The city of Veracruz is a major port city on the Gulf of Mexico. The city is known for its rich traditions of music including marimba bands, danzón and comparsa. A special kind of music called 'son jarocho', a mix of Mexican folk music and Cuban beat, was developed in southern Veracruz state, in and around Veracruz. La Bamba is the most famous example of 'son jarocho.' La Bamba is the most famous example of 'son jarocho', an equally rich dance tradition that parallels Veracruz's unique musical styles.

Tourist Offices
Palacio Municipal has a tourist information office that's open from 8am – 8pm, Monday to Friday and from 10am – 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Sightseeing
There is some pretty architecture in the city, including a historic fortess and several marine museums. A few beaches can be found north of Veracruz but the water is not very clean, beach lovers might want to go north to Tecolutla or south to Los Tuxtlas. The yearly Carnival festival in Veracruz, a nine-day party in February or March, is the most spectacular festival of its kind, and it's also the oldest organized Carnival in Mexico. The city also celebrates a yearly Afro-Caribbean festival in July. These festivities illustrate the fact that the city is in many ways more connected to Caribbean culture than that of inland Mexico.

Getting there
There are frequent flights from Mexico City, Villahermosa, Tampico,and Cancún. Make sure you book a seat on the bus beforehand if you are travelling from Mexico City as these buses can fill up quickly, especially during the holidays. There are also buses from Acayucan, Oaxaca, Catemaco, Córdoba, Orizaba, Papantla, Puebla, Tampico, Santiago Tuxtla, Villahermosa and Xalapa.