January 23 – 28, 2024
6 days – 5 nights

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Fall in Love with….Veracruz.  Where the Old World Meets Modern Mexico.

Veracruz is a captivating coastal city with a strong colonial ambiance. Its palm-lined streets and the bustling zocalo, or main plaza, come alive at night with the vibrant sounds of Marimba music, creating a lively atmosphere where locals and visitors gather to socialize, dine, dance, and enjoy the vibrant energy of the city.

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This hidden gem offers a unique experience that sets it apart from the traditional tourist destinations of colonial cities. Veracruz is not only full of character but also boasts a colorful and easy-going charm that is sure to enchant you.
Veracruz played a significant role in Mexican history as it witnessed the end of three hundred years of Spanish colonial rule when the Spanish fled to the fort of San Juan de Ulua, which was initially located on an offshore island but is now connected by a road. The city’s title “Four times the heroic city of Veracruz” commemorates its heroic resistance against the Spanish, the French, and the Americans in different historical events.
Veracruz, where history was made and Mexico was born. Immerse yourself in the footsteps of Hernán Cortés, and experience the vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and allure of this coastal gem. Uncover the captivating legacy that continues to captivate visitors—Veracruz: Where Mexico’s story began.

Tlacotalpan is a town on the eastern coast of Mexico. Its beauty and uniqueness have inspired different artists from musicians, to painters and designers.
Tlacotalpan was chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 because the “urban layout and architecture of Tlacotalpan represent a fusion of Spanish and Caribbean traditions of exceptional importance and quality… Its outstanding character lies in its townscape of wide streets, modest houses in an exuberant variety of styles and colors, and many mature trees in public and private open spaces.”

The Museum of Anthropology of Xalapa (MAX) is the second most important in Mexico. This modern space opened on October 30, 1896, and has the largest collection of archaeological pieces of the cultures of the Gulf of Mexico. Its exhibition area covers about 9 thousand square meters divided into 18 drops, 6 rooms, and 3 patios covered and surrounded by magnificent vegetation, along which can be seen near 1500 artifacts created by pre-Hispanic cultures that settled all over the state of Veracruz: Huasteca, Totonaca, and Olmec Cultures.

Hacienda del Lencero is a building constructed in the XVI century, surrounded by lush gardens. It has been witness to Mexico’s history for over five centuries; its colonial architecture and decor stand out because of the excellent condition in which they are kept. The mansion’s first owner was a soldier serving under Hernan Cortez, who turned it into an inn where travelers from Port of Veracruz could rest. During the XVII century, it became a sugar mill and in 1842 it was purchased by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who, two years later, married in its chapel. During the course of 14 years, El Lencero was owned by Santa Ana, who was President of the Republic 11 times.

San Juan de Ulua Fort in Veracruz served as the primary military stronghold of the Spanish Empire in the Americas. Located on an island discovered by Juan de Grijalva in 1518 and built and added to between 1535 and 1843, the fort was once considered the most secure and technologically advanced in the New World, serving as both a port of entry for Christian missionaries and critical piece of the Spanish West Indies coastal defense system.

Zempoala The name means “place of the 20 glasses of water,” for the several rivers that converge near the site. At the time of the Conquest, Zempoala (also spelled “Cempoala”) was the Totonac capital and the largest city on the Gulf of Mexico, with a population of about 30,000. Zempoala was the first large Mesoamerican center visited by Europeans and the place where Cortes met his first important native ally, “Xicomecoatl”, better known as the “Fat Chief.” Only a small part of the main ceremonial area of the site has been restored. Zempoala is an important place where history was made. The uniting of Spanish, European, and Native American cultures that became modern Mexico could be said to have their beginnings in Zempoala.

Antigua was the second settlement of the Villa Rica de la Veracruz and it is located 25 km from the port. The house of Hernan Cortez is one of the most important sites, which is surrounded by huge trees and roots that give a mystical touch to the place. The building still preserves parts of the original building’s structure, the room of Cortez, the well, and the central patio. La Antigua is a small town that also houses the first catholic chapel ever built in the Americas.

Don’t miss the opportunity. Join us and discover more about this remarkable city.