Two Paradises for Foodies and Cultural Enthusiasts

By Jose Covarrubias · Veracruz and Puebla, Mexico

I always tell my friends that Mexico is a great destination for all types of travelers. Whether you’re looking to party, relax, explore, or go on adventures, Mexico has a perfect place for you. Most college students in the US are familiar with crazy spring break stories from Cancun or Cabo, but I want to tell a story about a slightly less known side of Mexico that I experienced with family.

The trip started in the city of Veracruz, the second oldest European established settlement in continental America. Its name comes from the Latin words for “True Cross,” in reference to its discovery by Hernan Cortes on the historical day of Crucifixion during Holy Week. Veracruz is famous for its unique cuisine, with rich Spanish and Afro-Caribbean influences. In fact, the variety of traditional dishes from Veracruz is so large that even as locals, we did not have the chance to try all of them during my stay. One great piece of advice for travelers going to Mexico is to enjoy authentic traditional food by going to local markets. Most of the delicacies in Veracruz can be found in taco stands in the street, or mom and pop antojitos (traditional breakfast food) stores.

After enjoying some delicious picadas, tacos and pozole in Los Portales — the city’s iconic dining location — and enjoying live folk music in the historical center of the city, we headed to Fuerte de San Juan de Ulua, a 16th century fort built with coral that was used to defend the city from pirates and invaders. As the night approached, we went to Delitros, one of multiple bars in the city to enjoy regional drinks on a budget. Veracruz is known for its vibrant nightlife, with parties and nightclubs going until 5 AM. We didn’t want to miss out, so we went to one of the famous nightclubs in the city — Industrial.

Although not exactly a budget option, Industrial ends up being easily affordable for international travelers due to the conversion rates. Fortunately we know how to party and how to recover, and we know there is nothing better than enjoying some traditional seafood dishes the morning after, so we went to the famous vuelve a la vida (come back to life) seafood cocktail.

The state of Veracruz also offers some great opportunities for eco-tourism and extreme sports, with great destinations for day trips such as the beautiful emerald-colored beaches in Costa Esmeralda; the rapids in Jalcomulco, ideal for rafting levels II to IV; and the Pico de Orizaba, the second highest volcanic peak in the world.

After enjoying the beauties Veracruz has to offer, we decided to go on a 2-day trip to Puebla, a neighboring state within a 3 hour drive. The capital of Puebla (Puebla City) is larger than Veracruz, and offers great opportunities for tourists and nightlife. In the city of Puebla, we visited the Zocalo — the equivalent to Los Portales in Veracruz — and enjoyed some regional food with traditional music.

The basilica in the city is a must-see; its architecture is astonishing and interiors impressive. One can also visit some of the multiple museums in the city, such as the Amparo Museum — ideal for travelers interested in learning more about pre-hispanic cultures and the Spanish empire in Mexico — or the Regional Mexican Revolution Museum, located in the house where the Mexican Revolution started.

A hidden gem in Puebla for international travelers is Cholula, the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the Americas. One of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos (Magical Towns), Cholula is known as “the town of the 365 churches.” Even though there are actually only 159 churches, many of them are stunning, including one with an interior covered in gold, and one with a mixture of Catholic and indigenous influences. Just like Veracruz, Puebla has a very unique cuisine, and we couldn’t miss out on enjoying many different types of mole (a chocolate and chili paste, usually served with tortillas) or the famous cemitas (sandwiches with a regional cheese and cured meats). Sadly, our trip ended there, as did the warm weather and authentic Mexican food, but I hope you get a chance to explore Mexico soon!


This article was published in the Spring 2018 issue, Budget Travel.

About the writer

About Guac

Follow along real-time on our instagram

Guac Magazine

Guac is an award-winning travel publication run by an interdisciplinary group of students at Cornell University. We aim to inspire our readers to celebrate cultural diversity and view the world with an open mind through delivering unique stories from people around the world.

Guac Magazine Editors

Written by

Guac Magazine

Guac is an award-winning travel publication run by an interdisciplinary group of students at Cornell University. We aim to inspire our readers to celebrate cultural diversity and view the world with an open mind through delivering unique stories from people around the world.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade