Veracruz
Veracruz is a Gulf Coast state where a working port, Totonac ruins and live son jarocho music are a few hours apart.
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Veracruz is a state on Mexico's Gulf coast. Most travelers come for the port city of the same name, with its arcaded plazas, working harbor and seafood kitchen. Visitors often order huachinango a la veracruzana, red snapper cooked with tomato, olives, capers and chiles. Son jarocho, a string-and-dance tradition from the region, is played in plazas and during Carnival, one of the largest in Mexico.
The state suits a trip that mixes coast, ruins and mountains. Give the port city two or three days, add a day for El Tajín, the Totonac archaeological site known for its Pyramid of the Niches, and a few more for the highlands around Xalapa, the state capital. The best season is November to March, when the weather is drier and highland nights are cooler. June to November is hurricane season on the Gulf, so check forecasts before planning a beach-heavy trip in those months.
Veracruz in five
- Get a Mexican eSIM before you landRide apps and map apps need data on your first evening, when you are looking for a taxi and a hotel. Buy the plan before you fly.Phones and eSIM
- Carry pesos in small notesMarkets, colectivo minibuses and small food stalls mostly take cash. Break large notes at a shop or your hotel before you head out.
- Use a taxi stand or a hotel-called taxiAgree the fare before you get in, or ask the hotel to call the taxi. Avoid getting in a taxi that stops for you on the street at night.
- Eat a la veracruzanaThe local style uses tomato, olives, capers and chiles, often on fish such as red snapper (huachinango).
- Carry water and a hat on the MalecónHeat and humidity are strong from late morning. Walk the Malecón early or in the evening.Veracruz State
Things to do in Veracruz
See all attractions in Veracruz
Need to know
- Currency
- Mexican peso (MXN)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many nationalities; FMM tourist permit issued on arrival Read more
- Emergency
- 911 police, fire or ambulance
- Tipping
- Customary at restaurants, 10 to 15% unless a service charge is added
- Time
- UTC-6, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh25°Low20°Northers, dryJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Northers, dry
- FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh26°Low20°Dry, coolerFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler
- MarchClear4 rainy daysHigh28°Low22°Dry, warmingMarchClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, warming
- AprilClear4 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Hot, dryAprilClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 14 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- MayClear8 rainy daysHigh32°Low26°Hot, humidMayClear
Mixed
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- JuneRain20 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 379 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain21 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Rainy, hotJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 235 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy, hot
- AugustRain21 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Hurricane seasonAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 212 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hurricane season
- SeptemberRain23 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Rains, stormsSeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 266 mm
- Rainy days
- 23
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains, storms
- OctoberRain17 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Northers beginOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 196 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Northers begin
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh27°Low22°Dry, northersNovemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, northers
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh26°Low21°Dry, mildDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, mild
Average daily high and low in Veracruz, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Veracruz
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
29
- Feels like
- 35°
- Humidity
- 72%
- Wind
- 3 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 69%
Veracruz State
03:14 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today29°23°69%Monday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Tue30°23°4%Tuesday: Fog. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Wed29°24°18%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Thu29°23°8%Thursday: Fog. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Fri29°24°45%Friday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Sat29°24°49%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 49%.
- Sun27°24°55%Sunday: Rain. High 27°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 55%.
Updated 10:56 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18.81 MXN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Xalapaabout 1.5 to 2 hours by roadThe state capital in the hills, with a museum of anthropology and cooler air.
- Tlacotalpanabout 2 hours by roadA colonial river town on the Papaloapan, with painted houses.
- Cempoalaabout 45 minutes by roadRuins of a Totonac city near La Antigua, a short detour on the way north.
Before you go to Veracruz
Rules for Veracruz, checked
- Most visitors who need no visa get a tourist permit (FMM) on arrival. Check the entry rules at gob.mx/sre before you book.Source
- Declare cash above the legal limit on the customs form. Check the current amount with SAT, Mexico's tax agency, before you travel.Source
- Declare fresh fruit, plants, seeds and animal products on the customs form. Undeclared items can be inspected or confiscated.
Plan around Veracruz
Entry, transport and money for a Mexico trip
Read the guideVeracruz StateThe coast, the mountains and the towns inland
Read the guideGetting aroundBuses, taxis and rental cars for the coast and inland
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa and how the FMM tourist permit works
Read the guideWhere to stayCompare the historic center, the port and Boca del Río
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, card use and typical prices for a trip
Read the guideVeracruz FAQ
Is Veracruz worth visiting?
Yes, for the port, the seafood, the fort of San Juan de Ulúa and the local food. It also works as a base for day trips to Xalapa and Tlacotalpan.
How many days do you need in Veracruz?
Two or three days covers the historic center, the waterfront, the fort and a seafood lunch. Add a day for Cempoala or Tlacotalpan if you have a car.
How do you get from Mexico City to Veracruz?
You can travel by bus or by car. The car lets you stop on the way, while the bus means no driving on unfamiliar roads.
When is the best time to visit Veracruz?
November to March, when the northern winds (nortes) bring cooler, drier weather. Summer is hot and humid, and the hurricane season runs from June to November.
Is Veracruz safe for tourists?
The historic center and the waterfront are busy during the day. Ask your hotel which areas to avoid after dark, and check your government's current travel advice before you go.