Destination: Maui, Hawaii
# hours by plane from San Francisco: 5½
Latitude: 20.8000˚ N
Elevation: Sea Level
Climate: Warm, Tropical Conditions
# of Tourists/month of Dec. 2013: 209,332
Destination: Veracruz, Mexico
# hours by plane from Houston: 2
Latitude: 19.1903˚ N
Elevation: Sea Level
Climate: Warm, Tropical Conditions
# of Foreign Tourists /any month: Very Few
The similarities are many when comparing Maui to Veracruz …
-Virtually the same latitude which means you will find similar beautiful colorful flowers with a predominately green tropical landscape enveloping you from every angle
– Warm ocean with sandy beaches
– Snorkel & scuba diving to view coral reefs & schools of interesting fish
– Great hiking in the tropical rain forests
– Pools of clear water to swim in formed by magnificent cascading waterfalls
– A plethora of pretty tropical birds & butterflies
– Boating, Kayaking, ATV rides, Rappelling, Rafting, Biking, Swimming
– Palapa-style restaurants located on ocean beaches for relaxed eating
The differences are contrasting …
– Maui = tens of thousands of tourists each month / Veracruz = you may not see any foreigners during your visit
– Maui = many luxury resort hotels & time shares / Veracruz = some luxury hotels but mostly small locally owned places to stay
– Maui = Takes more time to get there / Veracruz = Only 2 hours by plane from Houston or a 50 minute flight from Mexico City
– Maui = spend much more $$$ on food & attractions / Veracruz = not so much
– Maui = English is spoken everywhere / Veracruz = Old Mexico. Not much English spoken means a true cultural immersion experience
– Maui = Heavy commercialized tourism products / Veracruz = Non-commercialized. Only for the “Traveler/Explorer” personality
Veracruz is still the un-touristed Mexico destination to be discovered and enjoyed before all the others find it.
So the question to answer is, do you enjoy the vastly more crowded and touristy “Here Today, Gone to Maui” style tropical vacation or are you the more adventurous type who would like to explore a tropical pristine paradise unknown to most? If you choose the latter, then definitely it is time to say, “Vamos a Veracruz!”
