Travel Guide Contents

DISCOVER VERACRUZ 01

VERACRUZ PROFILE 03

VERACRUZ ATTRACTIONS 04

VERACRUZ DINING 11

VERACRUZ SHOPPING 14

VERACRUZ NIGHTLIFE 16

THINGS TO DO IN VERACRUZ 17 DISCOVER VERACRUZ

Boasting a rich history, the state of Veracruz is one of the most special and unique places in . Its important role during the arrival of the Spanish led to it becoming known as the birthplace of the “mestizo,” and its many cultural and artistic events make it an attractive tourist destination.

Veracruz brings together traditions, business, tourism, and modernity. When you vacation in the state of Veracruz you’ll get to experience the friendliness and hospitality of the people, dance to the rhythm of danzón music, enjoy the regional cuisine, and discover one of the most diverse natural environments in the country. THE CULTURAL AND ECOLOGICAL RICHES OF VERACRUZ Veracruz is bordered by the ocean and mountains. On one side of the state, an expansive stretch of coastline faces the , extending for more than 460 miles and providing spectacular beaches and extensive oil and fishing resources. On the other side, a stunning mountain range creates natural landscapes of unparalleled beauty. This is the ideal place for lovers of adventure tourism because you can go diving, rappelling, canyoning, kite-surfing, sand boarding, rafting, fishing, and .

Veracruz is also home to several pre-Colombian cultures that were some of the first to come into contact with the Spanish after the discovery of the Americas. It was here that Hernan Cortez began his colonization of Mexico. As a result of this historic event, Veracruz has both pre-Hispanic and Spanish influences, which over the centuries have transformed into colorful celebrations, festivals, songs, and dances. This festive spirit overflows with the flavor of Veracruz, where every town and village has something special to offer its visitors, and where you can always find a wide variety of interesting cultural events.

1 A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY Inhabited by various indigenous tribes since pre-Hispanic times, Veracruz offers visitors a glimpse into three different cultures: the , and Olmec. This fusion of cultures gives travelers the opportunity to immerse themselves in the history and culture of the region.

On April 22, 1519, Hernan Cortes landed on the coast of Mexico, within the current territory of Veracruz, where he founded a town that would become the first colonial settlement in Mexico. The voyage began with sailors aboard a Spanish fleet searching for new trade routes, and set the stage for what would come to determine the course of history of the country. That particular April 22nd was Good Friday according to the Christian calendar, also known as the day of La Vera Cruz and the day that the Passion of Christ is commemorated. Because of this, they decided to name the town “La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz,” from which it gets its current name: “Veracruz.” In August of the same year, Hernan Cortes set off to central Mexico to conquer , the Aztec capital.

2 VERACRUZ PROFILE

Birthplace of the “Mestizo”

Known for its rich history

An ideal destination for adventure tourism

Delicious cuisine

Perfect for a family vacation

Important for the petrochemical industry

Renowned for its music

Business tourism

Home to the most important port in the country

Famous for its carnival celebrations

Home of archeological sites, like El Tajin

3 VERACRUZ ATTRACTIONS

THE PORT OF VERACRUZ

The largest city in the state is also the largest port in Mexico and it’s full of history, culture and tropical flavor, with tourist attractions, various museums and historical sites like San Juan de Ulua, impressive natural attractions in the surrounding area, and the largest aquarium in Latin America. In addition, the joy and festive spirit of the region can best be experienced at the world-famous Carnival of Veracruz.

For people seeking tourist services, the city and port of Veracruz offers visitors the modernity of Boca del Rio, a municipality that is part of the metropolitan area and the most developed area with a variety of hotels and restaurants, nightclubs, shopping malls, and entertainment options.

Also located near the port is , one of the most important sites of and the historic city of La Antigua, where you’ll find the Hernan Cortes House.

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Located in the central-western part of Veracruz, the city of Xalapa is the state capital. Besides being the political and administrative center of the state, it is known for having a large number of theaters, cultural centers, and museums, like an anthropology museum, as well as art galleries, and institutions dedicated to the teaching of the arts and the promotion of cultural events. This strong cultural spirit has earned the city the nickname, “The Athens of Veracruz.”

In the vicinity there is a wide variety of natural attractions, such as the waterfalls of Texolo, parks and ecological areas, as well as charming places like the villages of Xico, , , and of course, the city of Coatepec with its coffee plantations.

Located 75 miles away, you’ll find the Filobobos archeological site and the famous river, along with streams, waterfalls, and other attractions for extreme sports like rafting. Another famous place to go hiking, rafting, and zip lining is , about 25 miles away, by the Pescados River. For people who enjoy going on tours, you can visit the ecological park, an extinct volcano where you can enjoy activities like rappelling and camping. Also located on the outskirts of the city is the Las Higueras archeological site, which stands out for its extraordinary mural paintings.

5 Poza Rica is the main business and industrial city in the state, where the majority of the oil refining and derivative production activities take place. It has excellent hotel infrastructure and services, as well as numerous opportunities for conventions and business events.

In addition to offering hotel services, it also features a variety of recreational and entertainment options, including museums, golf courses, shopping malls, restaurants, and nightclubs. It serves as a great starting point for travelers visiting the surrounding attractions. Very close to the city are beaches, archeological sites like El Tajin, and picturesque towns full of magic and tradition, such as , which is located 20 minutes away. This site preserves many of its traditions and customs, like the famous dance of the “Los Voladores de Papantla,” which takes place atop a wooden pole that’s several meters high, from where four people, each representing one of the cardinal points, descend via ropes attached to their feet while circling around the pole.

Located 45 minutes from the city is the Castillo de Teayo archeological site, which preserves important remnants of one of the oldest cities in the Huasteca culture.

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The city of Catemaco is one of the most picturesque in the state for the natural beauty of the region, which is full of rivers and lakes and surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the mountainous area that makes up the Biosphere Reserve.

This destination offers opportunities in pristine environments with outstanding biodiversity. Among its many attractions, it features a beautiful lagoon known for the islets that are located here, one of which is inhabited by a colony of monkeys (part of a University of Veracruz research project), making it very popular with visitors.

Nearby you’ll find the Nanciyaga ecological reserve, where you can explore the beautiful rainforest, see diverse plant and animal species, and enjoy a variety of activities, such as guided tours, kayaking, temazcal, shopping for handicrafts, boat rides, bird watching, and seeing animals in their natural habi- tats. Because of its unique atmosphere, it’s also been used as a set for filming movies.

Catemaco is also famous for its long-held belief in superstition and magic, as many of the inhabitants have, since ancient times, performed “limpias” or purification rituals that attract visitors from all over the world. Not far from Catemaco, the archeological site is one of the most important on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. This beautiful site showcases the transition between the various stages of the Olmec culture.

7 SAN ANDRES TUXTLA

San Andres Tuxtla is located in the southern region of the state of Veracruz, in the Sierra de San Martin mountain range and it’s the business center of the Los Tuxtlas area.

It is a paradise for adventure tourism and ecotourism, where you can go rafting, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and birdwatching. In the surrounding area there are beautiful beaches, like Playa Escondida and Punta Roca Partida, as well as the Encantada Lagoon. One of its featured attractions is the impressive Salto de Eyipantla waterfall, with a stream of water that’s about 130 feet wide and 200 feet tall, which can be viewed from the observation deck or by descending more than 200 steps to the side of the falls.

The San Andres Tuxtla Regional Museum is located in the downtown area and showcases the rich archeological heritage of the Olmec culture. It has a natural scale model that represents the shape of the Olmec settlement at Tres Zapotes.

Because of its fertile land, this region is well-known for the cultivation of tobacco and the production of cigars of exceptional quality in several renowned factories.

8 Santiago Tuxtla is another of the cities located in the . It is situated on the northern slope of the extinct volcano called “El Vigia,” and offers spectacular views. Here you’ll find three of the colossal Olmec heads. This city is home to the Tuxteco Regional Museum and the Tres Zapatos Museum, where you can learn about the Olmec culture that once inhabited the region. COATZACOALCOS Toward the southern part of the state is Coatzacoalcos, the third largest city after the port of Veracruz and Xalapa. This important business and industrial port also operates oil related businesses. As a deep sea port, it handles a large number of import and export operations, making it the third largest port in the Gulf of Mexico, after the ports of Veracruz and . There are several petrochemical complexes concentrated here, such as Morelos, Cangrejera, and Pajaritos, as well as the main offices of Pemex Petroquimica, which together represent one of the largest of its kind in Latin America.

Given its massive industrial importance, Coatzacoalcos has top-notch facilities for hosting business events, including a modern convention center with stylish architecture, event spaces, meeting rooms, an auditorium, and a theater, all with the most technologically advanced audiovisual systems. CORDOBA Located in a mountainous region of the state, Cordoba is known for its coffee and chocolate production. It is a place with a small town atmosphere and a rich historical past, as it was the site of the signing of the Treaty of Cordoba by Don Agustin de Iturbide and Don Juan O’Donoju in 1821. Highlights include the cathedral with its baroque and neoclassical architectural styles, the famous colonial style portals where you can relax with a cup of aromatic coffee, and the neoclassical style City Hall building.

9 MINATITLAN

Minatitlan is a city with a quiet, small-town atmosphere. It is the fifth largest city in the state of Veracruz and the first oil town in the southeast part of the country, known for the production, distribution, and commercialization of petroleum products. Just 38 miles from Minatitlan is the San Lorenzo archeological site, which was one of the main cities of the Olmecas with several monumental sculptures in the form of human heads, typical of this culture.

With a pleasant temperate climate that attracted the Spanish viceroyalty, Orizaba is a quiet rural town situated in a valley in the mountainous Sierra Madre region. Because of its location, you can enjoy various ecotourism tours to explore the surrounding area. It has a historic past linked to the Independence era, reform laws, and historic events like the battle of Cerro del Borrego.

Its eighteenth-century buildings stand out for their stunning architecture. Some examples include the San Miguel Archangel Cathedral, the Palacio del Hierro, the former convent of San Jose de Gracia, the town hall, the municipal building, the Dolores Church, and the Santa Gertrudis Church. It also has various museums, an eco-park, and an aerial cable car that lets you travel from the Pichucalco neighborhood to the Cerro del Borrego. This Veracruz city is also famous for the “Azteca” chocolate factory and Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma Brewery, founded in the late nineteenth century.

With an altitude of more than 18,300 feet, is the tallest volcano in the country. It is located approximately 32 miles from Orizaba. Because of its colossal size, the fiery peak of this snow covered volcano can be seen from hundreds of miles away. The volcano itself and the surrounding 77 sq. mile area have been declared a national park. Thanks to the beautiful landscape, the possibility exists for mountain climbing, hiking, and backpacking tours.

The town of Tlacotalpan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 for its picturesque architecture that blends Spanish and Caribbean traditions. In Tlacotalpan you can see wide tree-lined cobblestone streets and modest homes with multicolored facades and tile rooftops dating from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, creating a unique small-town atmosphere.

With a rich indigenous past, Tlacotalpan retains traces of the time of the conquest, the colonization, the establishment of plantations, and the beginning of the Mexican independence movement. It’s the birthplace of festive traditions that characterize the state of Veracruz, like the celebration of the Candlemas Day on February 2nd.

There are two famous museums located in the city, including the Agustin Lara House and Museum, honoring the artistic work of this illustrator from Veracruz, and the Salvador Ferrando Museum, dedicated to the local painter, which exhibits his works and objects from the nineteenth century.

10 VERACRUZ DINING

To talk about the cuisine of Veracruz is to talk about the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico and the fusion of flavors, ingredients, and styles from the country’s indigenous, Spanish, and Afro-Caribbean roots. This combination has produced a cuisine with unmatched quality and richness, making it a great destination for foodies.

You can try an exquisite variety of dishes in any city in the state of Veracruz. The ingredients vary depending on the area and the natural resources available there. In the southeast, along the border of , the use of plantains is very common, while in the Papaloapan basin they use a number of seasonings, like cumin, cinnamon, acuyo (or holy grass), and epazote. Because of its vast coastline, seafood is a staple of the delicious regional dishes. Regardless of whether you’re in the northern, central, or southern part of the state, corn is another staple of Veracruz cuisine. FISH AND SEAFOOD

The most popular dishes are Veracruz-style red snapper, ( and seafood casserole), characteristic of , as well as Mandinga shrimp cocktails, vuelve de la vida (a seafood mix), chilpachole de mariscos (seafood soup) from the Port of Veracruz, jaibas rellenas (stuffed crabs) from Poza Rica, and of course, tegogolos (freshwater snails) and mojarras al mojo de ajo (Mexican-style fried red snapper in garlic), both characteristic of Catemaco.

11 BAKED DELICACIES

Corn is used to make the traditional picadas jarochas, which are handmade corn tortillas with pinched edges that are topped with red sauce, cheese, and sliced onions, as well as other ingredients like egg or chicken. Other traditional “antojitos,” or snack foods, include fried empanadas stuffed with cheese, chicken, or ground beef, with lettuce, cheese and cream, and bocoles and (small and sandwiches) made from corn, which are traditional street foods from the northern part of the state.

You also won’t want to pass up the chance to try the . There are several varieties, such as tamales with sweet corn filling, corn tamales with pork or chicken steamed in banana leaves, bean tamales for the Day of the Dead holiday, tamales with chipilin (an aromatic herb) covered in tomato sauce, and zacahuil, a large corn tamal stuffed with beef, pork, and chicken, and wrapped in banana leaves. AND XALAPA STUFFED PEPPERS

The chileatole is a traditional spicy broth from Xalapa that is made with various chili peppers, like and guajillo, seasoned with epazote, with the meat of your choice (can be chicken, beef, or pork) and served with dumplings for thickening. Meanwhile, the classic jalapeno chilies stuffed with tuna, which may be breaded or not, are served in a tortilla and accompanied by rice so that they can be eaten like a . BANANA SPECIALTIES

Fried plantains are served as slices or strips and accompanied by cheese and cream. Banana croquets are a dish from the southeastern part of the state. They are filled with (ground beef hash) or Mexican “queso fresco,” fried, and served with rice and . Tostones are another delicacy made with banana. These are delicious flattened slices of plantain (more green than ripe), dipped in salt water and fried.

12 TRADITIONAL DESSERTS If you want to enjoy a sweet dessert in Veracruz, try the delicious guava empanadas, coconut candies, peanut or bars, exquisite cream puffs from Catemaco, sweet fruit preserves (the most popular are made with nance, papaya, jobo, and squash), and fudge and milk caramel from Xalapa and Coatepec.

DRINKS Veracruz has two traditional drinks: coffee and toritos. In Veracruz it is customary to drink coffee with milk or cream, prepared in a clay pot (with or without brown sugar), or prepared in a coffee pot. In places like the port city or Cordoba, it’s common to drink your coffee under one of the portals while having a chat, as Jarocho music plays in the background. To lift your spirits, there’s nothing better than a delicious and refreshing torito, a drink made with cane liquor, evaporated milk, and fruits like guanabana, jobo, and nance, or peanuts and pine nuts. It’s great for before or after a meal.

13 VERACRUZ SHOPPING

In the state of Veracruz there are a wide variety of products produced by the indigenous communities in the different regions. You can find textiles, items woven from palm leaves, furniture, ceramics for everyday use, and basket weaving. In Xalapa there’s an abundance of coffee and related products, like candies and cookies, while in Catemaco you can find very unique woven items. Papantla is known for high quality carpentry and embroidered textiles, like the beautiful huipiles and traditional blouses made from cotton or multicolored woven fabrics. And of course, a bottle of delicious “toritos” always makes an excellent souvenir.

SHOPPING MALLS The majority of the large cities in the state of Veracruz have modern shopping malls and handicraft markets where you can find products for all tastes and budgets. Even so, the largest and most important malls are located in the Port of Veracruz and the Boca del Rio area, as well as the city of Xalapa.

14 COATEPEC, XICO, NAOLINCO Located on the outskirts of Xalapa, these charming towns are the perfect place to buy traditional products, such as coffee and orchids from Coatepec; bread, liquors, and from Xico; and leather goods from Naolinco. PAPANTLA MARKETS In Papantla there are several traditional markets located just a short distance from one another, all near the church in the heart of the city. Here you can find tasty regional food and handicrafts, household items, souvenirs and of course, rich . CATEMACO AND LOS TUXTLAS In Catemaco you can shop for products, including bags, wallets, and sandals made from natural fibers like water lily. At the Nanciyaga Ecological Reserve the must-buy item is a jar with mineral clay extracted from the spring that runs through the reserve. It is ideal for facial and body treatments. In the Los Tuxtlas area tobacco aficionados will find high quality cigars that are produced in factories located throughout the region.

15 VERACRUZ NIGHTLIFE

Depending on the city you’re in, there’s a whole host of things to enjoy in the state of Veracruz when the sun sets. The characteristic cheerfulness of the state is reflected in its vibrant nightlife, and rubs off on visitors and locals who never pass up an opportunity to celebrate. Restaurants, cafes, and bars are popular meeting places where you can enjoy the melancholy sounds of the from the north, animated Jarocho tunes, and the rogue verses from the south, as well as many of today’s popular hits.

You can enjoy everything from outdoor music and dancing in the evenings in the Port of Veracruz to modern rhythms at the nightclubs in the stylish Boca del Rio area or in the city of Xalapa. Here you can also spend a quiet evening attending artistic and cultural events, such as classical music concerts and theater productions.

Growing cities like Poza Rica, Coatzacoalcos, and Minatitlan, meanwhile, have a vibrant and lively nightlife scene. Numerous bars and nightclubs in these cities have modern sound systems and lighting that makes for a spectacular night out for visitors.

16 THINGS TO DO IN VERACRUZ

Savor delicious seafood in the Port of Veracruz and Mandinga Cool off with a tasty sorbet while watching the sunset on the boardwalk in Veracruz Dance to danzon music in the Plaza de Armas in the Port of Veracruz Visit the San Juan de Ulua Fort Visit the aquarium Listen to revelers in Los Portales Enjoy a cup of coffee and traditional pastries at La Parroquia Attend a concert of the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra at the State Theatre Try the delicious and chocolate in Xalapa Visit the greenhouses in Coatepec and have an ice cream in the park Cross the hanging bridge in Jalcomulco and venture into the Pescados River Go rafting on the Filobobos River Climb the Cofre de Perote Buy coffee in Cordoba Swim in the Catemaco Lagoon and try the tegogolos ceviche Hike in the Nanciyaga reserve and visit a shaman for a “limpia” Try the delicious bocoles in Poza Rica and a tasty zacahuil Visit the petrochemical complexes in Coatzacoalcos and Minatitlan Admire the Salto de Eyipantla waterfall in Los Tuxtlas Tour the El Tajin archeological site See the Papantla Flyers

Veracruz offers a wide variety of options for tourists as well as various opportunities for business and in- vestment. Above all, it’s a region that’s rich in natural and cultural treasures, all of which are just waiting to be explored by avid travelers who love adventure, culture, great food, friendly people, and of course, having lots of fun.

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