Veracruz Harbor (Puerto de Veracruz) is a working harbor and the location of several significant city landmarks. On the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Veracruz Harbor was a trading center during the Spanish rule of Mexico. Explore an imposing castle, built to store treasures and ward off pirate attacks. Witness modern-day maritime activities while strolling along the waterfront promenade.
Start your tour at the Gran Plaza del Malecón, a vast square surrounded by striking works of architecture. Gaze up at the 164-foot (50-meter) tower of Carranza Lighthouse rising above an early 20th-century neoclassical-style building. Note the contemporary design of the Torre de Pemex, a corporate office tower decorated with reliefs by the artist Francisco Zúñiga. Monuments here are dedicated to the revolutionary leader Venustiano Carranza and the Prussian naturalist Baron Alexander von Humboldt.
Partake in a favorite city pastime and stroll along the waterfront Malecón (Paseo Insurgentes Veracruzanos). Observe the variety of boats, including fishing trawlers, freighters, naval ships and yachts coming and going. Wander to the end of the piers for views of San Juan de Ulúa Castle and out over the Gulf of Mexico. Browse handicrafts stalls and watch local children having fun diving into the waters of the harbor.
Take a taxi to San Juan de Ulúa Castle, erected in 1565 to protect the riches of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Join a guided tour of the castle’s battlements and prison cells. Hear stories of raids by Dutch, English and French pirates. Learn about its use as a shipping warehouse, storehouse for New Spain’s gold, prison and royal palace.
The port is east of the historic center of Veracruz. Several major city attractions are just a short walk away. At the Zócalo, the city’s main square, people-watch from a café terrace and visit Veracruz Cathedral. Discover centuries-old cannons at the Bastion of Santiago and browse maritime exhibits at the Naval Historical Museum.
Veracruz Harbor is busiest early in the evening, when local residents come out to enjoy relaxed walks. San Juan de Ulúa Castle is open from Tuesday to Sunday and has an admission fee.
