Veracruz Resorts & Hotels

The city of Veracruz is located on the Gulf of Mexico within the state of Veracruz and is Mexico's oldest seaport. Situated in a land where beautiful beaches, banana trees and vanilla vines flourish, Veracruz is the spot where Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortez first landed in the New World in 1519. Today the city continues to thrive as an active seaport and vibrates with a strong Caribbean flavor and a mixture of colorful African, Spanish and indigenous influences.

While not as well known or as glitzy as other Mexico destinations, Veracruz vacations offer excellent hotels and many attractions, including the City Museum, the Veracruz Aquarium and the Municipal Palace. This traditional city also has a lovely central square and beaches popular with Mexican families rather than tourist crowds.

Veracruz' history is one of the most interesting in Mexico. Gold was once plentiful here, and after the Spanish arrived, the port became home to great Colonial wealth. For this reason, it was often attacked by pirates and ruffians. The city built massive fortresses to protect its citizens, and one such stronghold, Fort San Juan de Ulúastrong, still stands today. Verzcruz has had the largest number of African slaves in Mexico (16th century), been burned to the ground (17th century) and defended itself against Spanish, French and U.S. invasions, always to emerge stronger and more resilient than before.

Hotels and resorts in Verzcruz are on the European plan, meaning that the price of a room includes just the room. Everything else, including meals, activities, tips, beverages, etc., is an extra cost. Veracruz hotels range from budget to luxurious and are found in the city and along the beaches.

The Camino Real is a modern 5-star Veracruz resort hotel with 156 rooms, many overlooking Penacho del Indio Beach. Twelve stories high, the Real is modern and welcoming, offering luxurious accommodations, two restaurants, two bars, an attentive, professional staff, air-conditioning and non-smoking rooms.

The Galeria Plaza Veracruz is designed to please the most discerning traveler. Located in the busy commercial center and close to shopping (Plaza las Americas and Plaza Mocambo), the World Trade Center and the aquarium, this posh, 235-room Veracruz hotel boasts a spa, 24-hour room service, two restaurants, two bars and personalized service. Guests here must be at least 18 years old.

For travelers on a budget Veracruz vacation, the Fiesta Inn Veracruz Boca del Rio is a modest but quaint hotel with a friendly staff and comfortable, clean, if not fancy, accommodations. This 2-star property is situated on the beach, a definite plus.

Budget travelers might also want to check out (and check into) the Holiday Inn Veracruz Centro, a comfortable 3-star property in an historic building in the center of the city. Situated a few blocks away from the noisy Zocalo, this Veracruz hotel is not luxurious but offers a safe, affordable place to gets a good night's sleep.