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San Juan de Ulúa

San Juan de Ulúa: Our most recommended tours and activities

Veracruz: 5-Attraction Tour with Aquarium and Boat Tour

1. Veracruz: 5-Attraction Tour with Aquarium and Boat Tour

This package is ideal to visit the places you should not miss in Veracruz. We start with a tour of the Veracruz Aquarium, where you can admire the representative fauna of the state. At noon, we will visit the fortress of San Juan de Ulúa, which was built by orders of Hernán Cortés, as it protected Veracruz from pirate and corsair attacks of the time. A guide will tell you all about the history and legends of the oldest prison in Mexico. At the end of this visit, we will transfer to Mandinga, where we will enjoy a boat ride through the mangrove area and also have time to eat delicious freshly cooked seafood in Mandinga's restaurants. To finish the tour, we will tour the historic center of Veracruz aboard a traditional streetcar, from where we will be able to observe the most important and beautiful places of the city.

Veracruz: City Tour with San Juan de Ulua

2. Veracruz: City Tour with San Juan de Ulua

Discover the beauty of the Port of Veracruz with this exciting tour that fuses history, culture, natural attractions and colonial buildings. The activity starts in San Juan de Ulua, one of the greatest and most antique forts in America. After visiting the fort, you will explore the main points of the city’s downtown, including the Maritime Customs Building, the old train station, and the post office building. You will also visit the famous "Malecon", a beautiful seaside promenade lined with restaurants, cafes, and stores. Afterwards, you'll visit the Boca del Rio zone, a booming area with modern, first class hotels, and services, yet with a deep-rooted history.

From Veracruz: San Juan de Ulua Prison Tour

3. From Veracruz: San Juan de Ulua Prison Tour

Start the tour at 12:00 PM and set off for the fortress. When you arrive, begin the experience in a colorful tram ride, which will take you to San Juan de Ulúa. Upon arrival, a certified tour guide will be waiting for you to share the incredible facts of this fortress. From the first step you make in the fortress, you will feel as if you travel through time, as you begin to explore this incredible building which hides more than 500 years of history. Find out how, at first, the place was a sacred temple where the natives venerated their gods prior to the Spanish conquest. Years later, the Spanish conquistadors built the fort and a pier, galleons that came from Europe, becoming a gateway to Mexico. Later, it became the most feared prison in Mexico, where the legends of Chucho "El Roto" and "Mulata de Córdoba" were created. Before the tour ends, see the port of Veracruz from the San Juan de Ulúa fortress and take incredible photos, so that you can take great memories of this historic place home with you. Take the tram back at around 2:30 PM. The tour ends at 3:00 PM in Aquarium Plaza.

Veracruz: San Juan de Ulua Fortress Skip-the-Line Ticket

4. Veracruz: San Juan de Ulua Fortress Skip-the-Line Ticket

Make the most of your time in Veracruz with an insightful visit to one of the most important historical monuments in the city. Explore the San Juan de Ulua Fortress with a skip-the-line ticket, tour its mysterious tunnels, and learn about its remarkable history and impact. Built on an islet to defend the port from pirate attacks, step into a mystical site overlooking the Veracruz ocean. Enjoy panoramic views from the top and get lost in its dark hallways as you travel back in time through its many phases, including the many years it served as a prison. Take in the striking Italian-style architecture of this 16th-century site. In addition to exploring the facilities, you can also browse through a collection of archaeological pieces gathered from the Gulf of Mexico region.

Veracruz: Guided City Tour with Aquarium Visit

5. Veracruz: Guided City Tour with Aquarium Visit

Discover the beauty of the Port of Veracruz with this tour that combines history, culture, natural attractions, and colonial buildings. Start your tour at San Juan de Ulua, one of Latin America's oldest fortresses, where you will learn about the birth of America's first town hall. After visiting the fort, explore the city's main points of interest, including the Maritime Customs Building, the old train station, and the Post Office building. Later, visit the famous Malecon, a beautiful seaside promenade lined with restaurants, cafes, and stores. Afterward, visit the Boca del Rio zone, a booming area that combines modern buildings with a rich history. Finish your tour at the Veracruz Aquarium and spend the afternoon exploring at your leisure. Watch entertaining dolphin shows and see a range of aquatic animals such as sharks, penguins, and jellyfish.

Top sights near San Juan de Ulúa

Other Sightseeing Options in San Juan de Ulúa

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