The Veracruz landscape ascends through diverse environments, from the tropical heat to the cold mountains; from the Pánuco river to the Tonalá; and from the Huasteca to the Isthmus.
This elongated strip of land of 780 km is bathed by the Gulf of Mexico and is divided into three large physiographic provinces: the Sierra Madre Oriental, the Neovolcanic Cordillera and the Gulf Coastal Plain, which represents about 80% of its surface, where its eco systems emerge as islands of jungles, forests, wetlands and a sea of pastures.
To start a tour, it is worth admiring the northern portion that includes the Huasteca, a productive evergreen region with areas of great biological richness such as the Sierra de Chicontepec and the basins of the Pánuco, Tempoal and Tuxpan rivers. Along the coast the palm groves and dense mangroves stand out in the Tamiahua lagoon and its islands El Ídolo, El Toro, Pájaros and some islets; through Tecolutla and Cazones the channels surrounded by mangroves; along the Costa Smeralda, the warm tropical landscapes; and in the surroundings, the mountains and plains of Totonacapan, always impregnated with the fragrance of vanilla.
The central region is covered by a tropical plant mosaic, part of the Metlac river basin to the Sierra de Zongolica, where it mixes with the mountain vegetation of the Cofre de Perote and Pico de Orizaba. The environment changes towards the coast and in front of the Port, the Sacrificios, Verde and En Medio Islands stand out, which together form the National Marine Park Arrecifes de Veracruz, with its abundant marine life and its more than 29 attractive reef formations.
A little to the south, the Alvarado wetland where there are extensive mangroves, dunes, tulares and palm groves, which allow the observation of hundreds of colonial birds, turtles and varied semi-aquatic fauna.
Towards the interior, in Jalapa, Coatepec and Jalcomulco, the environment is always humid, coffee crops, lush orchids, ferns and lianas abound. Nearby are the beautiful waterfalls of Texolo with the magnificent natural environment that surrounds the town of Xico. The Los Pescados, Actopan, Antigua and Filobobos rivers, with crystalline waters and amidst natural environments, are surrounded by the evergreen jungle and under the warm tropical sun. The most dense forests are located in the south of the Uxpanapa valley and part of the Zoque valley, where the most important forests in the state are concentrated, while the enormous wealth in terms of flora and fauna is found in the Coatzacoalcos river basin.
To finish a set of volcanic elevations, waterfalls, lagoons and rivers form the so-called Los Tuxtlas circuit, where great attractions are also offered.
Catemaco is an example: its enormous ecological wealth is based on two islands, Monos and Las Garzas, the Salto de Eyipantla, the Nanciyaga Ecological Reserve and its green coasts. There are also around 700 species of birds and a varied fauna associated with the different types of vegetation.
For this reason, from the extensive coastal plains, the great volcanic elevations to the depths of the sea, you can start your adventure to know the rich landscape of Veracruz.
Source: Unknown Mexico Guide No. 56 Veracruz / February 2000
