there are more than 30 wineries in the Guanajuato Grape and Wine Association) as well as regional dishes like enchiladas mineras -head to Enchiladas de Lupe for a delicious one. The city also hosts the annual Festival Internacional Cervantino , which invites musicians, theater performers, and other artists from all over the world to showcase their culture.

How to get to Guanajuato

The main airport in the state of Guanajuato is in Leon, about an hour's drive from the city. It has a few direct flights from the USA, but travelers can get to the airport with direct flights from Tijuana, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, and Monterrey.

8. Mexico City

• Location: Mexico City
• Come for: world-class hotels, museums, and restaurants
• Where to stay in Mexico City: Circulo Mexicano

No visit to Mexico is complete without exploring the world-renowned restaurants , Aztec ruins, and 24/7 vibe of its capital city. Walk around Roma Norte and other vibrant neighborhoods, each one offering something different from the next. Thanks to its efficient (and cost-effective) mass transit, devouring everything from Diego Rivera murals to inventive cocktails from the top floors of luxury hotels is possible.

How to get to Mexico City

Mexico City's airport has direct flights from all major U.S. gateways.

• Location: Puebla
• Come for: mole, mole, mole!
• Where to stay: Banyan Tree Puebla

Puebla has fostered a scene that is just as proud of its heritage and tradition (it's said to have a church for every day of the year) as it is of its experimental restaurants, with eateries like Moyuelo and Áttico 303 fusing traditional Mexican ingredients with international techniques and recipes. The city's kitchens and street carts offer temptations like mole (a dried chile sauce) in every shade, overstuffed bread roll sandwiches known as cemitas , and tacos arabes stuffed into fluffy lavash-style bread.

How to get to Puebla

Puebla has its own international airport with direct flights from Houston (IAH), but consider flying into Mexico City, which has ample connections. From the Benito Juarez airport, you can hop aboard an express bus and ride two hours to Puebla.

10. San José del Cabo

• Location: Baja California Sur
• Come for: Cabo beaches and fantastic dining without the overwhelming hum of tourists
• Where to stay: Acre Baja

Los Cabos consists of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, which are connected by a long stretch of resort-lined roads known as the Tourist Corridor. As Cabo San Lucas is the more visited of the two, San José del Cabo is where travelers go to escape the crowds. Those visiting San José del Cabo can experience a thriving farm-to-table scene thanks to organic farms Flora Farms, Tamarindos, and Acre Baja that double as outdoor restaurants.

How to get to San José del Cabo

San Jose del Cabo's international airport is the gateway to Los Cabos. It has direct flights from most major U.S. hubs.