What You Didn’t Know about Veracruz – and Why You Should Go
Mexico was one of the four countries I visited in this August. I was there to attend ATMEX as a hosted media invited by ATTA, and it gave me a chance to explore parts of Mexico, including Veracruz, where the second annual Mexico Adventure was hosted. Mexico is a new adventure travel hot-spot, and Veracruz is leading the trend. From mountains to beach, sand dunes to lagoons, Veracruz has it all. Here are things you didn’t know about Veracruz, Mexico.
✪ It is the center of adventure travel in Mexico
✪ The 70% of Gulf of Mexico is connected to Veracruz
✪ Veracruz is where the highest peak of Mexico and the third highest in North America, Pico de Orizaba (18,405 ft, 5,610 m), is located
✪ They gain recognition from Mexican “jarocha” harp music of Veracruz (it was my first time seeing a full band with only harps!)
✪ The capital city is Xalapa, not city of Veracruz
✪ Xalapa is known as ‘the Athens of Veracruz’
✪ Because the state is long and narrow, you can find diverse natural features in one state, like jungles and sand dunes.
✪ The state has ten major waterfalls and ten major lagoons
✪ It is where Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who led an expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire, first landed in Mexico, and Playa Villa Rica is where the Spanish built the first settlement
✪ Veracruz International Airport connects internationally only to Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and many options to other Mexican cities
✪ 30% of Mexico’s river flows in Veracruz
✪ You can find sand dunes
✪ The Danza de los Voladores (Dance of the Flyers) was named an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNEXCO
✪ For its variety and precise combination of ingredients, Veracruz cooking occupies an outstanding place in Mexican gastronomy
✪ Veracruz style fish is the most famous cuisine
✪ Veracruz port is the busiest in Mexico, and is extensively used for exports to the United States, Latin America, and Europe. 75% of all port activity in Mexico takes place here
✪ The state has about one-fourth of Mexico’s petroleum reserves and ranks third in petroleum production
✪ The full name of the state is Veracruz de Lgnacio de la Llave
✪ The port city of Veracruz is home to the Mexican Navy
✪ There was some violence reported back in 2011, but Veracruz is considered one of the friendliest states in Mexico.
✪ Coffee, vanilla, and sugarcane are important agricultural products in Veracruz
✪ Veracruz is the new adventure travel hot-spot!
