River rafting, beaches, festivals and beautiful architecture are just some of the pleasures to sample in Veracruz.
River Rafting: Martin Sandoval Tours can arrange white-water rafting trips down the Actopan, La Antigua and the Filobobos rivers.
Scuba Diving: Near the town of Boca del Rio are a series of shipwrecks and reefs that are perfect for diving.
Beaches: Most in-town beaches are dirty and polluted from heavy shipping. Several kilometers south of town you will find Mocambo and Boca del Rio, which have pleasant beaches for swimming.
Festivals: The Carnaval, one of the best in Mexico, takes place the week before Ash Wednesday. Floats, parades, dancing, music, costumes, and crowds are part of the festival that lasts long into the nights. Indigenous people from surrounding villages line the sidewalks selling their wares. Museo de la Ciudad: Artifacts, pre-Columbian statues and contemporary art are on display. There are models of the city that can help you find your way around.
Baluarte de Santiago: All that is left of the old city walls is this fortress-turned-museum. A permanent collection of pre-Columbian jewelry is on display.
Acuario de Veracruz: This is one of the three most important aquariums in the world. Along with a marine research center, there are over 2,000 species of marine life native to the Gulf of Mexico on display in tanks.
Shopping
Along the waterfront you will find stalls selling souvenirs such as black coral jewelry, items like powders and creams made from seashells, key chains and other treasures.
The Plaza de las Artesanias carries higher quality goods like jewelry and leather items. As in the Yucatan, guayabera shirts are popular here, several shops and stores, such as Guayaberas Fina Cab, carry these embroidered shirts. As well there are many specialty shops selling Cuban cigars, Mexican and Caribbean tobacco products.
Bars and Nightclubs
Every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday a local group performs on stage and then wanders through the crowd with a traditional Veracruz dance and marimba music. At the local plaza there is marimba, mariachi, Jarocha, danzonera, and norteno music nightly, longer on the weekends.
You will find many discos, video bars, and clubs along the waterfront and in town and authentic Cuban music is quite popular.
River rafting, beaches, festivals and beautiful architecture are just some of the pleasures to sample in Veracruz.